Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-23

his throat vigorously, he begins as follows
lyon must know, then. BARN. that hat
a cousin, Vasilli Mosloff by name, who
instead of sticking to the village as | did
was all for getting away to one of thu
larger towns, thinking to push his way
there, and pick up money as you woult
gather mushrooms in the wood. And SURF
enough, one day he went off to Moscow
and after time, got word that he hao
managed to get work in one of the big
German shops on the Konznetski Most,
Che was famous hand at wood-carylng
and such like,) and that he was getting on
pretty well; for our proverb says, Iiea w:
en- helps the helpful man, and Vasilil
was always one to stand on ms own ieet.
And after that had no news OF him Tor a
lonp time. when all of a sudden, there
came to me big package of bank notes,
and letter with them saying Vasilla was
dead (may he gain the kingdom of heav-
en- ,, and had left me all the money he
had saved--some two thousand roubles or
so (about f260)--whieh was great wind
fall to poor fellow like me-"
"You should have seen him that day,
BARN, "chimes in, laughingly. the lady OF
the house. who had just finished her prep
arations for my further accommodation.
when he opened the package and saw
the notes he stared about him like a dog
that's lost his master, and all the rest of
the day as though he didn't know where
he was"
Well, you needn't laugh at me- retort-
ed her husband, with a broad grin: ''you
kept on counting the notes Yourself for an
hour or more, and never counted 'em
right after all !" And the two laughed in
lusty chorus. 'You may be sure, BARN"
he continues, turning to me, s.that
wasn't long in inviting my friends to come
and rejoice with me over the good luck
which God had sent; and by seven in the
evening had all ready for 'em-the tea
urn boiling, the black bread and bacon
laid out, dish Of sailed cucumbers, and
half-gallon Of vodka Corn brandy into
the bargain. Just as I'd finished laying
out the table my wife had gone out to buy
some sausage) there came knock at the
door. Thinks I, there are my guests come
already, and j went to let 'em in. But
usD what should see but three men in
black masks, and the foremost of 'em
with pistol in his hand--this very pistol
that's lying on the table now"
"Oho that pistols trophy taken from
the enemy, them ?" remarked /. s'This
begins to get interesting. Go on, pray"
''rm not going to say / wasn't fright
tened" pursued the starosta. 81 was
frightened, and very badly frightened too,
can tell you. But before l could say a
word the foremost blackguard claps
hand on my shoulder and says to me in
voice that sounded as if it came down a
chimney, Hand over that money you got
this morning; quick, or will send you
where YOU won't come back again ). and /
heard the pistol click as he cooked it,
Well, as you know, When needs must
there's no time for brewing beer so |
went to the big chest yonder and out with
the bank notes; but in handing them out
l managed to tuck two or three of them
into my sleeve. The rogue counted them
twice over and shook his head.
s'This wont do" says he, catching me
by the collar. We know exactly how
much you got this morning, and we mean
to have it all SO out with what you've
hidden or it will be the worse for YOU.
Then all at once thought came into
my head, just as if somebody had whis-
pered it to me, and / shook the banknotes
out of my sleeve on the floor, so that they
flew this way and that way. The rogue,
fearing, no doubt, that some of them might
get lost, bounced upon them to pick 'em
up, putting down his pistol, just as /
thought he would. But the minute he
loosed hold of it snatched it up and shot
him dead on the spot"
My driver gaze a hoarse, chuckling
laugh of intense enjoyment, while the
starosta paused for moment in order to
heighten the effect of his last sentence,
handling the captured pistol with bel
ligerent air.
"Well done," put in l ''you tricked
him very nicely. But what did the other
two fellows dop = Ran away. l suppose ?"
You may ask that" 'replies the narra-
tor, with a broader grin than ever; .'they
were gone almost before / could turn
round. Well, when found myself safe !
again and the field clear | felt SO dazed
that almost thought should have faint |
ed; but knew there was more to be done
yet, so dipped my head in pan of
water to clear it a bit, locked up the house,
put the key in my pocket and away as
hard as could 60 to the 'kvartalni' (dis-
trict police inspector). But when / got
there he was not at home. They said he
had gone out more than an hour before
and hadn't come back yet, so there was
nothing for it but to go on to the next
station, across the river yonder, and tell
the kvartalni there. The moment he
heard what had happened he claps ON his
coat, calls three or four of his men, and
away we all went back to the hut, where
we found the dead fellow lying on the
floor just as had left him. The kyartal-
mis- men pulled off his mask--and who
should this be but the very police inspect
or had been looking for! And the other
two robbers. as found out afterward,
were the village postmaster and priest.
And now, BARN, here's your place ready
Tor you, and may heaven send YOU good