The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-12-03
in which / had eIuded his observation

who knows I am not Ra<chkof."
''io ON, Mr.. Dunkleys go OF" said the
Governor. But Dunkley could not &c
on. Already, with s+lf-interest quicken
ing his intellect, il had dawned upon
him that they caught the wrong man
that Ra~chkoff was still at large, and
that, therefore, the seven miniature
Dunkleys were far from secure from
want
/ saw my opportunity.
wish to observe-"
'Silencer'
81 wish to Observe" again.
''Silence!" again, and more perempto-
rily.
Il ,ciU speakI' said. growing resolute
81 wish to observe that my name is John
Wray, of Crutched Friars."
At which announcement the little
court was Immediately convulsed with
laughter.
Evidently the joke of my alleged
mistaken identity was considered highly
amusing.
Il repeat. my name is Wray, and mol
Raschkoff."
The Governor for the moment locked
as IL he would eat me, and his myrmi-
dons were little less aghast at my per.
sisrent insolence.
But Dunkley at last found his tongue
-
all 7"
"Not Raschkoffl" from the Governor
who felt himself still one short of his to
tai number.
"Not Raschkoffl" from the policeman
who felt himself fool, and five pound.
poorer.
"Not Raschkoff!" from the pious gate
keeper, from the first warder to the
second, to the third, and so on along the
scale, and all in tnrn expressed theiI
surprise. Bat there was no doubt aboul
it; Dunkley was positive; and other Off
GERS corroborated his statement. There
were plenty now who knew the rea
Raschkoff by sight; wardens with whom
he had been in daily contact, and who
saw at once that ] was quite differen
man. It was my misfortune that, on tbs
previous evening, none of these hac
been no duty; but in a prison containing
nearly two thousand felons the mistake
was more than possible.
At last the Governor spoke, and an
grily:
"OhI but this is too absurd. Wha
were you about, all Of yon? It's dis
graceful! And you. sir!'-this to me
''how dare you come here to insult IA
and make ns look like fools?"
One might have Thought that ! hac
been gnilty of breaking into the prison
by force, and that had insisted the,
should keep me there for the rest of my
life.
"But let me tell yon, sir" he went on
"that there ia such a thing as coDnivance
and that it ia felony to assist convic
to escape, and that before you are many
hours older yon will be by the heels il
Dorchester Jail, for trial at the next as
size"
And let me tell yon, sir!" ] replied
hotly in my turn, "that there is such
thing "a action for false imprisonment
and that if you do not instantly set ms
| free, if there ia any law in the land. he
| fore you are many months Older, you viii
be cast in heavy damages in the Court o
Queens Bench"
Nonsense, siri / insist on hearing
your explanation"
My explanation! as if hadn't want
ed to give it these twelve hours past
Then in few hurried words ] tolt
him the whole story.
"But can this be corroborated? Hav,
You anyone within reach to speak I,
| your identity?n
"There is the innkeeper at Lulworth
and others there. Or stay; telegraph II
my firm. Stokes, Wray & Co, of Crntch
ed Friars."
Twill one of the partners come DOWN.
Eyes, no doubt, if il is urgent"
at is urgent. ] am sorry to appea
discourteous or to disbelieve your story
all ! ask is that you will remain her
| -
'1n PRISON."
"By no means; in my house, as m.
gnest," said the Governor, with a how o
finished courtier. "All ! ask IL to b
qnite convinced. I trust yon will mn
derstand that I am bonnd in my serion
and responsible position to take nothin
for granted"
"And my clothes?"
"I dare say we can it you out" sal
the Governor with slight smile. "W
keep large stock of ready made cloth
et-no, not convicts', but freemen's-fo
prisoners on discharge. Step into m
private room and yon shall make III
change at once"
In half an hour was at breakfas
and at the right side of the gates wit
my host.
) "Our Mr.. Stokes" arrived that even
: ing by five, with full proof ofmy identi
ty; the Governor was satisfied; and lei
Portland gladly enough within half a
, hour afterward. Mr.. Stokes went bac
to town at once, but got out at Woo
intending to walk TO the inn. Strangel.
. enough there was WYE, who had take
me and my luggage in his cart from III
station at my first arrival three weel
. before. hailed him. He evidently di
J not recognize me in the least.
"No wonder you don't know me-"
d said. IA nice time I've been having {
j. it these last four r-and twenty hours"
: My voice alone seemed TO bring baC
q a CLEAN of intelligence into his fac
!, Slowly his eyes opened wide, and h
0 lowerjaw dropped.
. "Surely," he said, 81 saw you a-Roi
away last night quite late with the tw
n ladies. They sends down to the Co,
!, and orders a cab just afore ten--sa,