Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-02-21
A Russian. adyemture.


TO get any borseS, was obliged to
content hiraseif with the miserable
accommodations e afforded. The
lsnalady came ont 70 welcome him
deeked in rings and jewels--a con
tAst, as he thought, TO the dirty
uocared-for house. He was g"od
deal surprised to bear his hostess
order one OF the servants to go to
the ctergyman's house to request
the loan OF some sheets for the
strangers bed.
Many little incidents occurred to
render the traveller suspicious. The
gentleman had with him very fine
Russian hound, which he never
separated from, and never permit,
ted to sleep out of the room. After
q supper quite in keeping with the
appearance of the inn, he was shown
up TO his room. He ordered the
servant TO accompany him, and the
dog followed. This euraged the
hostess, who made great demenstra-
tons of wrath, and declared she
would not pernit her rooms to be
dirtied by a dogs presence. Her
rage confirmed the traveller Ia his
determination not to allow the dog
to leave him. Madame stormed in
vain, but at leagth she was obliged
to Weld. After she had gone, the
gentleman, by signs--for he would
not speak out-made his servant
understand that he wished him 20
get out his pistols. Over the chin
pey-piece there was a very large
mirror. The hound soon became
very uneasy, whined walked up
ana down keeping his eyes fixed
upon the mirror. The gentleman
looked at the mirror, but could de.
teet nothing. He eoaxed, and by
every effort tried to quiet the dog,
and to direct his sttention from the
spot, but all in vain. He then
stopped down and brought his eyes
on a level with those of the dog,
when he Immediately discovered a
space under the frame of the glass
and saw figures standing behind.
In a moment he knew how to act.
He did BOT think that the persons
concealed had seen him looking
under the frame. 80 he began a
conversation with his servant, tell
ing him he had all his life been
great wanderer, and had a great
many strange adventures; and be
kept walking up and down the
room, stopping FROM time to time
before the mirror. He continued
TO tell stories of the different en-
with robbers. bis pistols
In his hands, loaded and cooked
those of his servant being ALTO pre-
pared; so the two were pretty
strongly armed.
Daring one Of these recitals h.,
laughing al his own stories, and
seemingly very merry, again stop
ed before the mirror, an said 10 his
servant. "When | was in such and
such q place, my fellow traveller
and I we've standing before the door.
as I NAV be COW standing before this
,ooking-glass; and | afed of my
pistols thus. aBd ne Gid the same"
And, suitiag the action to the word.
lie actually fred at the large glass.
which came rafting down at his
feet, shivsred to atoms,-the great
chasm revealing five men. two of
whom his balls had killed. The
servant instantly fired, and two
more fell leaving one unhurt. They
were 30 taken by snrprise at this
unexpected attack aud discovery
that they had no time to retreat.
TIE remaining man, seeing pistols
in the hand of both master and
servant, stood terrified. The trav-
eler ordered him to come out Of his
hiding place. He did 90, and al
the command given laid his wea.
pons on the table. The Russian
gentleman took up one and his SER
want the other, and, pointing then
at the mans breast, told him tina
now he vas at their mercy. So h
confessed that the house was tn,
resort OF bspditti, and that tn,
clergyman Of the parish was II
league with them and the sigma
given TO him that assistance va
needed was the sending for sheets
when he invariably sent ruffins VII
feared nothing. He told them tina
they murdered all who fell iut
their hands and that the bodie
OF the victims we're buried In
- IA G..,ol. .-a. ,.a1A q