Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-01-02

It's door banked tina Of the kitchen. In
returning to the sitting-room, Morosoff
observed that when the door of the
little room was wide open, it
comiietely shut out the view
OF the kitchen, and consequently
hid from the policeman the outer door,
and also that Of the sitting-room. 1t
would be possible, therefore, ut a given
moment, to pass through the ante
chamber without being seen by the sem
tinel. But this could not be done I'M.
less some one came and opened the
door OF the little room. Neither Olga
nor Morosoff could do this, for if, UNI
der some preteNt, they opened it, they
would OF course have to leave it
open. This would Immediately
arouse suspicion. and the policeman
would run after them and catch them
perhaps before they had descended the
staircase. Could they trust the land
lady? The temptation to do so was
great. If she consented to assist them,
success might be considered certain.
But if she refused! Who could guaran-
tee that, for fear of being punished as
an accomplish, she would not GO and
reveal everything to the police? OF
course she did not suspect in the least
what kind of people her dodgers were.
Nothing, therefore, was said to her,
but they hoped, nevertheless, to have her
unconscious assistance, and twas upon
that Morosoff had based his plan.
About eleven o'clock she went into the
little room where the pump was placed,
to get the water to fill the kitchen
cistern for next days consumption. As
the room was very small, she generally
left one of the two pals in the corridor,
while she filled the other with water,
and, Of course, was thus obliged to
leave the door open. Everything thus
depended upon the position in which
she placed her pail. An inch or two
on one side OF the other would decide
their fate; for it was only when the
door of the little room was wide open
that it shut out the view of the kitchen
and concealed the end of the ante
chamber. If not wide open part of the
outer door could be seen. There re-
manned half an hour before the decisive
moment, which both employed in pre-
pairing for flight. Their wraps were
hanging up in the wardrobe in the
antechamber. They had, therefore, to
put on what they had:.with them in the
sitting-room. Morosof put on a light
summer o~vercoat. Olga threw over
her shoulders q wooden scarf, to pro-
tect her somewhat from the cold. In
order to deaden as much as possible
the sounds of their hasty footsteps,
which might arouse the attention of the
sentinel in the profound silence of the
night, both of them put on their
goloshes, which, being elastic, made
but little noise. They had to put them
or next to their stockings, although it
was not particularly agreeable at that
season, for they We're in their slippers,
their shoes having been purposely sent
into the kitchen to be. cleaned for the
following day, in s'order to remove all
suspicion respecting their intentions.
Everything being prepared, they re-
manned in readiness, listening to every
sound made by the %landlady. At last
came the Changing of the empty pals.
She went to the little room, threw open
the door, and began her work. The
moment had arrived. Morosoff cast a
hasty glance, Oh, horror! The empty
pail scarcely projected beyond the
threshold, and the door was at a very
acute angle, SO that even from the door
of the sitting-room where they were
part Of the interior of the kitchen could
be seen. He turned toward olga, who
was standing behind him holding her
breath, and made an energetic sign in
the negative. A few minutes passed,
which seemed like hours. The pump
ing ceased; the pail was full. She was
about to place it on the floor. Both
stretched their nccks, advanced a step,
being unable to control the anxiety
Of their suspense. This time the
heavy pail banged against the
door and forced it back on its hinges, a
stream Of water being split. The view
of the kitchen was completely shut out;
but another disaster had occurred.
Overbalanced by the heavy weight, the
landlady had come half out into the
corridor. .She has seen u.s." whis-
pered Morosoff, falling back pale as
death. sNo," replied Olga, excitedly;
and she was right. The landlady dis
appeared into the little room, and a
moment afterward recommended her
Gathering work.
Without losing a moment, without
the signal to his companion by a firm
hastily passed through the corridor,
SOItly opened inc dOor, ana Oun
themselves upon the landing of the
staircase. With cautious steps they
descended and were in the street, i'll
clad but very light of heart. Aquarter
Of an hour afterward they We're in a
house where they were being a~nNiously
awaited by their friends, who welcomed
them with a joy more easy to imagine
than to describe.
In their W abode their flight was
not discovered until late into the
morning, when the landlady came to
do the room.-COrWhaW Maqaslme.
How 70 Have Plenty of Leisure.