Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-07-08

ne was cnlet OF the cn0nccry OIL tnat
dreaded institution, and, moreover,
/ specially intrusted with the investiga-
tion Of the Winter Palace explosion.
That man wrote as follows:
"nEAR -Remombering our for.
mer relations, allow me 20 address n word OF
| earnest warning 10 you. Your son has beon
/ tound TO be implicated IN the case OF tho
dynamite explosion l am now investigat'
The old man read no further With
q terrible oath, his face purple with in
dignation, he sprang up and threw the
letter to the ground.
"A lie, an Infamous liel" he ex-
claimed.
"Your Excellency,n whispered the
terrified Matveitch, "what Is the mat
| terPn
Nothing. Leave meln
The old servant went out, shaking
his head sorrowfully.
On remaining alone the Generals
first impulse was TO burn the letter
without reading it. On considering,
however, the position Podbielsky oc-
cupied and the responsibility he in
CURED by writing such communica-
zion, Saveliof soon convinced himself
that the letter contained more than an
empty threat or an utterly groundless
calumny. He picked up the paper
with trembling hand and read on:
"There Is, aias no possible doubt as to his
/ guilt All | can do tor YOU and Tor him is 70
warn you a few hours before his arrest In
| the night following the receipt by you Of this
/ letter he shall be arrested at your house. II
peared. know Il is breach of duty I am
| committing. | want however, to show you
that even gendarmc is capabeiof remember.
1 n
"ANToS PopBrrLsEY."
Painting for breath, his broad chest
heaving with an uncomfortable agita-
ton. the General read these lines to
their bitter end. The close air of the
room sunocated him. He threw open
| the folding doors Of the terrace and
stepped out into the garden. And
there he Is now, pacing to and fro the
gravel walk and crunching the paper
be holds in his hand with nervous
grip.
"A few hours" he muttcrs, "cvcry
moment these people may come and
take him away. must, | must speak
to him, hear Of him that he is inno-
cent"
Having formed this resolution tho
General raised his head and walked
back into the house with firm step.
There was still light in his sons room
when he knocked at the door. Tho
young Colonel opened at once and on
seeing his fathers troubled counte-
nance exclaimed;
"What is the matter. father?"
"Read that the latter answered,
giving him the letter.
Andre became as pale as death, but
l. L.
ing gaze when, on reading the letter,
he looked up to him.
"Andrushaw the old man excla' med.
in tone of unutterable anguish, and
clasping his trembling hands as if in
prayer. "Tell me that this is lie!
Speak, answer me before God!'
A long silence followed. Az last the
answer came in low, firm tones:
81 can not, father; for have never
told a lie!'
"You-you-are" -
The eyes of the old man dilated, his
hands grasped the air convulsively and
he tottered back to the wall. Andre
rushed forward TO support him. bus the
General ordered him back with an inn
perious gesture.
Don't touch me-" he gasped.
Back, back
At this moment a knock at the door
was heard. The General went rp to
it with a steady step and locked il.
Then he approached closet in which
he kept his firearms, opened it, drew
out of one of the chests a pair OF pis-
tolls and placed them on the table, ut
tering in a hoarsc whisper:
"ChOoser'
what do you mean, father?'
Choose, tell you--there is no time
to loser
The Colonel remained motionless,
leaning against the table. Two min
utes Of terrible anguish passed in si-
lencc. At length the General took mp
one Of the pistols and retrcated few
steps aud pointed il at his son.
Colonel Savelieh,' he exclaimed,
defend YOURSELF
"Not against my father" Andre an
swercd, in a low. vibrating voice.
One moment more Of breathless sus-
pensc. Once more the knock at the
door was heard, louder than before.
Then n shot and Andre fell to the
ground motionless without uttering a
moan. The old man cast one look at
his sons body, then deliberately
cooked the second pistol and turning it
against his heart pulled the trigger
His huge form shook and tOttered
like an old oak before the last blow OF
the axe which fells it to the ground,
but did not fall His eyes took
glazed hue, his feet sank beneath him,
but with last, almost superhuman Of
fort Of an iron will he steadied himself.
went 10 the door, unlocked II, and.
seeing a gendarme officer on the thres-
hold, whispered:
"You have nothing more TO do here;
the criminal is punishedr'
Then he fell heavily to the ground
dead.-M T. World