Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-07-08


show. put the letter mechanically into
his pocket without looking at 1t. and
then forgot all about it. Long aftel
midnight, father and son having emp
tied couple of bottles of champagne,
of which the old General had alwats d
small supply in his cellar. both retired
to rest. On entering his bedroom
where his old orderly Matveitch await
ed him, the General renieii bered the
letter. and, drawing the lamp nearer
10 where he stood, broke the seal. He
| first read the signature: canton Pod.
bielsky." His brows contracted as il 4
painful Recollection had cast a shadow
ever them.
What business has that man to
write to me?' he muttered. Podbicl-
sky was a Polisl; nobleman, who had
formerly been the Generals school.
mate. As very young man he had
been Implicated in the great Polish in.
siirrection of 1880, and had purchased
his pardon from the Russian Govern.
ment by betraying some of his asso-
ciates. Since that time General Save
lief, who hated all traitors, even il
they had rendered service to the good
cause, had broken off all relations with
POdbiclsky, while the latter, rising rap
idly. soon reached a prominent and in
tlucntial position In the newly-formed
Third Section,' or secret police. Now
he was chief of the chancery of that
dreaded institution, and, moreover.
specially intrustcd with the investiga-
ton of the Winter Palace explosion.
That man wrote as follows:
"EEAR Notwithstanding our for
| mef relations. allow me to address n word OF
earnest warn M to you: Your son has been
found to be duplicated in the case Of the
dynamite explosion l am now inrestgat-
! ing
The old man read no further. With
i terrible oath. bis face purple with in
dignation. he sprang up and threw the
letter to the ground.
"A lie, an infamous lie!" lie ex-
claimed
Your Excellcncy.' whispered the
terrified Matveitch, ''what is the mat
tcr?''
Nothing. Leave met
The old servant went out, shaking
his head sorrowfullv.
On remaining alone the General $
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 q communica-
ton, Savclief soon convinced himself
! that the letter contained more than an
empty threat Or an utterly groundless
calunlny. He picked UP the paper
with trembling hand and read on:
"Therc is, alas. no possible doubt as to his
| guilt All | can do Tor you and for HIM is to
warn you q few hours before his arrest In
the night follow ng the receipt by you Of this
| letter he shall be arrested ut your house, If
| till then he has not in some manner dsap-
| reared. know it is a breach of duty am
! committing. ! want, however, to show You
! that even Il geEdarme is capable.Of remember
ANTON PoDBIELsKY."
Painting for breath, his broad chest
heaying with an uncomfortable agita-
ton. the General read these lines to
their bitter end. The close air of the
room suffocated 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
he holds in his hand with nervous
grip.
"A few hours" he muttcrs, "cycry
moment these people may come and
take him away. l must, [. must speak
to him, hear of him that he is inno-
cent"
Having formed this resolution the
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, The
young Colonel opened at once and on
seeing his fathers troubled countc-
nance exclaimed:
"What is the matter, fathcr?'
'.Read that the latter answered,
giving him the letter.
Andre became as pale as death, but
his eyes summed not his fathers pierre
ing gaze when, on reading the letter,
he looked up to him.
"Andrusha!" the old man exclaimed,
in tone of unutterable anguish, and
ciasping his trembling hands as if in
prayer ''Tell me that this is lie!
Speak, answer me before God!'
A long silence followed. At last the
answer came in low, firm tones:
81 can not, father; for have never
told lier'
"You-yOu-,are -
The eyes of the old man dilated, his
hands graspcd the air convulsively and
he tOttered back to the wall. Andre
rushed forward to support him, but the
General ordered him back with an i'm.
pcrious gesture.
Don't touch me-" he gasped.
Back, back"
At this moment knock at the door
was heard The General went up to
it with steady step and locked il.
Then he approached a 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 hoarse whisper:
.'Choose!''
''What do you mean, father?"
''Choose, tell yOu-there is no time
to lose!'
The Colonel remained motionless,
leaning against the table. Two min
utes of terrible anguish passed in si-
lcnce. At length the General took up
one of the pistols and retreated few
steps and pointed it at his son.
Colonel Savelieff,' he exclaimed,
defend yourself!''
'.Not against my father" Andre an
swered, in low, vibrating voice.
One moment more of breathless sus-
pense. Once more the knock at the
door was heard, louder than before.
Then shot and Andre fell to the
ground motionless without uttering a
moan. The old man east 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
all ool- bof>,o thu lact hlovy nc