The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-12


Skobeleff, having fred 3 bullet through Q
mirror at an aristocratic party, had been de-
prived of his command, and knew that he
had got to do some daring deed at the be-
ginning of the war with Turkey, then Just
coming on, to get himself reinstated in the
royal favor In order to succeed, he would
need some comrades skilled in horseman-
ship, and of unf1inching courage, and he at
once thought that the American cowboys
would be just the men for him. He was
about to speak to them, when a loud cry
arose, and the scenery and stage were seen
to be on fire, At once. from every quarter,
arose the shrisks of women and the shouts
of men
Within fifty seconds the front Of the
parquet was absolutely empty, save for
the three Americans and the two officers,
Skobeleff and Krapotkin, who had retained
their seats with inperturbable coolness
Little Bricks said to Macy, in a quiet way:
Reckon thar amt much show for US,
Buckaro, unless thar's a door under that
stage" Then, as he glanced around at the
demoralized crowd behind them, he added,
with some wonder: well, swar, ef thar
| aint't two real men at last"
He referred to the two officers, who now
rose slowly from their seats and came to
wards the strangers
Skobelei was as cool as a cucumber, as he
held out his hand to Little Bricks, and said,
in excellent English, or rather shouted into
his ear:
You ere a nloIodyetz-a brave fellow
How came you here? What brought you to
Russia. meany"
Little Bricks grasping the hand extended
rs if it had been that of q comrade, yelled
-
Game to see the Grand Duke Alexis
Net him on the plains We three helped
him his first buffalo hunt Asked us to call
on him, if we ever came to ROosha Got on
tear and cana Here zoe Gir. Know any
thing about the Grand Duke, stranger?"
THE Grand Dukefs at Sebastopol You
know he is in the navy, not the army. You
will not be able to do any thing with him in
this war, gentlemen. You had better come
with me Here is my card If we get out OF
this nre alive, call at that hotel in the morn
ing. Is that understood?"
Little Bricks nodded, and Just at that
moment Krspotkin touched Skobeleff on the
arm, and pointed out that, under the stage,
the door by which the orchestra went out
and in was wide open, and looked black,
as if there was no fire, in that direction
The gesture was sufficient and Skobeleff
touched the three cowboys successfully,
and pointed them to the door.
Then Jacques Daroeville screamed into
Skobeleff's ear:
go and find If 1t leads out anywhere,
and we'll bring some girls out that way"
Skobeleff nodded assent and darted
down to the opening. In a few moments
ne came back to shout in his companion's
ear:
at leads into an open court II there la
no jam We can get out quite number.
Then the hve men left their place Of safe
ty, and advanced to the back of the Shrek
ing, struggling mass of humanity. that was
nows Hrging around the foot of the balcony.
The IRE on the stage had spread by the
curtain, over the roof of the theater, and
was already licking at the curtains OF the
boxes
Skobelef, surveying the scene with un-
diminished coolness pointed to the great
entrance door, which could still be seen
through the smoke, and roared into Darde-
ville's ear:
Blocked tight! Get them backl'
So saying, they began to pull at the terror
stricken ONES that they saw running to and
fro In the rear Of the crowd, and pointed
out. by gestures, the dark door under the
stage; but by the time they had escorted
about Q soore of ladies of in this way, the
fire had crept so near the stage door that
the nsxt-comers shuddered and shrank
back from the apparent danger Skobelef
yelled in Aacy's ear:
We've saved ali we can Take another
girl apiece and let rs go chile ,Oe can
The Americans nodded silently, and each
man looked about for a woman to save.
when they heard great cry behind them,
which was followed by 8 crash Looking
round. they saw that part OF the roof had
fallen In sparks on the crowd, and that all
hopes of escape seemed to be sut OF; but
they heard Skobelef say aioud, In English:
Courage, my friendA II we get out OF
this, you are the boys want to have with
me-" The continuation of this thrilling
historical narrative Of The Cowboy Cos
sacks is given In number thirteen Of the
New York Ledger, the great family story
paper, which Is always full Of the best and
CHOICEST reading matter. and every number
OF which contains something to amuse, to
entertain and to instruct the reader Ire
subscription price of the New York Ledger
is So year; for six months, 81 so, and for
four months, 81, all postage free Sud
scribers can begin with No. Is, containing
q continuation OF the great story OF
The Cowboy Cossacks" Address kooert
Bonner's Sons, Publishers Of the New fork
Ledger, corner Of Spruce and William streels,
New York