Sharp County record., 1888-04-26
missed who they were

GENERAL sKOBELEFP.
Skobeleff, having fired bullet through
mirror at an aristocratic party, had been de-
prlved 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 re1nstated in the
royal favor In order to succeed, he would
need some comrades skilled in horseman-
ship, and of unHinching 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 shrieks of women and the shouts
of men.
Within fifty seconds the front of the
paruuet was absolutely empty, save for
the three Americans and the two officers,
Skoheleff and Krapotkin, who had retained
their seats with imperturbable GOODNESS.
Little Bricks said to Macy, in quiet way:
Reckon thar amt much show for US,
Buckaro, unless thar's door under that
stage" Then, as he glanced around at the
demoralized crowd behind them, he added,
with some wonder: "Well, swar, ef thar
aintt two real men at last"
He referred to the two officers, who now
rose slowly from their seats and came to-
words the strangers ...-.
Skobeleff Was IS cool as cucumber, as he
hel out his hand to Little Bricks, and said,
IN excellent English, or rather shouted into
his ear:
"You are o molodyetz-a brave fellow
How came Won here? What brought you to
Russia, mean?"
Little Bricks, grasping the hand extended
ns if it had been that of comrade, yelled
back his answer in the others ear:
Game TO see the Grand Duke Alexis
Met 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
n tear and came Here wo air. Know any
thing about the Grand Duke, stranger"
'The Grand Duke is at Sebaslopol. 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 fire alive, call at that hotel in the morn
ing Is that understood?'
Little Bricks nodded, and just at that
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 Skobelef
touched the three cowboys successfully,
anl pointed them to the door
Then Jacques Dardeville screamed into
SKobeleffs ear:
go and find if it leads out anywhere,
and we'll bring some girls out that way"
Skobeleff nodded assent and darted
down to the opening. In few moments
he came back to shout in his companion's
car:
at leads into an open court If there is
no Jam we can get out quite number.
Then the five men lofC their place of safe
tv, and advanced to the back of the Shrek
ing, struggling mass Of humanity, that was
nows urging around the foot OF the bal ony.
The fire on the stage had spread by the
curtain, over the roof of the theater, and
was already licking at the curtains Of the
boxes
Skobeleff, surveying the scene with un-
diminished GOODNESS, 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 back"
So saving, they began to pull at the terror
stricken ones that they saw running to ana
fro in the rear of the crowd, and pointed
ont. by gestures the dark door under the
stage: but by the time they had escorted
about score of ladies off in this way, the
fire had crept so near the stage door that
the next-comers shuddered and shrank
back from the apparent danger Skobeletf
yelled in Macy's ear:
"We'ye saved all we can. Take another
girl apiece and let US 90 uhile ace can"
The Americans nodded silently, and eacn
man looked about for woman to save,
when they heard great cry behind them,
which was followed by crash. LooHlng
round, they saw that part OF the roof hau
fallen in sparks on the crowd, and that all
bopes of escape seemed to be cut of; but
they heard Skobeleff say aloud, in English:
Courage, my friends If we get out OF
this Won are the boys | want to nave Wl1h
me The continuation of this thrHlng
historical narrative of The Cowboy Cos
sacks is piven in number thirteen OF the
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OF which contains something to amuse, 10
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