The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-15
LOLA PULASKI.
The Victim of Circumstan-
tial Evidence.
A Story of NihiIistic PIottings and Grimes.
By LEON EDWARDS.
- OR
CHAPTER XIX.

Berger 1Ounu nlnSell.
He would not allow himself to think
that Lance was disloyal.
He knew that MauX was the night
turnkey, and he believed that soon af-
ter daylight, that unprepossesslng per-
son would app>ar to release him.
In his great anxiety to get out, Ivan
forgot that at that moment he repre-
sented in dress and make up the very
man he was expecting.
Another turnkey appeared in Mauz's
place. He was stolid, coarse-looklnS
fellow. whom Ivan had never seen be-
fore, so he did not dare to accost him.
To cold and anxiety, hunger was
added as the day wore on, and the
gloom of another long winter night
came to the prison corridors.
1t may not be amiss here to explain
the conduct of Lance and the turn
key, Maux.
Lance's passions were as strong as
his great frame.
Separated from the world, he was
fierce in his vindictive hate of its rulers,
and he sought every opportunity to
drown his memory in drink.
He had been drinking when Ivan
met him, and with such men the only
safety is in keeping away from the
cursed cup. ,,
One drink means other drinks, till
the frenzied intoxication seizes on the
brain, and destroys all prudence and
immediate responsibility.
After leaving Ivan in the cell with
Lola Pulaski Lance and Maux went to
the drinking place near the prison, in
tending to remain but short time, for
it was against the rules for them to
leave at all without permission.
But they sat down with bottle,
like forbidden fruit, between them,
and under such circumstances such
men soon forget time and all the duties
they owe to their fellows.
Indeed, Lance and Maux forgot the
duty they owed to themselves, and
drank till they forgot they were not
free men.
In vain did the proprietor of the
place urge them to get back to the
prison while it was yet dark, and they
could return by the secret passage.
The men went on drinking and ours
ing the Gear till daylight came, and
they fell to the floor, in the heavy
sleep of intoxication.
Long before daylight both men
should have left their beds in the eel
lar, under the prison reception-room,
and reported for duty.
In this, as we'll as in every other
branch of the Cars service, the rules
are infexible, and their enforcement is
rigid as death.
The absence of Lance and Mau1 was,
of course, detected the very instant
they should have gone on duty.
"The lazy dogs" said the governor
OF the prison, an old soldier and most
plant tool of the Gar. "Roust them
out of their beds, and put them in cells
for q week."
Being so ordered, two of the prison
officials started to seek Lance and
Maux, but they soon returned with the
startling report that "the lazy dogs"
could not be found.
Then the old governor became furi-
GUS.
Itwas clear to him that the men had
deserted their posts.
He caused their disappearance to be
telegraphed all over the city, and also
to General Paul's chief of staff, who
was acting as head of the secret serv-
ice, during the incapacity of his SUI
perior.
At once thousand men were on the
search, and placards were posted de-
scribing the appearance of the two
men, and informing the public that
Lance and Maux were partially par
doned criminals class of culprits
unknown outside the dominions of
the Car.
Had Lance and Maux been in an in
accessible place, far away from the
Neva prison, the chances are they
would have been detected and arrested
at once, but, being under the walls, as
it were, they were comparatively Sc
cure.
In the meantime Ivan was in great
anxiety.
Hunger was added to mental torture.
He reasoned that if Lance or Maux
had betrayed him for the sake of the
rewards, that before this the prison
officials would have appeared to exam
inc him.
/: But it was very evident that cell
Cthree was looked upon as vacant.
He feared that any minute the turn
key would appear with prisoner and
show him in.
eI can't remain here till hunger and
cold sap all my strength" reasoned
Ivan.
But he could not 80 readily hit upon
a way OF getting out of the trap.
He watched the stout turnkey as he
vent his rounds, and he came to the
conclusion, about midnight of the Sec
ond day, to discover himself.
Waiting till the turnkey stopped II
his rounds, near cell three, which he
did about every half hour, Ivan made
scratching noise on the door.
The man was on the alert, for he
came over and listened and the noise
was repeated.
The turnkey held his lamp up to thu
grating in the upper part of the doc,
and tried to look inside.
He could see nothing, but he dit
hear cat as plainly as ever cat wa
heard in the world.
"Iwonder how that cat got in there?
mused the man.
He set his lamp on the floor, AM
putting his mouth to the bars, Ii
whispered:
"Pussy, pussy, poor leetle puss'"