The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-15


Ivan Berger!" gasped Lance.
"Yes, Ivan Berger! Ask no explana-
tions now. We have one-half hour in
which to save ourselvesl How can it
he done?" asked Ivan, in hurried but
intense whisper,
"By all the saints in the Greek CAL
endar!" said Lance; "you should be q
Gencral!"
"But we must get out of this. My
life, your liberty, depend on it. Why,
/ do not even know where cell seven
is"
Lance smote his forehead.
The situation and it's necessities sud-
ienly dawned upon him.
Quick! follow mel" he whispered.
Ivan and Maux followed him to the
rear of the prison, where he lifted
flag in the floor 1t was to his giant
strength mere child-weight.
The light of the lamp, which Ivan
carried, fell upon a narrow stairs, to
which Lance pointed.
Tie three desceHdeu, Lance coming
last, and letting the hagstone fall into
place from his upturned hands.
"Let me have the lantern for few
seconds" said Lance, while get some
other clothes to disguise u.s."
Ivan would have protested against
this arrangement, but. before he could
do so Lance seized the lantern and was
'one
A mistep, down in the gloomy
depths, would be awful.
The seconds were like minutes,
though not many of them elapsed be-
fore Lance was back again with three
| fur coats, or, rather, coats of sheep
skins, with the hair on, and caps to
match, such as are worn by the team
sters and lower orders of the city In the
winter season.
"There are enough for three" he
.aid, as he threw the things on the
ground and began selecting the largest;
slet us each put on a coat and cap"
This took but a few seconds, and
with the great collars turned up to their
ears, and the baggy fur caps drawn
over their eyes, the three men were so
completely disguised that their dear
EST friends would not have known
Them.
"Now let me play guide, said Lance.
after we are outside the walls I will
turn over the command to you, Com
rade Ivan"
With this he strobe ahead, the others
following at nearly run.
Along dark, intricate passages went
Lance, without seconds pause.
At length he rose to the surface, and
By means Of key which he had se-
creted on his person, he opened the
little door in the great wall through
which he led Ivan when they entered
The prison, and again the three men
stood free in the black shadows.
The door in The wall being closed be-
hind them, Lance turned, and, laying
his hand on Ivan's shoulder, said:
"Now, comrade, you must take com.
mand."
"Do you know OF no place where you
could he safe till you can get chance
10 get out of the country?" asked Ivan.
II do not. know the little brandy
shop across the street, and the place
where our people meetin the CITY,"
"You mean the Nihilists?"
eyes, comrade. But beyond the
places named I know of none. The
world. which I hate, has forgotten me-"
Have you or Maux any money!"
asked Ivan, adding, with a sigh, "at
<resent am bankrupt.
"Aye, comrade," replied Lance, II
have q thousand rubles sewed in the
lining of my coat, which those fellows
at the Office did not take from me-"
"Good. I do not want the money for
myself, but that you and Maux may be
able to compensate the poor man-the
brother, who will take charge OF you.
Now, follow me, or rather let us keep
on side by side. wish We had three
whips, that we might better carry out
our characters.
With slouching gait that the others
did not have to make much of an effort
to initiate to perfection, Ivan walked
on between the two men.
They crossed some of the wider
streets, passing bodies of soldiers, and
making no effort to avoid the police
men, who were never out Of sight.
VANS objectire point was the house
of one George Nevshi, theatrical
costumer.
This George Nevski was an old man,
bachelor, and confirmed Nihilist.
He was we'll known in the city for
his eccentricities, but it was not 30
we'll known that these eccentrici-
ties were assumed to hide his schemes
ngain,t the Gar, whom he bitterly
hated.
George Nevski's house was low,
old fashioned structure, tho first floor
OF which was several steps lower than
the street.
The old man was in the act of put
ting up the shutters in his little shop
windows for the night when the three
men halted before him, and Ivan gave
him tile Nihilist sign of distress.
"Quick; 60 into the house." said the
old man, "and I will follow when l
have finished my work."
They entered the shop, and in o
few minutes George NeVskl came IN
and carefully locked the door behind
| him.
Ivan had learned the art of disguise
from this shrewd old man, and now he
made himself known, and explained
why they had come.
The old man was startled at Ivan's
audacity, and alarmed at the danger
that was thus thrust on himself; yet he
said, firmly:
Il do not forget my oath, and to
| tha hest of nv ability T will aid YOU