Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08
"who let him in?


In the meantime the nagaika had regu
larly fallen and risen. Nicholas gave n
longer anv sign of life. Haas went to th
bench and put his hand on Popoff's head.
Enough OF this torturep' he said in
tone of command. ''Your victim is dyingi'
go onl strike hardi" cried Palkin, furi
GUS at the interruption. II can talk to tn,
doctor afterwards"
The gendarme raised the knout, but at tn,
moment Haas snatched it from his hand anC
threw it aside.
"Enoughp' he exclaimed. "why, tn.
poor unfortunate man is giving up the
ghostl'
Palkln approached the doctor and seized
him by the arm. Tired and disgusted with
the punishment he had been compelled to
inhict, the executioner looked in amaze
ment at the man who dared defy his Colonel
and never thought of picking up the
nagaika.
Haas quietly confronted the Colonel.
| DO you know, doctor, that you are guilty
I of resisting the authority of the Govern
ment. and that you may have to pay dear
for it? How did you get in? Answer"
Haas disengaged himself calmly and said:
ALLOW me first to assist the dying man. !"
IA man who is diving and yet takes his
secret with him into the grave, you mean.
But do you know what is awaiting you
yourself, old quack?"
Haas cast a cold look at him, and replied
with unaffected calmness:
"No one knows his fate Allow me Just
now, however, to assist this poor man."
This calmness iniuriated the Colonel be-
yond control.
HE and you and your Count, you are all
Of you simply a band of traitors. You say
he is dead. Well. then you no doubt know
his secret, and will perhaps reveal it to me.
Halo, there! unite that dying man there
and go to work on this mad fellow in his
place. That'n give us new pleasure. Hal
hal'' be laughed wildly, "after all shall
attain my end!'
Haas measured him with look OF con-
tempt.
"You, insane man, threaten me when you
ought to be very humble. Listen"
"Do you think I'll listen to your empty
stuff? Bind this old man. You are too
tired" he said to the man who had beaten
Popof, and called another gendarme. "Now
it is your turnF'
The man was slow to obey the Colonel.
Haas rose to his full height now, and said:
81 do not like to take vengeance. As you,
however, will not give up your intention.
your wish shall be fulfilled. HelpP'
he cried, with laundering voice.
d uOlSS WAS ucdIu, ds IL
windowpanes were broken, and in the open
ing appeared two rifles pointed at the
Colonel. At the same time the door was
burst open violently, and soon 80 e1iles,
armed with clubs and swords, filled the
room. Palkin was at first confused, but
soon recovered his insolence.
"Here is the rebellion! Ahal We are
only three of us. but this unarmed rabble
we shall soon master. Come on, childrenl
We shall soon have assistance sent from
townl"
The gendarmes obeyed, but they fell al
most instantly, being shot down by the two
ri1emen. The exiles surrounded Palkin.
Haas busted himself with the dying man,
as if the combat did not concern him at sll.
"You must take the Colonel alive" Or
dered voice from the window. "If ten Of
you fall, you must take him alive"
1--WE shall see that" replied the gen.
darme, undaunted. "You have not gotten
me yet"
He fired pistol twice into the thickest Of
bis assailants. Then he alone resisted the
overwhelming force of exiles. Gigantic as
he was, he struck with his sword right and
left, and fought on, even after he had been
seriously injured by heavy clubs He tried
to gaiu the door, wounding and killing who
ever was in his way. and all the time shout
ing for help. Blood was flowing in streams.
A certain mistrust seized upon the eIiles.
Eight men had fallen under the blows OF
the colossal, raging soldier. Palkin had
actually reached the door, when all Of
sudden, he lost his balance and fell to the
ground. A new enemy had appeared and
struck him down with one powerful blow
The gendarme roaled like wild beast.
cat last l have you, vile verminP' e1-
Ia. y kA vhA
the fight from the window, had used favor
able moment to attack Palkin from behind.
In moment the Colonel was disarmed and |
bound in spite of his violent resistance.
Now Miller went to the window, and, tax |
ing off his kospak, he said:
Countess, there Is no danger now. You |
can enterl'
A fearful scene it was that struck the eve
in the interior of the small hut The bodies
of the dead gendarmes wera lying under the
bench on which Popoff had been tortured.
DR.. Haas had brought his surgical instru-
ments, and was exclusively occupied in
assisting the poor secretary, whose whole
body was one vast wound. The walls were
spatted over with blood and mud. Four
Of the exiles lay lifeless on the floor, others
were trying to stanch the blood that was
abundantly flowing from their gaping
WOUNDS. line C0lOne1 was tleQ 10 the CEN
tral post, which in Siberia supports the
ceiling. He writhed like snake and ut
tered fearful threats and curses.
Miller stood facing him, his hair pushed
pack from his forehead; all around stood
he exiles, and the hut resounded with cries
,f revenge and of triumph. The light wood
was near extinction and dispensed but an
and Pickering light. Now and
then the room was bloodily lighted up, and
then again it sank back into deep darkness.
Tne exlles, however, had brought lanterns
which they now hung on the central post.
Jana entered with Helen.
"Where is my husband? Where is Vlad-
mir?" asked the Countess, full of appre-
nension.
"You need not fear, Countess" said Mil
Ter, bowling before her as he used to do in
Petersburg salons, "the Count is not here
and was not present"
"And my poor Nicholas?" asked Helen.
The stiffness of the grave gave the only
answer. Miller hung his head; Helen, at
,ne glance, counted the dead bodies and
Jaw seven; she examined them one after
mother. Palkin's curses continued. All
ooked full OF pity at the poor girl who had
ollowed her betrothed to Siberia and now
ooked for him among the dead.
She soon approached his bloody remains.
Haas raised his hands to heaven. At once
Helen understood it all and fell in silent de-
pair on her knees.
To be continued ne1t Sunday.]