Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-03

into the mans hands. He placed it above
the mantelpiece, it clsttered on the ledge al
his poor hands dropped it, and he staggered
toward the bottom OF the table, falling into
Mildred's chair. Then all the men spoke tc
one another, something after this fashion
1.-The drum-horse hasn't hung over the
mantelpiece since 81. "How does he
know?'' Mildred, 60 and speak to him
again." "Colonel, what are you going to
do?' "Oh, dry up. and give the pool
devil a chance to pull himself together" ="
"It isn't possible, anyhow. That mans a
lunatic."
Little Mildred stood at the ColonePs side,
talking in his ear. "Will you be good
enough to take your seats, please, gentle
menp' he said, and the mess dropped into
the chairs. Only Dirkovitch's seat, next to
little Mildred's, was blank, and little
Mildred himself had found Hira Singh's
place. The wide-eyed mess sergeant filled
the glasses in dead silence. Once more the
Colonel rose, but his hand shook, and the
port spilled on the table as he looked
straight at the man in little Mildrej's chair,
and said hoarsely: MIR. Vice, the Queen. /"
There was little pause, but the man
sprung to his feet and answered without
hesitation, "The Queen, God bless her!"
and, as he emptied the thin glass, he
snapped the shank between his fingers.
Long and long ago, when the Empress OF
India was young woman, and there were
no unclean ideals in the land, it was the
custom of a few messes to drink the Queens
toast in broken glass, to the huge delight of
the mess contractors. The custom is now
dead, because there is nothing to break any,
thing for, except now and again the word of
a Government, and that has been broken
already.
THAT settles it." said the Colonel, with a
gasp. Hes not a sergeant. What in the
world is hep"
The entire mess echoed the word, and the
volley of questions would have scared any
man. Small wonder that the ragged, filthy
invader could only smile and shake his
head.
From under the table, calm and smiling,
rose Dirkovitch, who had been reused from
healthiul slumber by feet upon his body
By the side of the man he rose, and the man
shrieked and groveled. 1t was a horrible
sight, coming so swiftly upon the pride and
glory of the toast that had brought the
strayed wits together.
Dirkovitch made no offer to raise him, but
little Mildred heaved him up in an instant.
1t is not good that gentleman who can an
swer to the Queens toast should lie at the
feet of subaltern of Cossacks.
The hasty action tore the wretch's upper
nearly to the waist, and his body
was scanned with dry, black scars. There is
only one weapon in the world that cuts in
parallel lines, and it is neither the cane nor
the cat. Dirkovitch saw the marks, and the
pupils of his eyes dilated. Also his face
changed. He said something that sounded
like Shto We takete, and the man fawning
answered, Chetvre.
whats that?" said everybody together
"His number. That is number four, you
know" Dirkovitch spoke very thickly.
what has a Queens officer to do with a
qualified number" said the Colonel, and
there was an unpleasant growl around the
table.
"How can I tell?" said the affable Orien-
tai, with a sweet smile. 'He is a-how you
have -escape-runaway, from over
there" He nodded toward the darkness of
the night.
"Speak to him if he'll answer you, and
speak to him gently" said little Mildred,
settling the man in chair. 1t seemed most
improper to all present that Dirkovitch
should sip brandy as he talked in purring.
splitting Russian to the creature who ans
wered so feebly and with such evident dread.
But since Dirkovitch appeared to under
stand no one said a word. They breathed
heavily, leaning forward, in long gaps of the
The next time that they have
10 engagements on hand the White Hussars
intend to go to st, Petersburg in body to
earn Russian.
"He does not know how many years ago."
aid Dirkovitch facing the mess, but he
ays it was very long ago IN war. think
hat there was an accident He says he was
# this glorious and distinguished regiment
n the war;"
1.-THE rolIsI The rollsl Holmer get the
olls!'' said little Mildred, and the Adiutant
lashed of bare-headed TO the orderly room,
where the muster rolls of the regiment were
zeDt. He returned just in time to hear
Oirkovitch conclude, Therefore, my dear
riends, am most sorry to say there was an
4ccident which would have been reparable
{ he had apologized to that our colonel,
Which be had insulted."
Then followed another growl which the
Colonel tried to beat down. The mess was |
n no mood just then to weigh insults to
Russian colonels.
HE does not remember, but think that |
here was an accident, and so be was not |
Exchanged among the prisoners, but he was
ent to another place-how do you say?-
he country. So, he says, he came here.
lie does not know how he came. Eh? He
ras at Chepany"-the man caught
he word, nodded and shivered-
at Zhigansk and Irkutsk. 1 cannot
Understand how he escaped. He SAYS, too.
hat he was in the forests for MANY wears.
ut how many years he has forgotten-that
18th many things. 1t was an accident;
one because he did not apologize to that
ur colonel. AhP'
Instead of echoing Dirkovltch's sign of
egret, it is sad to record that the White
iussars lively exhibited unchristian de-
ght and other emotions, hardly restrained
y their sense of hospitality. Holmer
ung the frayed and yellow regimental
oils on the table, and the men flung them
elves atop of these.
STEADY! Fifty-six - tifty-fve - fifty
our, said Holmer. Here we are Lieu
enant Austin Limmason. Missing That
-as before Sebastopol. What an internal
hame! Insulted one of their colonels, and
-as quietly shipped of. Thirty years of
is lie wiped out"
"But he never apologlzed. Said he'd see
i'm id first" chorused the mess.
Poor chap! 1 suppose he never had
he chance afterward. How did he come
ere?" said the Colonel.
The dingy heap in the chair could give
0 answer.
"Do you know who you are?"
1t laughed weakly.
"Do you know that you are Limmason-
lieutenant Limmason of the White Hus-
.rs?'
Swiftly as shot came the answer. in a
lightly surprised tone. "Yes, I'm Lamma-
IN, of course" The light died out in his
res, and he collapsed afresh, watching
Tery motion of Dirkoviteh with terror. A
ght from Siberia may fix few elementary
cts in the mind, but it does not seem to
ad to continuity of thought. The man
'uld not explain how, Ikea homing pigeon,
: had found his way to his own old mess
,ain. Of what ne had suffered or seen he
new nothing. He cringed before Dirko-
Itch as instinctively as he had pressed the
ring of the candlestick, sought the picture
the drn m -hnrca and u m ncuaraG u tLo ..o.. l