Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-22
,ooria. But he found no ready ears for his


ing 1rkutsk, on the contrary only DIRE
near to the city, and the monks of the col
vent of St. George affirmed that one day Il
rof the band. giant dressed in re-
had flown by them at the head OF hundrt
horsemen and disappeared again in q mi
ment They maintained that they had see
his features quite distinctly; he was ma
in his best years and in the full vigor
manhood. The horsemen had swept by lii
specters in an instant; one of them,
frighten them. had fired carbine at a viii
dow in the convent, but the leader ha
reprimanded him in such q voice of thundt
that they had heard every word.
Keep your balls for the slaves of th
Carl Why waste them against the servant
of God? These you may despise, but thos
you are bound 10 kill and to murder, becaus
thev do us harm"
In spite of his daily growing anxiety, Ii
spite of the constant efforts of his cunnin
mind, Schelm did not cease to increase tn
cruelty OF his treatment of the unfortunat
exiles, so that the general discomfort gre,
from day to day. He was specially furious
because his principal victim, LanIn, 10
whose sake he had mainly made the enor
nous journey, had so far escaped him. Th
commandant of the prison in which he wa
enjoyed the Governors iull confidence, anC
|
moned before the latter, few hours befor
his departure, and was expressly iorbiddel
to inter ere in the slightest with the penal
ties decreed against his prisoners. Th,
Governor had his doubts about Count Ian
in's guilt and wanted to secure him agains
further persecution during his absence. Tht
commandant, knowing this, had solemnly
promised him to watch over Lanin's person
Schelm tried various WAYS to induce HIM tc
leave Lanin in his hands. Then he at.
tempted to persuade him to let Lanin es
cape, feeling sure that in such case Lanir
would soon furnish him with a new cause
for arrest, but all In vain. The brave old
man was not to be moved. Schelm had one
more resource-he could depose the COM
mandant. But he was appointed BY the
Governor General and could, therefore, moi
be removed curing his absence; besides, the
whole town knew him and honored him,
and he had never given the slightest cause
for complaint.
Finally, therefore, Schelm felt compelled
to resort to his favorite means; he had to
employ spies, spies even in prison. Vladi-
mfrs greatest pain had been the unavoida-
ble contact with the other prisoners Save
two or three, whose crime was the same as
his own, he was surrounded by thieves and
murderers. These very naturally hated
the man who stood SO high above them and
who, they knew, loathed their sight.
Schelm's spies were instructed to fan this
feeling of hatred and to increase it by a va
riety of vile and utterly false insinuations.
This was an easy task for them, under the
circumstances, and soon all of Vladimir s
iellow-prisoners had become bitter enemies
Of his.
But this did not suffice for schelm. He
sent another spy there to gain Vladimir 8
confidence and LEAD him gradually to make
confessions that could be used to his de-
struction. Thus two months passed, during
which Vladimir was cautious enough to be
silent on all subjects that might have
caused him trouble.
Schelm's impatience grew with every dav,
and at last he resolved to take a decisive
step. Schelm was brooding over his plan,
which he felt confident would deliver his
victim beyond redemption into his hands,
when one day the courier brought letters
from Petersburg, and among them one OF
special Importance, which was handed to
Schelm In Palkin's presence. It enclosed
letter for Count Lanin. The rule among
Siberian exlles requires that every letter
addressed to one OF the colonists shall be
opened and read by the head of the police
or the chief of the gendarmes. As soon as
Schelm had entered upon his duties at
Irkutsk, he had specially ordered that all
such letters should be first brought to him.
For two months no letters had come to
Vladimir. Palkin did not know this, and
was, therefore, much surprised when Schelm
suddenly exclaimed, triumphantly: cat
last letter from the Capital for Count
Lanin."
Palkin did not share the Joy of his ally;
on the contrary, he was in state of un-
usual excitement. He had long been sick
in consequence of his fearful sufferings un-
der the knout, and had for some time been
unable to follow the footsteps of his enemies.
He did not even know what had become of
that all-important receipt which was
thought to be in his possession. Jana might
possibly have taken it to Petersburg with
her and mention 1t in the letter that had
just been received. Now, if Schelm should
open the letter and find that the gendarme
had told him a falsehood, he would make
him pay dearly for it. Palkin thought of
all this, full of anxiety, while ScheIm was
ioyfully playing with the letter.
What do you mean to do?" asked Palkin
you think perhaps I'll open the letter
ind read it?' asked Schelm, scornfully.
L am not such fool. The letter comes
rom his wife, and no doubt contains
nothing but tender caresses. 1 do not want
% excite his suspicion. The law, to be sure,
S on my side, but nowadays the letters are
handed over to the exiles un-
opened. Besides, shall be able 70 get the
etter whenever may want it. No, mol At
ast the long hoped for opportunity presents
tself, and shall not let it escape mep'
Palkin breathed freely. That danger at
east was warded off Schelm sent for his
py and told Palkin that he would 90 to
he prison himself the same evening.
Here new danger appeared. If Schelm |
should ever get possession of the letters he |
night fnd.out everything. At one glance |
PalRin saw how matters stood, and as
he came to decision. He must |
warn Vladimir against Schelm's schemes |
Ind advise him to destroy his wife's letter |
Is soon rs he had read it Like Schelm he |
Ilso had his spy in the prison, and as soon !
Is he reached the place he sent for this |
nan. a |
The prisoners were walking about ac- |
,ordIng to the rules of the prison, in the |
ard, and Vladimir suddenly noticed that
ONE one slipped letter stealthily into his |
land. He looked up and noticed that |
'chelm's spy, whom he considered COM
ade, made signs to him. Surprised, but |
he went aside from the others
nto a corner, covered his eyes with his
and so as not to betrsy himsel, and could
ardly suppress cry of joy when he recog-
1ized Jana's handwriting.
CHAPTER XVIII.