Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-04

He is really cruel to keep me waiting s
long, 1 long for fresh air. long for tn
wide. wide worldi must flee from Russi
and try to forge: all. Oh, my former misery
how 1 now envy you.
tsThere below me flows the river farthe
on is the Baltic, then Germany, France an,
England. There 1 want to forget Vladimir
Schelm, Russia, the Gar and Siberia. Blu
where is the rascal? Does he not know tina
with one blow can knock over the who'll
cunning structure OF his intrigue?"
suddenly he paused in his walk, a rat raj
across the floor, climbed up on the dam
wall and disappeared in crack near tn
window.
THAT was only rat-one of those tina
will eat me here, for Schelm is capable o
forgetting me. Ii he should betrav me as
betrayed them"
The rat had been frightened by a noise il
the massage. Miller'S heart began to bea
violently when he heard the door oper
slowly and saw the lantern of the keeper
who was followed by another person. L
was Schelm, who sent back the keeper anc
remained alone with his victim.
cat lastp' exclaimed Miller. ST have
waited for you impatiently. 1 think
should have lost my MIND II you had not
come"
Scnell0 SLllJeu
"l come to keep my word, because 1 am
fully satisfied. Here are loo, 600 rubles.
Are you content?"
Perfectly, ii 1 can live away from here
But that is not all. When shall 1 be free
again? You come surely to give me lib
erty.'
'iNot exactly" replied Schelm. "You,
evidence will be required. Lanin will
depy. no doubt: he will have to be con.
victed."
Another step down in my humiliation. 4"
"Yes, you two will be confronted with
each other"
"Spare me that-only that! would rather
take my lie than to look into his eyes after
what has happened"
'sBe calm, foolish man! Your wish shall
be granted, but your evidence is needed.
This alone will secure your liberation"
"You will not spare this poor young man,
ScheIm?"
"Look at mel Do 1 look like man
who spares an enemy? His cell adjoins
yours"
Miller went quickly over to the other
side Will YOU soon let me out of this
cursed hole?" he asked with trembling
voice.
Certainly, next week!' said Schelm,
hastily going out.
"No sooner, however, did he reach the
passage than he shrugged his shoulders and
ordered the next cell to be opened-Vladi-
mfrs.
Lanin had spent 16 hours here. At mid
night he had been arrested; at 2 O'Clock cast
into this fearful cell; now it was o'clock in
the afternoon. He ate little of the black
bread lett by the keeper and looked out OF
the small window. The Neva was flowing
close under it; he could not even see a piece
o. the sky above. The setting sun, reflected
from the surface of the river, cast greenish,
unhealthy light on the prison walls. Al
this moment the door opened and Schelm
entered. Lanin shook with excitement when
he saw who it was. The keeper remained
outside without closing the door.
In a moment Vladimir was at the thres
hold, and with one look at his adversary
asked him:
perhaps you can explain why this has
been done to me, as you seem to have the
thread OF this intrigue in your hand"
A devilish, scorn ul laugh was Schelm's
only answer.
"You laugh !'' exclaimed Lanin, "and yet
you know that l am innocent"
Schelm raised his dirty, crooked forefnger
and said ironically:
"Innocent? Whv, that is newsr'
Vladimir seized him by his coat.
"Mr. Schelm, explain yourself 1 allowed
perhaps an unbecoming jest to pass when 1
ought to have checked it; you wish to pun
ish me for it, ana certainly have been pun
ished already. Mr.. Schelm. 1 have suffered,
suffered agony. 1 repent that jest. Shorten
now nv sufferings and release me-"
Schelm smiled, continually feasting his
eyes and his mind at thesight of his victim s
suffering,
'You answer not. What more do you
want of me, my fortune? Take it! 1 know
you are omnipotent; remember that We once
were comrades y
"What nonsense are you talking" sud-
denly said Schelm. "You do not see before
you Mr.. Schelm, whom you once knew, and
who may have had reason to be ofenGed by
your conduct. No! You have now to do
of the Interior, who comes here to examine
and sees in the prisoner solely man ac-
cused of high treason"
Vladimir looked into his eyes, Schelm
could not endure his honest scrutiny.
"Do you think 1 am guilty?" asked
Lanin, trying to master his indignation.
"The letters on your portfolio made it clear
to ME that this is your revenge. Do you
know that 1 have ever conspired?"
'For two months my agents have been
looking for the Ace OF Clubs, the head OF
this disgraceful conspiracy. You yourself
acknowledged that you were the Ace OF
Clubs"
81? Great God! But you know this is
vile slander. / will not be ruined, how
ever. 1 have many friends and kinsmen p
Schelm laughed aloud.
t'The man who once conspires against the
Emperor loses friends and kinsmen at once.
Young man, be candid, try to tell me the
truth and your honest confesslo Jon may soften
the Emperor's just wrath
An unusual noise was heard at this iu-
stant. Spurs sounded aud swords struck the
stone floor; there were hurried steps OF SOL
ders; four men with torches preceded the
newcomers. On the threshold appeared the
Governor of the fortress, in company with
the Emperor's aide, Count Lanin. Schelm
turned deadly pale; Vladimir quickly ap-
preached the door and called out:
"Villain, my friends and kinsmen have
not deserted me. Dear uncle, save mep'
The General kept him back coldly.
eff this gentleman told you that you had
no kinsmen be was perfectly right. 1 did
not come to set you free, nor to pity you, be-
cause you have deserved your fate. 1 come
in obedience to an order of His Majesty the
Emperor, who does not wish to see our name
forever disgraced, in consideration of my
faithful services"
AS soon as Schelm noticed the drift oi
affairs he endeavored to poison the mind OF
the Count.
"Your Excellency," he said, ''let us begin
the investigation.
Count Lanin looked at him severely.
my words were not addressed to you.
From personal regard the Emperor has
deigned to suppress this affair in quiet with
out judicial sentence. The men were caught
in the act. The criminal here present has
himself confessed that he was the anony-
nous head of the conspiracy. What good
could an investigation do? His Majesty the
l.. -.