Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-06-29
A LUCKY RUSSIAN.

WHICH ulVlu0 DlDeIld lrOul huSSld, SLdIlu
the largest sheet iron works in the uni
verse. Owned and managed by the Rus
sian government, they constitute an en-
tire city and are fortified like a fort
against the rest of the world.
Russian sheet iron, as every one
knows, is the strongest and best pro
duced by any nation, and the process Of
its manufacture is jealously guarded by
the authorities. One who enters the
service of the company never again sees
the outside world He gives up every
thing freedom, family, friends, all fo1
the sum of a few pitiful rubles month
delivered where he chooses. He is there
in the works, but he might as well be in
his grave. Not word can be obtained
concerning him, and should he live 20
years after entering the service or die
the next day not even his family would
be the wiser, unless the stoppage of the
monthly stipend revealed the fate of the
man. Once in awhile one tries to es-
cape; not often, however, for they are
always caught and always shot-as a
warning to others-for the attempted
treachery.
It was crisp October night in the lit
tie village Of Obvinsk, about 200 miles
from the great iron works. The weather
was sharp, the trees and vegetation
turned to reddish brown-all but the
ichens and moses, which seemed to
crouch into the very powders in their
effort to shield themselves from the keen
wind, sweeping knifelike from the snow
covered Ural.
Petroff NorvitsH entered his poor hut
as his wife Katrina placed their scant
supper of dry bread and potatoes on the
little fir table, on which fickered and
fared a bit of candle end stuck in gourd
for candlestick.
II am tired through, wife," said he,
"and will go to bed, but cheer up before
go; sunshine is always back of the
clouds. True, the crops have failed and
can get no work, but the Blessed Vir-
gin will surely see us through the win
ter"
And with. q tender kiss to wife and
babies Petrof sought the rest he SO much
needed. He shut his eyes, but not to
sleep, and only to turn over and over in
his fevered brain the probability of see
ing his family starve anu freeze. he
was brighter, more hopeful, when he
rose next morning, but any one could
have seen that his cheerfulness was
mostly assumed. Eating his breakfast
-one potato again-Petroff kissed the
babies more tenderly than usual, and
evading his wife's questions as to where
he was going he bade her keep up her
heart and once more left the house.
But once out of sight of her eyes he
flung himself down by the roadside, and,
strong man as he was, he bowed his
head in his hands and sobbed like child.
But Petrof was sturdy fellow, and
after a few moment given to uncontrol
liable grief he wiped away his tears and
strobe down the highway. From time
to time he begged bit Of bread from q
passing serf, and when nightfall settled
over the valley crawled into thickei
and sunk into heavy sleep. The sun
was peeping bold and brassy over the
Ural mountains before he awoke and
stiff and sore began again his tramp to-
ward the iron works. 1t had crossed the
meridian, the shadows were lengthen-
ing, and still not morsel of food had
passed his lips this day, every one Of
whom he had begged bite needing il
for their own uses.
Suddenly to the right gunshot
sounded, and a ptarmigan fell within
reach.
"a providence for mel" cried Petroff,
| joyously seizing and thrusting it under
his jacket md looking about him te
make sure that the sportsman had miss
ed the effect of his shot As soon as he
dared he stopped, made fire and cook
ed the bird, and though he ate it with
out bread or salt it gave him strength
to keep his way. Sleeping in the night
air had stiffened and made his bones
ache, SO he had decided that he would
not again try the thicket If he could helI
it, and as night had come on dark and
murky he began to look about him for
place of shelter. He was then, though
he did not know it, passing the estate OF
the celebrated Comte Ronanoff
Looming through the darkness stood
the great turreted castle with its battle
mented walls and close by the highway
a barn, into which Petroff slipped
through an open window and stretched
himself on t, sweet smelling hay, his
troubles for the time forgotten in slum-
Der.
1t was pitch dark and close on to mid
night when the sound. of voices reused
him-suppressed voices talking in eau
tious tones, which at once awakened his
suspicious. He lay still and listened.
.But this isn't the stable," voice at
the door murmured complainingly.
mo, devil take it," replied another,
II took the wrong turn; the stables are
back of the castle. Come on Get three
Of the best horses and bring them to the
gate by the lodge, tidy addition, you
know, to the ransom we will get for the
capture Of Romanof. It is 70 o'clock now.
We must be at the rendezvous by 8.
Hurry; we have no time to lose here"
Norvitsk lay still till the sound Of their
footsteps died In the distance. Then hs
arose and dropped from the window By
which he had entered, hurried to The
castle and ratified the knocker vigorous
ly. A servant responded and inquired
what was wanted.
Your master, " said Petrof. II mus,
see him at once"
Return tomorrow said the man
"The comte's abed, fatigued by hunt
ing"
II must see him now, tell you,p Pc
trof persisted. 1T is life OF DEATH Go
as bid you
Guessing from Norvitsli's manner that
something serious did demand his mas
ter's attention, the servant obeyed, and
Petroff five minutes later was entering
the room where the comte, in. dressing
gown and slippers, sat upon the edge Of
his bed sleepily rubbing his eyes and
considerably exasperated at his inter
rupted nap.
what do you want, fellowfv cried BIZ
angrily as PetroR entered. "What near
| you by disturbing me at this unseemly