Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-01-14
CHATTER NNNVI.

| FREEDOM AT a HUBLE DAY.
"You seem to treat the danger pretty
| lightly" said Gordon. perhaps you
are tired OF liberty"
Not bit OF IL. have just bought
freedom for three days at rate OF a
ruble a day, and here IL is" said Ivan
Dontremember, striking tho seat on
which be sat.
What have you got there?" Gordon
| asked eagerly.
"f reedom, l tell you, for three days.
It's indispensable. How long do you
think you are going TO keep MP on fin
cones? Twelve hours at the outside.
should say, by the look OF madam"
What have yon got In the sack,
ask?' Gordon repeated savageIy.
Bread, and I'll guard IL IS would
my llfe." Ivan Doutremember an
swered, catching the CLEAN Of despera-
zion which lii my eyes as we'll as Cor
done.
"Wo are starving; we have eaten
nothing for four days. You must give
us some"
"You can get as much as you want at
the post SchemYl must keep his prls.
oners alive TIL the patrol comes round
TO collect them. Why should / shorten
my term OF freedom TO prolonR yours?"
Gordon looked at me. Shall we givo
ourselves up2" his eyes asked; and mine
answering Yes" he held out his hand
10 ms and said:
Come"
81 am afraid you are leaving With
bad opinion u me-" said Ivan Dontre-
member as rose. That's the worst OF
being perfectly ACKNOWLEDGEMENT sure
20 offend some amiable fool. Now, II
you only had ruble or two
what" cried Gordon, tearing open
b S coat 10 got AZ his note ease. you
will sell your liDertyY
"Of course I will. Schomy always
keeps q good stock on hand on tho
chance OF p moncYed customer drop
ping in. Plenty more where this came
from" he continued. untioing his sack
and producing n loaf. ITS rather
high price-a ruble loaf pretty nearly
half crown % your money but those
poor government officials must live"
Without a word Gordon snatched n
motto from bis case, thrust 10 Into VANS
hand and took possession OF the loaf
Thsn. with horrible laughter, we tore
the loaf ia two and ate with the rave
nous fury o. starved beasts. Tor a
time We forgot everything but the
animal joy % satisfying our craving
appetite. Whether Ivan spoke 70 as
or not DO MOI know. 10 was not until
our hunger had been appeased that We
could think Of him.
"What right have you 20 put tempta-
ton fro poor devils WARP lie
growled. "Do you knew the value OF
the note you gave meT'
Gordon shook his head, still eating.
"a thousand rubles three years
freedOml Lifelong free dom, who
knoWs2 Take 10 back. or / may DO
tempted yet % knock You on the head g"
He pushed the note into Gordon's
hand and turning away set his elbows
on bis knees, dropped bis bristy red
beard in hts palms and rocked himself
slowly backward and forward, scowlinq
into the Gre.
Gordon looked at him and then AZ me
IN silent perpiexity; we both doubted
whether the little man was ln his right
mind. Presently glancinR round and
perceiylng that Gordon still held the
note in bis hand, Ivan DOntremember
said angrily:
"Put 10 away,I tell y0u-hide IL no.
Don't You know thar the forest Ia alive
with desperate men2 Any one Of them
rcufd murder tfe pair Of you 70 yet
that. Why shouldn't they? Necessity
knows no Law hat self preservation. DO
you know II Was IN my mind to brain