Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-08

DeeQ ulSCONefeu, tIlu lOftIlWIuu Cosuly dP-
planes were brought to the out of the
way place, and great shafts were sunk.
From the first tin taken out of the mine
life size statue of q soldier was cast and
set up in the parade ground of the fort.
Beyond tho tin first discovered and that
which had entered into the composition of
the soldier none was ever found in the
mine.
At 10 o'clock the scouts returned and re-
porte that the Tartar troops were moving
toward the fort in dead silence.
When the troops were all on the ram
parts, Major Podonoff determined to see
if he could make the enemy betray their
whereabouts by sending q shell in their
midst.
He was standing by the largest how
itzer in the fort, lanyard in hand, when
the old ordnance sergeant touched him on
the arm.
'Mme. Podonoff desires you to send a
soldier to stand guard in the hallway. She
is afraid to be alone there with her two
little girls and the little Alexis"
''What can she be afraid OFF" asked the
major testify. 1.-THE house is on the edge
of the bluff, and there can be no attack on
that slde.'
"She would like Andrew Bielsky to be
the guard. She knows him to be trusty
man."
"Bielsky, our best cannoneerP He is
needed here, as we'll as every other man.
Alexis is 10 years old. Give him musket
and let him stand guard. The tin soldier
is the only soldier Of the garrison of Mat
thias Pushkin who is not on the ramparts.
Take him to be guard for Nine. Podo-
noff." Booml went the howitzer. The
shell hurtled through the air and burst,
but no sound of Tartar shrieks or shouts
followed its explosion.
With much humping and humping the
tin soldier was placed in the corner Of the
hallway by the front door.
Nine Podonoff heard the noise, and
leaning over the stair rail looked down in
to the dimly lighted hall.
"What Is itY" she asked.
"a soldier, mistress, to stand guard,
replied the sergeant,
us it Andrew Bielsky?"
mo mistress, it is another soldier, but
he has stout heart, " replied the sergeant,
In the parlor sat Alexis Podonoff, read
ing. 1t was long past his usual bedtime;
but, occupied in calming the fears of the
two little girls, his mother had forgotten
him, and boylike, he never went to bed
until told to do so.
At last he finished his story and leaned
back in his chair
He heard a slight rustling sound in the
next room, and opening the door discov-
cred the Tartar maidservant, Kasya, haul
ing from closet rope ladder which was
one of his most cherished possessions.
The Podonof house had been built in
space that was made by removing part Of
completely elled the space and really form
ed part Of the wall. The rear piazza cx
tended to the top Of the bluff.
"What are you doing with my rope lad
der?" asked Alexis angrily.
II shall tell your mother if you don't go
right to bed. She will make you go and
punish you. too for sitting up SO late"
Alexis begged her not to tell his moth
er, but the girl would not relent. So he
went back into the parlor, turned down
the lamp, stepped into the hall and en-
sconced himself behind the tin soldier.
An hour passed. He heard stealthy steps
in the next room, and thinking that it
was Kasya coming to send him to bed he
hid behind the tin soldier once moro.
He heard the sound of heavy breathing
and saw the shock head Of Tartar war
rior poor into the hall. The head turned.
Its little piglike eyes fell ON the tin sol
dier, and it quickly drew back.
Minutes passed, and then he saw hand,
and in the hand knife, resting on tho
tho head and body of the Tartar creeping
through the door.
Silently, slowly the Tartar crept along
He half arose, drew back his arm, ready
to strike, when shrek burst on the air
Alexis leaped from his hiding place.
The tin soldier, disturbed by the sudden
movement, tottered and fell upon the
kneeling Tartar.
Alexis bounded through the outer door,
and In response to his cries soldiers came
hurrying up. Dark figures were issuing
from the doors and windows Of the Podo-
noff house. The place was full of Tartars.
The Russians fought them hand to hand
and pushed them back through the house
and hurled them ovsr the bluff In the
entry Of the house lay the dead body Of
tho shock headed Tartar killed by the
tremendous blow which the tin soldier had
dealt him in its fall. Alexis threaded his
way through the crowd and looked at the
piazza railing. There was his rope lad
der dangling into the darkness below.
The girl Kasya confessed all. She was
to admit a body Of Tartars by means Of
thu rope ladder.
When the morning sun shone upon Fort
Matthias Pushkin, the encampment Of
Tartars had vanished. In the center of
the parade ground upon his pedestal stood
the tin soldier proudly wearing the Rus