The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-06-04
WITHIN AN ACE.
CHAPTER IV-CONTINUEn.

"li1uOW 1idH1c. MY lccU afc Oh inc
sloping roof, which seems to move
away under them. In my desperation
l feel disposed to let myself &C. l
should break my neck. What mat
ter? 1t is a worthless one. bringing
nothing but trouble to all connected
with it. Then flashes on me my mar
velous escape from the ~jaws-nay.
from the very bowels Of death. and I
tighten my hold tiercely. resolving
that if | must part with this gift Of
God, my second life, it shall only be
if He wills it so. 10 do less would be
like throwing His precious gift back
in His face. Pavel's head shoots up
for a moment through the window.
l sec the wind seize his black hair and
toss it about in a wanton fury ere it
disappears and the window is shut. I
have now got a firm grip Of the pro.
jecting states that edge the dormer
roof, and for the present | am secure.
Fortunately, too, l am shod with soft
slippers. so that my feet can bend
with them and get a certain purchase
on the states, which with strong boots
would have been impossible. | move
cautiously sideways. until l can extend
my left arm over a corne Of the pro-
lection.
Thus, by bending by body forward.
| can see into the room, myself un-
seen.
Maruscha is sitting at the table
with a sock drawn over her hand.
Her eyes are turned to the door, as if
in startled surprise. The picture she
thus presents is a tranquil, an limo
cent, a natural one, though |. who
see her with the deeper vision = Of my
soul, know all the agony Of mind. the
wildly beating heart, the 'u~nspeakable
anxiety that calm exterior hides.
Miserable wretch that | am to be
the cause Of so much suffering to her!
Pavel is at tho door, holding it open
to admit four police officers, two
of whom have Ivan in custody.
Pave1s manner is perfect. His
eyebrows are raised. He looks aston
ishment ~personifed. With a polite
gesture of the hand toward the in
terror Of the room, he seems to invite
the intruders to enter, search, examine
anything they like. SO that they are
satisfied.
There is an air Of bar1ed mystifca-
ton on the faces Of all the officers as
their glances travel about the room.
One Of them, a superior, locks the
door and puts the key in his pocket.
ivan, standing apart. with gyved
wrists, ears a look Of sullen lndiiier-
ence. Only once 1 catch him dart a
swift glance at Maruscha who has
risen to her feet and stands with proud,
uplifted head in mute protest at the
unseemly interruption.
The superior officer steps forward
in front Of Pavel, and holding him
with a stern eye evidently commences
to question him. l strain every nerve
to bear what is being said. but what
with the incessant buster and swish
OF the wind and the Intervening glass
l cannot distinguish a single word. I
can only guess what is transporting by
a close observation of tho dumb show.
Pavel fixes steadfast %unfinching
eyes on his examiner. Occasionally
he smiles slightly. His lips move as
if in prompt reply. Presently he
n ~ AAo poSHCU- OOOh. PIOuuCCS d
card from it. which he hands to the
officer. Then Maruscha's turn comes.
My brave girl! She bears herself
like an outraged queen. l can see
hat her manner impresses the officer
Russian officers are particularly i'm
pressionable-she would impress the
Gar himself! The fellow bows cour-
teously at every reply of hers He
takes down her address and name on
the back of Pavers card. and makes
her a profound and final bow ere he
turns from her:
..Curse him!' I think; 'he would
go through the same insipid genulex-
ions were he conducting her to the
scatfold!!"
She sits quietly down and speaks
not again, but silently watches every
movement of the officers who, mac
tive during the examination. have
now got orders to prosecute a search.
They pull out drawer after drawer,
upsettipg the contents on the floor
while the superior stands by, looking
on.
that is locked. and Ivan is commanded
to give up the key. With perfect
unconcern he directs one of the Off
GERS to his waistcoat pocket and-ah.
at last here are the papers! l note
the CLEAN of. ex%ultation with which
they are clutched, and the eagerness
with which they are u%nfolded; glanced
over with increasing diSaDnOintment