The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-06

1t the boys couio see pIainIy every Uu-
ject in the room.
They remained quietly on their backs
cntil it hS-ame evident that their fell
COW prisoners were asleep. Platoff gave
che signal for action by rising cautious
ly and moving on tiptoe to the end of
the platform. Satisfied with the inspec-
tion, he came back and whispered to the
boys, Lie very still and don't make u
sound"
Then crossing the room, he took the
bottle from its hiding place in the wall
and approached the sleeping men. Maui
rice saw him tear strip of cloth from
his coat and apply it to the bottle two
or three times, and Immediately Pc
,uliar odor was perceptible in the room.
Platoff, rapidly and cleverly applied
the chloroform to three of the sleeping
men and then turned to the fourth, a
tall, repulsive ruffian of the name of
Jocka, who was lying on his side with
his arms over his face.
The saturated rag was within three
inches of his nose, when he suddenly
rose to an upright position, and, facing
Platoff, said in loud whisper: mot so
fast my friend! thought something
was up, and l have kept all eye on your
movements If you are going to leave,
! intend to go with you. Oh, don't get
angry You can't help yourself, you see.
Be reasonable or / shall call in the
guard. How would you like that?'
The boys, trembling with fear at this
unexpected interruption, awaited Pla-
toff's answer. They were little prepared
for what followed For brief moment
Platoff faced the ruffian, who was smil
ing with the insolence of power, and
then with fierce leap he clutched him
by the neck with one hand and with
| the other forced the wet rag against his
| nose.
For a few seconds the fellow strug-
| gled furiously with arms and legs; then,
suddenly relaxing in Platoff's grasp, he
dropped Imply on the platform just as
| Maurice and Phil hurried to the spot to
render assistance.
''Its all right" said Platoff in a
voice that showed how deeply he was
| DiONcu. lu6 sCOuuuItl Call uO Us any
harm now. 1t would have ruined our
plans to have had to take him along. 1
hope the noise of the scuffle was not
heard in the corridor
Listen! What's that?"
cit must be the guard" whispered
Maurice. "We are lost!''
"Yes, you are right" said Platoff.
| ttrba fCpfcfapc aro oorninu this xyay IL
| is too late for concealment. He will
smell the chloroform. Get behind the
door there, quick Such chance of
escape is worth great odds, and I'm go
ing to take them"
He had no time to say more. AS
Maurice and Phil darted to one side the
door creaked and opened. A bar OF
light shOne in from lamp in the cor
ridor and was followed by a sturdy Cos
sack, who entered in a stealthy man
ner. His suspicious were We'll founded,
as he must have realized moment
later, for Platoff's muscular arms fas-
tened ON his throat and he was pressed
bodily to the floor, unable to utter q
sound.
"The chloroform-quick!" whispered
Platoff.
Maurice seized the rag from the
platform and at his bidding held it &c
the soldiers face.
"There, that will do, said Platof,
and he laid his burden quietly down.
He turned to Maurice, his face white
and CHASTITY in the lamplight. IF they
discover us now, we will be shot" he
gasped. "Tear off your clothes, quick
Don't lose a second There is but one
chance left to u.s. We must try it"
"What do you mean" demanded
Maurice in bewilderment.
"This,' Whispered Platoff, fiercely
pointing to the unconscious soldier
"That man is about your size ant
weight. His uniform will fit you nice
ly. The captain of the guard will pass
through yonder corridor in few min
utes. You must be there to receive hin
with this Cossack's uniform and gun. d.
you understand now?"