The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-06-25

NN a AAbNo
done systematically all day, and take
a long pull Of water. After which l
seat myself opposite the door and wait
breathlcssly, braced for the moment
Of action.
Unable longer to bear the stress of
doubt and dread: fcarful lest | may be
letting slip my one chance Of saving
myself and her: yet hoping every
moment to see the Cossack. and reluc.
tant to act without him, | have risen
to my feet and am standing irresolute.
when, without the slightest warning, l
am startled by the sudden grating of
the key in the rusty lock, and direct
ly the Cossack enters; changes the
key to the inside and locks US in!
For the first m | see my stranger
friend. A single glance at him in
spires me with confidence. Small; sal
most dwariish; meagre, colorless his
face and form are yet instinct with
energy and nerve. There is strength
in every feature and every line of the.
thin face with its eagle nose. its thin
Tipped. decisive mouth, over which
the big mustache is,twisted; the keen,
dark eyes and salient check bones.
His excitement he keeps we'll in COM
mand; though it is visible TO me in the
glitter OF his eyes. the compression of
his lips. and the strange dints that
come and go in his sallow cheeks.
He steps quickly up to me and lays
his yellow. bony hand on my arm
'Ready" he whispers.
''Quite,' | respond promptly. And
| am ready-ready to face all the
powers Of darkness or the Car, if
need be, now that the moment for
action has come.
You can swim"
Like a fish"
Come, then. You first; I follow.
Straight across where Yerack awaits
us" l am On the stool preparing to
thrust out the grating.
''Toward you! Toward you. Pull
the bars inside, whispers the Co.'S
sack. lit will make less noise. And
by all the saints, the light"' He darts
to the lamp and puts it out, and is
standing below me ready to receive
the grating from my hand.
Already draw myself up to the
stone ledge. My head Is through the
aperture when-merciful Father!
What was that? A familiar click!
The Cossack has me by the legs and
is actually pulling me back! l hear
him say
'Ah. just in time. Anton Antonei-
witch! Not quite smart enough, my
brave! Ha, ha." as he drags me to the
ground.
And whilst am struggling. dazod
and bewlldered, to my feet he has
rushed to the door. unlocked 1t, an d
by the dim light that Eliminates the
corridor SEE him seize some one by
the arm, jerk that some one into the
cell, and lock the door again.
Just in time. just in time to help
me- | hear him repeat. with a
strange wild eXultation IN his voice.
Then there is a short fierce struggle
in the dark. The bed creaks under a
falling body. x 4 X A cry of help"
that is instantly smothered, followed
by gasps and groans.
What means it? Who is the van.
quished9 Is it the Cossack who lies
grooming on that bed or that othel
one? In vain my eager eyes try to
pierce the darkness. 1T is as black as
pitch.
The Cossacks voice treasures me at
length.
Il have him. he pants.
Another groan and agurgling sound.
You were going to spoil our little
ga~me-what?' says the Cossack. with
cutting irony; and there is an unpleas-
mi thud as OF a head being knocked
against a wall.
[To BE CONTINUED.