The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02

uU-SW ISu. SOoS tlle Keen OldO6, close
past the eagle nose and through the
hair leaving a tuft in tho operators
fingers. In a trice the other side has
shared the same fate. and whilst
Yerack. with something of mis-
chievous glee in his broad face is
strewing the hair to the winds, his
mate is ruefully stroking his upper lip
and vainly essaying to twist the
stunted remains Certainly. what
with the false beard that entirely
overs the lower part of his face, and
the altered character of his mustache.
the warder Of kcvno Jail is no longer
recognizable.
Now Yerack leads the troika into
the middle of the road and unyokes
the advance horses which he ties
with a halter to the back of the cart
1T looks not usual for a troika
to be drawing a r of this kind he
explains. Thus it will appear as if
the beasts were being led for sale"
1t takes him some time to complete
his arrangements. He takes a woollen
cloth from the cart and rubs the hosres
we'll down, talking to them the while
IN terms OF praise and encouragement
They turn their noses to him as if
they understand. blowing through
their wide nostrils. and the foam
drops in flakes to the ground. When
this is done. he hooks bells to the har-
ness.
Now we shall do" he observes.
I'VE are traders %journeying to the fair
at Wilma and thou art a priest who
has honored Us by accepting a lift.
We proceed %leisurely. for we have no
haste; the fair only begins tomorrow.
At the same time, brother so impossi-
BILE is thy appearance. that thou look
est out OF place in a cart will, trading
Cossacks, and therefore at Borlitch
we had better part company and thou
wilt proceed with the post
But, my good friend. this will cost
money. and | am without a copecw I
cry.
IL have enough and to spa:e."
':Yerack. how can l take so much
from thee!" | exclaim. deeply moved
by the Cossack's generosity. Thy
devotion l a never repay. but the
money thou art laying out on me. I
may some day be able to refund.
Give me some address to which l may
send it. Surely in time l shall work
for the means to pay my just debts"
Bah! keep thy mind easy and
make not a mountain of a molehill!
What are a few roubles to me? l
have neither kith nor kin. and what
shall l do with superfuity?
1t is still very early when we reach
the town. yet before. we arrive a.. the
inn, where Yerack halts. we have en-
countered many people. but all TT the
lower orders. l had to respond to
many greetings. and am made
thoroughly uncomfortable by the OBJ
vlous sensation | create. l feel re-
lieved to enter tho dark fore-place of
the inn, with its small, dirty windows.
and l hear Yerack give vent to a sigh
which l know is Of relief.
Holy Father" he whispers with a
low laugh. seated on the front of
that cart beside a Cossack, methinks
it looked somewhat like a masquer-
ade!"
The inn keeper comes yawning to
meet us from an inner room, putting
on his blouse. He stops with one arm
above his head as he sees Yerack, and
his brows go up. They are evidently
old friends, these two.
Yes it is myself Thoma Fedorei-
vitch!' says Yerack, grinning from
a to ear. 1t is not my ghost-not
yet"
Il thought thought" STAN,
mers the landlord.
TO BE CONTINUED.