The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-06-11
WITHIN AN ACE.
CHAPTER VI-CoNT1SUED.

CA"tS VI UAd Is ueV1I1Sh
bad ne says gloomily. We'll, come
let US sit down. What is all the
hurry? We are not walking for a.
wager. Why should we blow our
selves this way"
Il am not in the least blown.n T
reply. and excuse me ii | decline IN
rest with you; l must get on to Kovno
with all haste. have business theren
Winch is true Tor ! wan to be in time
to get Maruschas letter this evenino
he let's GO my arm and stares at me,
whilst his nose seems to grow sharper
and the red rims round his ewes to
deepen.
What! have l heard aright?" no
says, you would leave a brother
thus, IN this devilish, awkward pre-.
dicament?"
Il have no choice, l am OBLIGED to
proceed. But look you. take nv adj
vice, wait here until some vehicle
comes up and bargain for a lift: Won
can pay when you get to your uncle's.
You have only to say that you are the
nephew of the Governor"
| finish not my sentence, for 7 see
coming toward us, in a cloud of dust
a large 'calash" drawn by four horses.
MY companion, too, is not listening.
He has started forward, and is peer
Ing in the direction of the euuipare,
with his hand arched over his blink
ing eyes.
BY al the saints, it is very like
yes, it is my uncle's calash," he ex-
claims.
This is well, then I have the honor
to wish you good by, l say, moving
quickly away.
':No-good Lord! leave me not.
Stay and help me out of this? What
will he think to find me thus? There
is no place to hide. Oh-ah, help
me to some lie! You are a fellow
student-both fond of wa!king-ine
day-back me up. BROTHER"
l bite my lip and pause i%rresolute.
10 be thrown into the company Of the
governor Of the province, to have put
TO me, God knows how many ques-
tons, is about as dangerous a position
as l could well be placed in, consider
Ing that | an travelling under an as
sumed name and have no papers. Yet
II | decline to remain | shall make an
enemy Of the obnoxious individual at
my side, who would certainly lie
about me-. and might get me into
trouble through false representations,
which would inevitably lead to the
discovery OF facts. There is nothing
for it, then. but to meet the inevitable
with a bold front
Il will stay" I reply. You may
rely on me.'
He wrings my hand, and proceeds
to mop his face with a dirty cambria
handkerchief; after which he pulls
down his waistcOat straightens him
self. and already the cloud Of dust is
receiving us.
All, my uncle. l thought | was not
mistaken! | knew your trotters at a
glance. hope | see you we'll, Vasili
Grigorievitch.."
lie utters this in a shrill voice, with
his hat in his hand and with repeated
ducks Of his head.
The sole occupant of the
carriage. a thin, s~harp-featured
man of middle ace, dressed
in uniform. who sits stify upright
his back against the cushions. leans
forward when thus addressed, peers at
the speaker with half-shut eyes. raises
and snaps Il plncenez across the acute
bridge OF his nose, and looks again TO
make sure that his short-sighted eyes
have not played him some trick, then
exclalms-
"Mon Dieu! Is it possible? My
brothers son. Andrea ~Piotrovitch!"
Il have locke for thy arrival every
day for a week! And now what is
this? l meet thee here, on foot and
in such a plight!' The governor
waves his hand toward his nephew
with an g preston of deep disgust.
'Ah, yes. shat Is just it. a. plight!
Walking in a dusty road improves not
ones appearance. .Ha! ha! l feel quite
d~isreputabe. But it is only on the
surface, my uncle. You see, l am
passionately fond of walking in the
country, and the day is so fine, ! could
not resist A freak-a mere freak.
and now | have had enough OF it.
My friend -hcm-" he pauses and
coughs. and | know that he now only
remembers that he cannot present me.
not knowing my name ''les-as l
was saying my friend here was just
complaining Of fatigue when you
came in sight Vasili Grigorie witch"
''Whero are thy effects. Andrei Pio-
trovitch? he inquiries OF his nephew.