The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-03

Fierce as was the rush of the mob,
Maurice fought his way clear across the
sidewalk, and staggering feebly up
flight OF stone steps dropped i'll dead
faint on the summit. The ping of bull
let's brought him TO his senses, and he
sat up to see Phil lying motionless at
his side and man i'll convict garb
leaning heavily against the door.
He turned to the boys, and Maurice
recognized Paul Platoif. The fugitive's
face was white with pain, and his right
leg was bound with crimson bandage
torn from his overcoat
"We are safe for the present." he
said in Russian, pointing to the high
wooden canopy over the top of the steps
keep low, though, for stray bullet
might strike you"
Maurice nodded gratefully, and i'm
mediately stretched himself at full
length on the topmost step. A glance
upward showed him high stone build
ing The windows were tightly closed
with iron shutters, and the door was of
heavy wood with brass trimmings.
Then he turned his attention to the
street, and at once forgot Phil, Platoif
and his wounded arm in the scene be-
meath him.
The house where he had taken refuge
was at the entrance to one of the exits
from the square. BY good fortune the
majority of the rioters had turned in
this direction 1t had so happened that
the troops approached the square from
all three of the other entrances, leaving
this one alone unguarded, and now the
narrow passageway was fast choking up
with the fleeing fugitives, while a
| horde of cavalry rode at their heels, sa-
! bering the wretched creatures as fast
as they could use their weapons. The
roar of artillery and the crack of rifles
! had almost ceased, but the shrieks of
the wounded and the frightened cries
of the others made an Understandable tu-
multi.
With a sad heart Maurice watched
the mass withdrawing foot by foot
| through the narrow street, while the
tramp of hoofs and the glare of torches
came closer and closer and closer.
Platoff's commanding voice recalled
him to his senses.
Come" he said, touching Maurice
on the shoulder. "You are brave lad.
| / watched your heroic struggle through
| the crowd. Let us try TO escape. If we
can gain access to this house till the
square be cleared, have friends who
will care for us. / am wounded. or l
would seek safety there" And he point
| oil ut no in
of this speech Maurice understood, for
he had by this time acquired fair
knowledge of the language. He sat up
| gladly and turned to Platoff for instruc-
tons The Russian, however. was bend
ing over Phil and wiping the blood from
the boys pallid face. Your friend is
not Dead" he said. "a fragment of
bomb has grazed his head He will be
all right shortly
Reaching within his blouse, he drew
out tiny flask and put it to Pills lips.
The effect was wonderful. The wound
ed lad opened his eyes and made an ef-
fort to sit up. Platoff propped him
against the side of the doorway and then
turned TO Maurice. Look" he said,
"the Cossacks are coming nearer. Their
torches will soon light up our hilira
place. If we would escape, there is not
| moment to lose" Half rising on his
uninjured leg. he ratified tiercely at the
door and hammered the heavy panel
with his fists.
"The towards" he cried angrily, as
no response came from within. "They
are afraid to open it. But we have still
another chance. Force will conquer
where persuasion fails. l."
He dragged himself to the edge of the
steps. The wooden CANOPY over the door
was supported by hea~y pillars, and
seizing one of these Platoif, with DIES
perate effort, wrenched it loose. Hand.
ing it to Maurice, he tore second one
from its socket for his own use, and
turning to the door he dealt it Il sturdy
stroke with the heavy weapon.
"Strike, lad, strike!" he shouted tC
Maurice "Do your bestl" And under
the double rain of blows the door began
to creak and tremble. Carried away by
the possibilities of escape which Pla
toff offered, Maurice once more forgot
all prudence, ana W1tn nerves WIOuSn'
to the highest tension he banged away
at the resisting barrier with furious en-
ergy CHANGING over his shoulder, he
saw the square all ablaze with torches
and alive with mounted Cossacks ant
swarms of infantry.
The instruction had been quickly
ouelled, and the rear of the mob was
fast struggling out through the narrow
street, leaving countless dead behint
them. Harder. harderr' commanded
Platoff. "a few more strokes will de
it, and then safety" AS he spoke ;
squad of Cossacks clattered down th'
street, striking right and left at the rem
nant of the fugitives, and along the
sidewalk advanced a turbulent swarm
of troops, seeking here and there fol
some object ON which to vent their pas
sion. A torch CLEAN flashed under thu
canopy, revealing the fugitives. ant
the maddened soldiers made rush fo
the steps, firing recklessly into the al
az they ran. In desperation Platoff an'
Maurice redoubled their Efforts. Crash