The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-09

ored.
Nose-Aquiline.
Grasping this precious talismar.
and realizing what it means to me.
my excitement becomes so great that
can no longer sit still. l rise pre-
cipitately and fall to pacing the floor.
whilst | vainly struggle for speech.
Joy and gratitude strike me dumb.
and. like a woman. the tears rush to
my eyes and flow dowa my cheeks.
At length l go up to Yerack and
placing my hands on each of his
shoulders, | look down .nto his broad,
jovial face.
There m a strange stir into it,
but in an instant he jumps to his feet
and laughs boisterously.
''Ha ha. ha! Come, friend Nikor
if thou wouldst catch the evening OK
press in Wilma thou must bestir thy
self"
He takes a thick packet of notes
from his pocket book and without
counting them divides them into two
equal parts-or as near equal as
could be Gauged-and gives me one.
Though l am obliged to be still
further his debtor to the amount of
my journey. l shun to take advantage
of such reckless l%lberality. l begin to
count the notes. resolved to accept
what | stand in absolute need of and
no more. They seem to be all twen-
ty-five routje notes. ] separate four
from the bulk.
These will more than suffice" I
say, holding the remainder toward
him. 1t is well for thee. my friend,
that thy head is firmly fastened on
thy shoulders. Or thou wouldst GER
tainly give it away
l try to smile at him as l speak, but
my. trembling lips render the attempt
a failure.
Hi reply is to snatch all the notes
from me with comical ierceness, roll
them up. and stuff them into the in
side pocket Of my haitian.
Enough of this fooling!" he ex-
claims. Not another word will I
hear on SO paltry a sub 'ect. What is
o to the purpose, :st us settle
what is to be dons n:x@ It will be
best that we part he,>. Thou wilt go
IN foot into the "Gv:n-straight up
this street. taking the first turn to the
right and in the market is both the
postotice and the posting station.
Arrived at Wilma, drive direct to the
railway station. With moderate driv-
ing thou wilt be there in time to
catch the evening express. And let
me remind thee who thou art. For
get not thy priestly dignity. Keep
also a bold 'front.' for thou art secure.
The passport will assuredly be
enough. but hesitate not to show the
leave of absence. The two together
will at once put to flight the least
shadow of doubt. There is Just the
fact of thy having no baggage hat
might arouse suspicion. Here, too,
thou canst easily hoodwink them.
Thou wilt describe it-go to the lug
gage q for the purpose of IDENTIFY
ing it-excite thyself, get into a tow
ering rage because it is not there;
threaten TO lodge a complaint
against the railway servants for their
neglect in not putting it in the
train when it is addressed and prop.
properly labeled; make d great stir.
and give special orders as to the for
warding of it without loss of time.
All. how 1 wish l had the farce to act!
How [ would rage and fume and
t~hreaten!'
Il promise thee to use my utmost
%endeavor. brother" l respond. Nor
am l a novice. l have had some act
ing to do in my time"
Another thing l would mention"
resumed the Cossack. Il fain would
hear of thy sale arrival. One line
will be enough Arrived safen ALI
WE'LL what thou wilt, only address it
not to me. I am too we'll known for
u scamp; moreover, | am under the
surveillance Of the police" he
chuckles shutting up his left eye.
LET me see," h. continues with sud
den gravity. From Wilma we pro-
coed to Minsk, on our way to the
East. Arrived at the province of the
Don. where l am a native, we will
pause until | have disposed of certain
properties
Our final destination will be the
Kirghez Steppes. There we will pi:ch
our tent. They will scarcely follow
us there. Send. therefore, thy COM
munication to Minsk. I can always
induce some sleek government clerk
to call for it at the postotfice and
fetch it for me."
Hereupon he takes up a pen and
with great s%olemnlty. forming each
letter with his lips the while. he writes
on one of the sheets OF DaDer, IT. is s,