San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-07


Captain Daroman, ON leaving tho
convict gangs that morning, had return
ed in haste to the prison, changed his
clothes in his own apartment, armed
himself heavily and then galloped
away on fresh horse, in what direction
none observed.
Shortly after bis departure q troop Of
soldiers arrived from the lower dig
gings with a warrant for his arrest. Il
was no secret that the -commandant had
sought safety in flight, and now half
the force in barracks was securing the
country in pursuit.
Maurice was jubilant as he sat on
the bare platform, eating his frugal sup
per, with Phil and Platoff by his side.
Their fellow convicts had been crowd
ing about them, eagerly discussing the
momentous affair, and now at last they
were comparatively by themselves.
"And how do you think this will af-
feet me, Platoff?" asked Maurice. "Will
it Tighten my sentence, or is it even
possible that shall obtain fair hear
ing from the governor and be permitted
to tell him our story? feel sure that
should convince him of the truth. -
Platoff gravely shook his head.
Don't be too hopeful my friend"
he replied. There are complications in
this affair that you are unable to see.
To me, with my knowledge and expert.
snce, they are only too plain. You have
performed a brave deed, it is true, and
protected from insult the daughter of
Colonel Melikoff, but at the same time
you have broken the severest of prison
rules and committed fragrant crime,
for which the penalty is death.
"And would not the one offset the
other?" demanded Maurice with indig.
nation. would the circumstances count
for nothing?"
Colonel Melikoff is known as the
most stern and rigid disciplinarian in
all Siberia" answered Platoff soberly.
81 fear that he may insist ON making
your case an example to the other pris-
oners. You assaulted an offioer-an IN
pardonable crime"
Eyes, and saved his daughter, as
serted Maurice holly. Can he overlook
that?"
"He can overlook anything" said
Platoff grimly. "Listenl l can tell you
what kind of man Colonel Melikoff is
in few words Do you remember in
one of Victor Hugo's romances the gun
ner who allowed huge cannon to teaS
loose from its fastenings or shipboardI
during storm, and then, after a ter
rifle combat in which his life was ieop,
ardized a hundred times, overturned thj
monster and saved his comradest'
Eyes, have read that" said Mau-
rice.
VERY well, " resumed Platoff. "The
commander of that vessel first rewarded
that man for his bravery, then shot
him for his negligence. Colonel Nell
koff is a second Marquis de Lautenac.
"But you don't think I'm in any
danger of being shot?" asked Maurice,
in a Mortified whisper.
No." said Platoff; cts not that
bad. You may know all tomorrow, and
then it is possible that 1 shall have
something to say to you"
Platoff refused to explain himself
any further, and presently, in spite of
his troubles, Maurice was sleeping
soundly,
The morning yerification was presided
over by Lieutenant Sudekin, who, it
seemed, had been appointed temporary
oommandant of the prison. Before start
ing for the mines it was whispered
among the convicts that Captain Daro-
man had not been caught, and this ru-
NOR was presently verified, for the
working gangs started out that morn
ing in custody of less than half the
usual guard of Cossacks, and the Gordon
of troops around the prison was CORE
spondingly small. 1t was soon evident
that the new Commandant had no in
tention of dealing more 1eniently with
the COnvicts than his predecessor. All
that day the boys toiled hard under the
watchful eyes of the overseers, and not
the slightest conversation was allowed.
Two or three days passed thus, and
still Maurice heard nothing from Colo
mel Melikoff, nor was the fugitive CON-
mandant recaptured.
He's sure to be caught sooner or
later" said Platoff. Its only CUES
ton Of time. "
On the fifth day, however, many of
the absent troops returned, and it be-
gan to look as though Captain Daroman
had made good his escape, for the time
at least
"They have forgotten me-" said
Maurice one night, as he sat on his
hard bed, thinking of the pretty dark
eyed girl who had passed like a vision
across the wretched monotony Of his
life. "She believes me to be some low
criminal, no doubt" he added bitterly
to himself.
'No, " said Platoff, glancing up from
the cup of tea he was drinking "Be
assured Colonel Melikoff has not for
gotten you. He never overlooks a crime
against his rules and discipline of the
prison, as you will know before long"
a week passed by-a week of heart
siCkening toll and misery-and then
Platoff's prediction came true, though