The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-06-25
CHAPTER VIII.
Il Am That Man,"

Il Am That Man."
Ierack has gone. He was re-
moved from the cell an hour ago.
throwing at me a significant glance as
he passed out. And now again the door
OF the cell is opened-this time for
me, and | am led along the several
corridors down a short flight of stone
steps, across u large vestibule sur
rounded by several doors, through one
OF which we pass into an ante-room,
and thence into an inner find
myself standing at the end of a long
table. Opposite me, in an armchair,
sits a little, gray man in the undress
uniform OF a general. At a glance
l ascertain that the governor occupies
another armchair somewhat apart, and
that Andres Piotrovitch and the two
gendarmcs who took me in custody are
also present. Besides these there are
several officials seated at the table.
The little. gray man. who is. of
course, the project, eyes me- with
severe tixity out Of bush Of fuzzy
gray hair, in a manner that is
intended to strike me with awe.
Nevertheless I calmly return the
gaze. What to me are the awful
looks OF this curious little gray CAD
ny in nay. present stress Of trouble?
He moves uneasily. and rubs the side
OF his Roman nose with his %forefipger.
And he takes the bull by the horns at
once, though unwittingly.
'ln the first place. please inform
me whether the name on this enve-
lope." here he lifts Maruscha's letter
from tho top OF ONE papers that lie
before him, ''Waldemar Nicolaivitch
Alikanotf. is your real name Or an as
sumed one"
1t is an assumed one,' l reply,
promptly.
There is a stir among the officials.
They all change their attitudes. Some
lean forward. some turn in their
chairs, and all with but one object,
that Of getting a better view of me.
Though l am looking straight at the
project l feel that every eye in the
room regards me %intently.
l observe that the project is taken
By surprise. My answer was the last
Ao AoN SAPSSOSu. L Illus LIS uOuUlo
eyeglass and takes a more thorough
survey of me.
''Humph!' he calculates. '.Ah-in-
deed! Perhaps, as you seem dis
posed to be candid. he continues to
snarl in his nasal treble. You will
also inform me by what name | may
with confidence have the honor of adj
dressing you?"
Certainly. My name is Vladimir
Alexandrovitch L%ubanotfr'
Ii a smoking bombshell had fallen
into their midst it could not have Gre
ated q greater sensation than does nv
avow&l. An amazed exclamation rises
to every lip, followed by a stir as of a
sudden breeze among trees. Andrea
Piotrovitcn is the first to break the
silence that succeeds.
'Ha" he exclaims. ''Hinted [
not so. my uncle! l know [ recoc-
nized him, and mine is the reward.
You must confess. Vladimir Alex
~androvitch. that l recognized you?'
For reply l cast OF him a look of
o
Hold thy prating tongue. Andrea"
I hear the governor whisper, and he
fushes deeply, 'or thou wilt compel
me to expose thy les
Meanwhile the project had re-
covered himself.
You admit that you are the Vladi-
mir AleXandrovitch Lubanotf who by
some marvellous mischance escaped
the fate you so richly merited." he
questions.
Il am that man." l answer firmly,
'who suffered-ay, suffered to the full
the death he was condemned to die.
I was hung. l endured the shame of
it. the pain Of it even to the final
death throe! l satisfied justice that
demanded my life; for l was dead. A
Higher Power than the mighty Car
himself restored to me my life! This
life [ O hold | declare to be mine,
by the gift of God. l had a right to
do m utmost to preserve it, and he
who would rob me of it commits a
theft on the living God"
My voice rings through the silent
room. 1t carries the expression Of
nv deepest conviction. And gazing
round on my audience I perceive that