Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-05-04
A COTTAGE BY THE V0LGA.
BY STEPNIAK.
SAVED THE STARS AND

Copyright, 1897, by Tillotson & Son.
CHAPTER VII-CoNTINUED.

1T is III the fulhllment or our duty.
He knew Kroutikov personally and,
moreover, had received special instruc-
tions from the governor, who wished
the future relatives of his favorite to be
treated as gently as possible.
What do you want?" asked Katia.
"In consequence of information re-
ceived by us that an escaped state Grim
inal is hiding in your house,
"Do you mean our visitor, Mr.. Vladi-
mir Petrovich Volgin? l know nothing
of his being a criminal" said Katia.
81 have no doubt of that, madam, -
the procurator made haste to say, al
though in his own heart he had nc
doubt of the very opposite. "We have
absolutely nothing against your fami-
ly, but we have instructions to arrest
the person calling himself Volgin."
'But he is not in the house," Katia
answered firmly.
"No? Where can he have gone?''
asked the procurator, smiling incredu-
lousy.
"He went away suddenly" said
Katia.
"And when was this, if I may ask"
Yesterday after dinner" she an
swered, remembering Vladimir's at
tempt to escape from the house. "Oh,
why did we meet him then?" she
thought, too late, with bitter regret.
"Do you mean that he went away
without telling you he was going?"
asked the procurator ironically.
''Yes, without telling u.s., she af-
firmed.
People have queer visitors nova
days." the procurator could not refrain
from remarking cuttingly. 81 am very
sorry" he went Oh, returning to his Sc
rious tone, "but 1 must search the
house."
Have you warrant?" asked Katla.
'That is altogether unnecessary, an
swered the procurator severely. He was
just going to add as warning some
thing still more stern and admonitory,
but refrained. "For that matter" he
said, turning to his companion, "Ivan
Ivanych, perhaps you have brought the
document with you?"
The officer of gendarmerie pulled out
of side pocket a large folded sheet of
paper, which he handed to Katia. She
unfolded and began to read it, or rather
to hold it before her eyes, for in her
agitation she could not make out sim
gle word.
The procurator grew tired Of waiting.
Pardon me-" he said ironically.
"The handwriting of our clerk is evi-
IDENTIFY somewhat illegible, and we have
no time to lose; so with your permission
I will examine the rooms while you
read"
Katia led him into the house.
In the pavilion meanwhile scene OF
quite a different character was being
enacted.
Vladimir, too, on hearing the noise
of the wheels had rushed to the win
dow and by the light of the lanterns
had seen the gendarmes.
"He has informed, after all, the scoun-
drelp' he exclaimed.
His first idea was to take a dash fol
the garden, get across into the wood and
hide himself there; but, looking through
the window, he saw two gendarmes
running round the house. His egress
was cut off on all sides. He was caught
in trap, like wild beast.
''I'll cut my way through" he
thought and ran to the door in the hope
of finding in the yard some kind oi
weapon ak, crowbar, cudgel, any
thing-but on the threshold he came
into collision with and almost knocked
down the nurse, who came running III,
painting for breath.
Little father, my young lady sends
you her compliments, she began from
sheer force of habit, land sends me tc
say that they've come for your life, sir. u
81 know, know. What next:"
"And she told me to hide your honor
anywhere I can; so, if you please, sir,
I'll lock you up in the larder.' -
"Thank you, granny" Vladimir an,
swered, "but they II come to look fol
me in the larder."
"Then in the lumber room?"
"They'll come there too"
''In the barn, then, in the hay?"
''They'll come there, too, and stick
their swords through the hay"
The old woman spread out her hands
despairingly.
"Good Lord, what wicked wretches
Their swords? Then they II kill you.
Where am to hide you, little father:
You're not thimble. can't pop you
into my pocket"
"Well, I'm afraid there isn't any,
where, granny" said Vladimir. "Ah
What's that up in the ceiling" he
asked, pointing with his finger.
At one corner Of the wooden roof
Just over the bed, seam ran across tht
planks, showing the presence of trap
door, A small ring was screwed into
the wood for handle.
"That's the garret, little father
where we keep the barrels of driec
apples.
"All right. I'll hide there. -
He placed a small dressing table OF
the bed and chair Oh the dressing ia
BILE; then, climbing up, he opened th'
trap and slipped hastily into its blacl
jaws. Bending his head down through
the trap, he directed the old woman tt
put the furniture back as it was before
and smooth the bed so that it should
look as though no one had stood on it
He then glanced round the room ant
saw his hat in a corner.
Give it ME here, granny" he said
-
She put the hat Oh to broom handle