Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-12-15

sounds at the other end of the sheds.
What have you done?" I exclaimed.
Indignantly. forgetting that | was
speaking in English. You may have
Killed the man..
II hope So" said Won Mitschka. with
perfect GOODNESS.
My disgust WAS too great for words.
but it was apparent enough in MY ;cae,
as | replied:
KILLED, for anything you know, some
poor, homeless creature, who has taken
shelter here like Yourself
,Nothing of the kind. That man was
n spy. He must have followed you
here
NONSENSE"
Il am sure OF it-but we will see"
BY tI.is time the rebel fas | may call
HIM had lit the bit of candle, and
carefully guarding it. so that no spark
should fall on the shayings laying scat
tered about, he began to explore the
shed. | following n few PAGES behind.
We Found no one. Everything was
gaunt and bare; only a rough, narrow
door ut the farther end, by which the
logs We're brought into the mill, was
aiar, and n tiny wreath of snow had al
ready formed on the floor.
'Seer' cried Won Mitschka. and he
pointed to a dark smear on the door.
Il have hit him. but he cannot be much
hurt, or he would not have been able
to get away so easily. Who would
have thought that in Il remote village
like this. Il enemies would have been
so keen?'
He tried TO peer out at the door, but
the wind extinguished his light in a
moment. and we returned in the dark
to the other end of the shed.
The repugnance had felt towards
my companion ON account of the cnl-
lousaess he had exhibited had now sub
sided: but | had no wish to be further
associated with him, and hesitated as
| asked him what he meant TO do. 1t
was clearly unsafe for him to remain
longer where he was. for information
Of the attempted assassination, as it
would be termed, would. OF course. De
carried TO the castle, and his arrest
would follow as a matter of course.
Yet | could think of no other shelter
for him, and it was with a mixture OF
pity, dislike and annoyance that l re-
pested my question.
Il shall stay where l am" said the
outlaw, coolly stretching himself on
the heap of shavings that served him
for a couch. 1T is plain to me that IL
the alarm is given it would be impOssi-
BILE for me to get away from here with
ont horses or friends, in this weather.
Even IL l were to crawl under some OF
that timber out there, the great holes
my feet would make in the deep snow
would be visible for an hour or two. at
least; and / should have to surrender
In the morning. IL the place were
watched, as OF course. it would be-"
There Is no hope, them
"Oh, yes! | think, on the whole. 1t Is
most likely that | shall hear no more
of that Gnlucky shot. 1t was an inn
prudent thing to do, I admit, but I
was SO angry ut being followed and
spied upon. ven here, that l lost Eay
head for a moment
But what makes you imagine that
you will escape the consequences OF
your act?"
Il think the spy will hold his tongue
--about the wound he received, that Is
to say"
But why"
iAlhh AltlNti AT bidIUt y
Of the people have a great dislike and
terror Of a man who is known to be in
secret a government spy. They think
they are never safe from. Aim: and I
imagine IL is very possible that, rather
thar be known among his neighbors as
n spy, the fellow may try to
for his wound in ONE other way. and
hush the matter up"
Il suppose the conversation we have
just held will be reported TO the gov.
ernmentT' | asked, after Il pause.
Il am afraid there is no doubt of
that. and very sorry | am that o
should incur any risk on account of
your goodness TO an outcast like my
self"
Il don't think the government would
have me arrested. when they can only
allege that | listened to your talk
How can you tell what may be al
legged against you. when trials are held
in secret? But l don't think the gov
eminent will interfere with you further
than by warning your employer that
lie had better get rid Of you"
THAT | don't mind. Anyone may
have my post here for anything | care.
Goodnight"
At an early hour mex morning / Wis
tied the mill again-it was empty. Only
the fur rug was lying neatly folded on
the heap of shavings. I knew from
this that the spy had said nothing
about his wound, though 1t must have
been a pretty severe one. l could de-
tect traces of blood on the snow for a
good part of the way back 10 the vii
lage.
Five days later the express. whose
coming Won Mitschka had foretold. ar
rived from st. Petersburg. He brought
dispatches for the Prince, and In par-
ticuiar. a copy of the decree appointing
him to the governorship of the prov.
ince of Nolotzka.
The Prince was delighted beyond
measure. and at once began to issue
his orders. Ii was fixed that he should
leave the castle In three days, and ev-
erything was hustle and confusion. as
IL was not expected that he would re-
turn for q year Mt least.
/ had been living in daily expectation
that i should be dismissed on account
of the succor / had extended to Won
Mitschka, but / heard nothing OF II.
and | had come to the conclusion that
the government agent had made his
| report. not TO the Prince. hut to sauna