Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-12-15
060v 5566555o6666 66D
!: THE BLACK TERROR ;
. Il Romance of Russia. 4
- Dy JOHN *
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by JOHN X. LEYs.

was left, and as he moved. fancied l
could detect some vague. lnuehh'e
sounds ut the other end of the sheds.
What have YOU done:" l exclaimed,
indignantly, forgetting that l was
speaking in English. You may nave
killed the man.
Il hope So said Won MitSchka. With
perfect GOODNESS.
My disgust was too great for woruS'
but it was apparent enough in my tone,
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
Il spy He must have followed you
here"
"Nonscnse."'
Il am sure of it-but we will see.'
BY this time the rebel (as l may call
hin) had lit the bit Of candle, and
carefully guarding it. so that no spark
should fall on the shavings laying scat
tered about, he began to explore the
shed, following few PAGES behind.
We found no one Everything was
Saunt and bare; only a rough mario"
door at the farther end, by which the
logs We're brought into the mill. was
:,jar. and 4 tiny wreath of SNOW had al
ready formed on the floor.
See" 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 a remote village
x,-nn11 hovn hppO
SO keen:'
He tried to peer out at the door. but
the wind extinguished his light in Il
moment, and we returned in the dark
to the other end of the shed.
The repugnance l had felt towards
my companion Oh account of the cal
lousness he had exhibited had now sub
sided: but had no wish to be further
associated with him. and l hesitated as
l 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. be
carried to the castle, and his arrest
would follow as 4 matter OF course.
Yet l. could think Of no other shelter
for him, and it was with mixture OF
pity, dislike and annoyance that l re-
peated my question.
Il shall stay where I am" said the
outlaw, coolly stretching himself on
the heap Of Shavings that served him
for Il couch. 1T is plain to me that If
the alarm is given it would be impossi-
bic for me to get away from here with
out horses or friends, in this weather.
Even if 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 l should have to surrender
in the morning. if the place were
watched, as of course, it would be-
There is no hope, then:"
"Oh. yes 1 think, on the whole, it is
most likely that shall hear no more
Of that unlucky shot. 1t was an i'm
prudent thing to do, admit, but 1
was so angry at being followed and
spied upon. even here, that l lost my
head for moment"
But what makes you imagine that
YOU will escape the consequences of
your act?'
II think the spy will hold his tongue
about the wound he received that is
to say
But why:''
Because, thank heaven, the majority
Of the people have a great dislike and
terror Of man who is known to be in
secret a government spy. They think
they are never safe from dim; and I
imagine it is very possible that, rather
than be known among his neighbOrs as
fol 4,sv-
for his wound in some other way, and
hush the matter up"
Il suppose the conversation we have
just held will be reported to the gov.
ernment:' asked, after a pause.
Il am afraid there is no doubt of
that. and very sorry I am that you
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
ernment will interfere with you further
than by warning your employer that
he had better get rid Of YOU"
THAT l don't mind. Anyone may
have my post here for anything I care
Good night"
At an early hour next morning / Wis
tied the mill again-t was empty. Only
the fur rug was lying neatly folded on
the heap Of shavings. knew from
this that the spy had said nothing
about his wound. though it must have
been pretty severe one. | could de-
tect traces Of blood Gil the snow for Il
good par, Of the way back to the viii
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
tcllIar, Il copy Of the decree appointing
him to the gOvernOrship of the prov.
irtr of HolotZka.
Tie Prince was delighted beyond
measure, and ut once began to issue
his orders. 1t was fixed that he should
leave the castle in three days, and cv-
crything was hustle and confusion, as
il was not expected that he would re-
turn for year ut least.
| had been living in daily expectation
| ,llal should he dismissed on account
. 4 a .l...I