Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14
CHAPTER TX.

THE AWAKENING OF PAUL PREOBESLAS.
The sentry in the courtyard kept to
his ceaseless trampings. His thoughts
were in the guardroom at the far cor
ner of the buildings, where a fire made
light and warmth. He shivered in
the cold moonlight and longed for the
appointed end of his vigil. yet two
good hours away. He envied furious
ly his comrades stretched at length
on the truckle bedsteads among warm
layers of straw.
Suddenly out of the emptiness Of the
barn behind him resounded a clatter
and the ring Of iron. He stopped,
swung upon his heel and looked across
at the building gapingly. He swore
with great evaporation. The devil
take all cats" he muttered. "and burn
all kittens, But l suppose l must eX-
anime"
He strobe across to the door, fun
bling at his keys. He leaned his rifle
against the wall and inserted the key
in the rusty wards. Slowly he pushed
back the nail studded panels. Holding
his lantern above his head, he entered
and looked uncertainty about him.
From behind the door dark figure
rose silently and with terrific force
dashed an iron bar upon his head. The
unfortunate soldier dropped like
stone, a grunt as OF felled bullock
issuing from between his half closed
lips. The lamp clattered to the stones
and was extinguished in a moment.
Then silently and carefully the door
was closed upon the PROSTATE victim
and his assailant.
For another half hour quiet reigned
in the courtyard. Then noiseessly the
barn door opened, and a soldier came
out. He picked up the rifle which still
leaned against the wall and, swinging
his keys in his hand, strobe steadily
up the yard and staid and listened at
another door in the end Of the same
building. He stopped to the keyhole.
A sound Of measured breathing came
from within, and an audible snore here
and there broke the silence. He took
his keys and tried II EN- one by one at
the lock. 1t was not till the fifth or
sixth attempt that one fitted and work
ed easily through the wards. He push
ed the door from him and entered.
His lantern showed a bare, mud
hoored room, and lying about it in va
rious attitudes of uneasy rest were 80
men, bound. draggled and filthy. With
one exception they slept the sleep of
hunger and utter exhaustion. Bound
hand and foot, leaning his back
against the wall. was Colonel Preobes-
las blinking YEARLY at him in the dim
light, his eyes peering out suspiciously
from under his shaggy eyebrows.
Courses be yours, fellow" he said in
Russian. Cant we get any sleep
without being reused up and stared at
every half hour of the nightT'
The soldier carefully closed the door,
set down his lantern and advanced to-
ward him, a knife cleaning in his
hand.
You cursed assassin" said the colo
mel, staring up at him fiercely. do
you mean to murder me?"
The soldier put his fingers warningly
to his lips, bent down and with neat
slash or two smote off the lashiuGa
that bound the colonel's feet Cad
hands. Preobeslas felt a salt tear
drop upon his face as the other bent
over him.
He looked up amazedly, then started
back and rubbed his eyes, petrified
with establishment. "Desmond!' he
exclaimed. "Iesmond! Have you els
on from the dead?'
The sham soldier laid his finger on
his lip. mo noise If you can help.
colonel. Everything is yet TO do. Hill
mar is safe" he whispered, but we
must get these others freed. And then
the business Is half begun. We must
surprise the guard and get their rifles"
The colonel was still staring, staring
as one i'm dream. "In the name OF
goodness he began
Desmond held up his hand Not
now, my dear sir, All In good time.
Come with me-" And he walked across
to where Barr snored heavily in the
far corner, his head pillowed on heap
of floor scrapings, his bound limbs
! huddled into q knotted pose Of dis