Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14
N fire to warm their stiffened


The dreams Of Paul Preobeslas were
sweet. The roseate probabilities of
the future danced in fantastic exag-
geration through his brain. He saw
himself powerful with his new gotten
wealth, confirmed in his stewardship
of his outlaw cousins estates, moving
on by cautious steps to the satrapy Of
Skelligen, vceroy at last of Finland,
honored and supreme in the councils of
the White Gar Some outside innu-
ence moved against his domination
There was revolution. The Firms,
dashed to fury, were about his path.
Their knives cleaned against him. He
was down, and over him stood a furi-
GUS mob desiring his life. lie wres-
tied furlously against them, beating
off their desperate grasp. The imag
mary swept into the real. He awoke
gaining consciousness Of present peril
The influence of his dream still cloud
cd upon his brain. Was this indeed
the bowling turmoil that desired his
blood? ST. Paul. They were silent
now. but no less grim
He twisted his head from side 10
side. Something held it level with
the pillow. He binked upon his cap
tors. Heaven. They were of no flesh
and blood. There. heading them, stood
that dog Of an Engllshman whom he
had murdered two days back. In the
veriest extremity of fear scream
burst from his lips and pealed down
the empty passages and across the
courtyard.
A hand was planted on his mouth.
mo noise" said a fierce voice, and a
bayonet point danced before his eyes.
"Where does the lieutenant Sleep"
demanded the same voice imperously,
and the hand was removed.
"My God" muttered the bound
wretch as he recognized the colonel.
"How in the name of all the DEVILS
silence" said Prcobeslas sharply.
answer only my question:
"Here-besde me-in the next
room" stammered the fear stricken
poltroon. But you are not going to-
Going to murder him? No. my arch
scoundrel," said the colonel with furi-
Gus sarcasm, though no doubt that's
the course which would lend itself to
your approval" And he turned away,
with a gestur" of disgust, toward the
door that led into the next room.
Before he reached it it opened. A
young man stood before him, staring
with unuttcrable amazement. Then
like a flash the meaning of the stua
ton broke upon him. The door slam
med resoundingly, and the bolt could
be heard shooting home.
Down with it, bawled Desmond
savagely. Don't let him escape.
He'll get word to Osbrog and bring
the cavalry upon us And he flung
himself upon the door, hammering at
it thunderously. Half a dozen Eng
lish fists smote beside him. and with
crash the door shot from it's hinges
and gave crashingly into the room be-
You'd. 1t was empty, but through
another open doorway long passage
showed, and they caught the fiutter of
white shirt down the distant corner.
With a yell like wolves they baycd
upon the fugitive's track and reached
the top of staircase as a door sla I'M.
med ut the top. Up they rushed and
smote it to matchwood with their rifle
butts. Again the room was empty, but
the easement open. 1t gave upon the
leads. and they jostled each other
eagerly in the narrow opening to gain
the roof. For an instant they stood be-
wildered. Then from the river below
sounded a splash. Down the leads
they ran to where a lower roof stretch
ed ten feet below that they were on
Swimming across the stream was their
man, snatching his way through the
current with long. desperate strokes,
straining for the shore which was but
ten yards distant.
Half Il dozen bullets spattered about
him. One alone found mark, and
that but struck a finger. Before any
one could reload he scrambled to his
feet and shook his fist with a yell Of
defiance to the furious faces that lined
the parapet Then, barefoot and naked
but for his shirt. he raced for the pad
lock, where, tethered TO pegs, a dozen
horses grazed. Hastily knotting a
head rope into halter, he slip
ped the bars and led a pony out. He
leaped upon its back. smote his hardest
with bare heels upon its sides and with
one last yell Of derision swept down
the forest glades and away into the
green depths of pine.
Cad" soliloquized Desmond. IT'S
an internal nuisance, his getting
away
"A nuisance" said the colonel quiet
ly. Its ruin. In an hour the squad
ron from Osbrog will be upon us"
We'll, then" said Desmond hopeful
ly, Tets make a bolt for it at once.
Please God, Stefans settled the
yachts crew"
A shot rang out from the forest, fol-