Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-09-30
CHAPTER XXXIV.
SEARCHING FOR THE COUNT.

SEARCHING FOR THE COUNT.
1t was a simple enough matter in
reality These good fellows had tracked
Andre back to our house. He had en-.
tered by my bedroom window frcm the
ward, using a ladder, under cover OF
the darkness They had done the same,
climbing in noiselessly in the nick OF
time. One of them was wounded in the
arm, the only successful shot of the
four.
As for Andre. he raved and bias
phemed, struggling like maniac.
was obliged to assist the police in secur-
ing him, and il the scuilie he aimed
several vicious kicks and blows at me,
together with much vile language.
carry the marks nf one Of his "hacks
to this day. However. he was caught,
and ! may say in this place. for we
have now finished. personally. with the
consumlnate Scuundrcl. that this time
the police did not hlunder. but sent
him away to places from which there
is no return. believe he l. nnw at
Sakhalin or thereal"ut.
Early the following morning l r"-
ceived message from the chancellpry
of the gradCnachalnik. which is the
official title uf the chief Of police. The
messenger requested that | would con-
vey myself as quickly as possible to the
head office.
l went. this time without much
anxiety of heart. for ] knew well
enough that even without tn" fulfill
ment Of his farcical condition Of identi-
ficaticn by scar. the chief would now
no longer withhold his consent to IA
ther's release, for, Andre caught and the
students tale verified. no sane man,
gradonachalnik or commorCr, could
anv longer pretend to diShclieve in the
blundcr which had been committed.
l was not therefore prepared for an
other check: yet. so closely had fate
woven the net around my poor father 5
liberty | was destined to experience a
new disappointment.
The chief received me very civillv
and began by congratulating me upon
Andres capture and thanking me for
my share in ctfccting it. l had had Il
narrow escape. he said; the delinquent
had fired point blank at me-waS 1t not
SO?
"Ccrtainlv. excellence. said. land
kicked mo very violently on the shinS
besides. Not quite the line Of conduct
one would expect a father to pursue to-
ward an otpdicnt and dutiful son..
The chief grinned slightly.
81 concede the point" he said.
"There has been mistake, though,
owing to the circumstances, pardon
able one. You shall have your father
back. unless destiny should have been
too strong for us-an event l should
deeply deplore." "
"What do you mean, excellenceI'
said. my heart sinking to my boots,
"have yuu ncws-bad news?"
"Read this. said the chief. handing
me telegram from l forget what re-
mote place in Siberia. "All may he
we'll with him, but there is some doubt.
as you will see. -
l snatched the telegram and read
these words: Convict kornilof never
reached here; reported detained Spask
severe illness; probably died since; no
later advice received. y
My head swan. my legs seemed to
collapse; l sank into a chair. Was this
to be the end of all our labor and suf
feringsY Ny dear father dead in the very
hour of our victory? Oh. it was toe
grimly cruel of destiny. 1 could not be-
lieve it, could not!
Come, come, there is no need to
despair. said the chief. "He is likely
enough, making a long recovery. They
would not send him forward till he
was strong enough to travel without
risk-the convict guard corps are not
inhuman monsters, as the foreign news
papers are SO fCnd of describing them.
Your father is probably still too weak
to travel. most fortunate circum-
stance. as it happens, for You will now
have but few hundreds Of miles t.
Journey, in order to be- ut his side, in
stead of as many thousands. Come, play
the man. and-if you are wise-take
the first train for Spask. You will
probably find Your father there.
"Telegraph first, if You will.
said. Il cannot stand the suspense.
The chief kindly did as | requested.
He sent message to the little convict
station at Spa>k, inquiring whether
kOrnilof WAS still detained there.
went for Il walk by tn" N"va's
banks whi" the meSs;tg" Went forward
and until the reply should arrive.
could not 90 home and talk Hlauut it AL
with Percy and BuIut>ky. My heart
was too full | must he al,u"-lik" til,
woundrd animal. in this that prefer,
tc 90 and hide itself in order t. snitcl
unubserved.
tramprd the whole length If tn.
emhankmcnt twice, and th">" whu h;Iv'
seen St. Petersburg will know how fal
that is, before summoned courage I,
call again at the chanc"l"ry to heal
what news had arrived at SiaSk.
SAW the chief in a mist and heard
his voice in a dream.
81 congratulate you" he said. 81