Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-04-20

s THE BLACK TERROR )
- *
8 Il Romance of Russia. .
- by JOHN II. LEYS. *
- &
ny JOHN X. LEYS.

CHATTER xxx.
Retrfbution.

OF course | was not going to be tax
en- back 10 the castle without a strug-
gle. and for several minutes we wrest.
led for the mastery with all our might.
No house was near. but there was al
ways a chance that meon might
come by that way. and more than
once the Prince shouted Justify for
help.
i was under n serious disadvantage,
for. though | strove with all my might
TO free myself from the Princes grasp.
and used his Hlghness more roughly
than he bad probably ever been used
before, still l could not bring myself
10 reduce him to powerleSsneSs by a
blow The Prince. OF the other hand,
had no such scruples. He struck me
several times savagely on the face
with his clenched fist, and these blows
weakened me considerably. / was In
u difficulty; for, cordially as | hated
the Prince, | could not forget that be
was the father of the girl loved, and
that the dearest wish of my heart was
TO have the right TO call him by that
sacred name
Yet felt that I could not keep up
the unequal fight much longer. The
Prince was a strong, heavy man. too
heavy for me TO throw by main force,
and knew none OF the tricks OF the
wrestler's art. / did know something
OF boxing. but that vas just the sci
ence that, for the time, was useless TO
me.
My strength was fast going. for the
blows | had received every now and
then had their effect. when the sound
of sledge bells again fell on my ear.
The Prince threw back his head and
shouted for help. | had one hand
free. and | Ia sorely tempted TO
grasp the great red throat of the
and squeeze il until | had squeezed
h breath out OF il. | am glad now
that | resisted the temptation.
The jingle of the bells sounded near
er and are The sledge was o
coming along the road; ii was coming
down the avenue But that mattered
nothing. The help the Prince had
shouted for was at hand. Even If /
had struck him 10 the earth-even if I
had killed him OF the spot-I could not
escape. | made up my mind to yield:
but before | could utter the word the
Prince had knocked me down and
grasping me by the throat.
The horses were going at a callop.
but The man who was driving. seeing
W men struggling together in the
middle OF the road, refined them in sud.
denly and leaped out.
Hold him. said the Prince To the
newcomer: and, painting heavily, he
rose slowly TO his feet, still holding
my collar on n side, while the strang-
er laid his grip on the other.
They led me up the avenue. perhaps
a hundred yards: the sledge, driven by
a second traveller. following slowly be-
Lind us.
II think we have gene far enough
now" said the stranger.
I stood stock-still with amazement.
1t was the voice OF Paul Won Mitsch-
ka He let 20 my collar. and the
Prince also let me 20 without thinking
what ne was doing. so great was his
establishment.
$50 what they told me was true
said the conspiratcr. speaking with de-
iiberate incisiveneSs. You have not
merely broken your pledged word in
respect of this gentleman. but You
would close his mouth forever by
handing him over to the CZar-in 9th
er words. you would have rewarded
him for releasing you from prison by
sending him to the sclffold. Cur and
reprobate, death is too good for You
Is there anything you a say in de
tense OF your conduct Noy
you are entirely mistaken, my goo.
sir. You have been grossly misin
formed said the Prince. after looking
up the avenue and back towards the
gates. IF you and Mr.. Heath will
come to the Castle with me. / shall be
able to explain everything 10 your sat
isfaction, and carry ont the promises
which. in n moment of weakness,
"You must think US fools like your
self, if you expect us TO walk into a
trap so easily" said Won Mitschka. In
a tone OF scorn- Then, in another
voice. as solemn as that Of a judge
pronouncing sentence. he said:
.'Your atrocious treacheTy has been
reported to- us, and you have been con
demned to die. If you can repent of
your sins, do so. for your hour has
Gomez
"No. nor / cried. ut would be muir
der! No matter what he has done 70
me. you must not Kill him. Great
heavens, it would be too horriblei'
For the space of a minute. we were
all three silent. each one of us looking
from Que to the other. Our faces were
just visible in the light of the lamps
carried by the sledge, which was now
standing close In us.
II repeat make your peace with
God, for you have not many moments
10 live said the Nihisist, in the N
calm voice he had spoken in before.
The Prince laughed. but II was an
uneasy laugh. and, for my part. | saw
hat Won Mitschka was i'm deadly ear
nest. / had learned that when ne was
most calm he was most dangerous.
"You shall not do such a thing l
cried. Selling the Nihilist by the arm,
He never stirred, but made an imper-
ceptible movement with his head in
my direction, aud the look was under
stood. His companion stole up behind
me, and before l had time TO graphic
with him he had flung his arms about
me, carried me OF my feet and thrown
me down In the snow / fell on my
face, and | was still struggling To rise.
when ! heard the crack OF a revolver