Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-08-16

very much. .EFhis way sir. 8
bis was all 50 frank and prompt
that the young man began to- think
he had been a fool for being fright
ened. He followed the man Wit i
the lantern into the hall, and from
thence down a long fight Of stairs
into ! basement. The lantern did
not give much light, but it was :suffi-
cient to reveal the: fact that the
house was an old one and not very
large, for Ruric could see windows
upon the opposite side of=the hall
which looked out of doors. AS he
reached the foot Of the stairs he
found himself upon a brick floor.
and he saw the walls were Of stone.
! A little farther on a door was open
ed, and this led to small apart
ment, within which was a fireplace
and good fire burning.
"There, good sir" said the sec
ond guide, .t:if you will wait q few
moments I will go and see how the
lieutenant is"
As soon as Ruric was left alone
he looked about him. The room
was of moderate size for small
house, and the idea of inhabiting
the cellars was common one in
Moscow during the winter season.
The windows, two in number, were
close up to- the ceiling and very
small and were patched with pieces
Of board in two or three places.
Ere long the man came back, and
| with him came three others, one of
whom the youth recognized as the
individual who had conducted him
to the house. -
"0rsa will see you, sir" said he
with the lantern. .s.> ..., =
+Ruric arose to follow him, the
other three: men approaching the
fire as though they would remain
there. He had reached the door
and passed through into the room
beyond, when he thought he heard
footsteps behind him. It was slid
ing, shutting sound, and he turned
his head to see what it was. As he
did so he received blow which
staggered him and which would
have felled an ordinary man to the
floor. He gathered himself quickly
up, but before he could fairly turn
about he received second blow,
heavier than the first, which
brought him upon his knees. In an
instant all four Of the I'll were up
on him, and he could see that they
had ropes in their hands with which
: to bind him. With all his might he
threw the fellow who held his right
hand back against the wall, and an
other he sent in an opposite direc-
ton, and in a moment more he
would have been upon his feet, but
just at that instant moose was
'adroitly slipped over his head, and
as the rope frightened about: his
neck he was drawn back upon the
brick floor again.
'Now, resist any more, and we'll
choke you as sure as fate!". cl led the
man who had held the lantern and
now had hold upon the rope:
"Oh," groaned Ruric, while the
massive cords worked like cables in
his arms and shoulders, "give me a
fair chance! Let me UP and free
then lock your doors, if you pleased"
"No, no, good sir,' replied the
ruffian, with a wicked smile. -"We
know your power, and We are not
disposed to test it further We have
had trouble enough already: Shall
we~-. -z..@ =. !:
The man stopped speaking, for at
that moment another moose was
slipped down over Ruric's head, and
ere he could avoid it. it had been
drawn tightly about his arms. He
ives now at the mercy of his captors,
and, having rolled him over upon
his breast, they proceeded to secure
his arms behind him, which, being
done, they babe him to rise. Of
course he could have no desire to lie
there upon the cold bricks, and he
got upon his feet as we'll as he could.
:*%w, Ruric Newell, twill conduct
YOU to your own apartment" said
the leader Of the gang. =.z : !
~But wherefore is this ~ the gun:
maker gasped, rendered almost
speeches. with the mingled emo
items Of surprise and anger. .tWhy
have we done this? Whose hirelings
are ye that ye thus waylay and seize
upon an honest man who has done
no harm to any Of you? ~ f.
"Nevers mind that now, sir" the,
ruffian coolly answered. t<Sufice it
for you to know that poa are safe
for the present = SIS. ..ss..::...Z &.
.But will ye not tell me what this
is for? There is some intent" . .~ 81
eyes, and come with me and you
shall see. Come. : .s..ss... 5 J. S.,
ts TN. 4 -