Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-16


the authorities. but us the time wore
on he began to realize that his view Of
the affair must be erroneous and TINT
his liberty was lost forever unless he
could win 1t back by his own hands.
While he fully realized the difficulties
of his position, he did not despair. He
knew that he was destined for Siberia,
but the way to Siberia is long, and the
opportunities to escape must be many.
The guard who controlled the door
of Darrelfs dungeon was young Rus
sian named Kevski. Accepting for
granted the story of Sergius Bilowski
that came with the prisoner bearing
that name. he had treated Darrell with
"a sternness that forbade any attempt
at conversation, but they were brought
into more friendly relations by singu-
lar happening.
One evening, when Darrell was watch
ing through his window the evolutions
OF an unusually large force upon the
esplanade, he WAS astounded to per-
ceiye Ivan Getchikoff mounted upon a
horse and wearing the uniform of Il
brigadier. Evidently the rascal had
enjoyed recent promotion. Surrounded
by his staff, he took up position with
In fifty years Of Darrells window, and
the troops passed before him in review
With no clear notion of the useful
ness of the proceeding, but desiring to
make his presence known to Getchi-
koff. Darrell repeated that Imitation of
the flute which had SO surprised Lad
islov In the Partisan cafe. The sharp
sound reached Getchikoff's ears, and
he recognized 1t. Darrell had the sat
isfaction of witnessing the nervousness
of his enemy. and he was piping Justify
when he heard the creaking of the door
behind him. He snatched the big pen
mot, of course. a necessary part of the
musical performance from his pocket
and turned to face Kevski, the guard.
Where did you get a futeY' demand
ed Keyski.
II have had 1t In my pocket all along"
said Darrell. ut is not exactly flute.
1t is an American instrument"
why were you permitted to retain
it?"
MY FRIEND" said Darrell, who had
solved this puzzle by long study, sit
was safer to let me carry my own prop
erty out of Stavropol than to leave it
behind. When prisoners goods are or
dered to be destroyed, they have hab-
1t of turning up again, as You are
aware. And mine would prove me an
American"
You are not Russian; know that, "
responded Keyski. ''Is your name real
ly Sergius Bilowski?"
ut is not. My name, nay friend, is
Darrell. am an American"
Kevski seemed to be impressed.
America! All! That Is the place!"
he said. '.They have no prisons there"'
"Oh. hold on now! They do have
prisons. We are not all angels said
Darrell. And prisons are necessary
in every land. But in America one
must commit q crime to be sent to
prison."
II know, know" said Kevski, eager
to display his knowledge Of the distant
land Of freedom. MY cousin, Andrea
Kevski. Ii there. He wrote me letter
once. He IL now merchant, and his
children go to school. He sits every
Sunday In church. and no inspector
OF police searches his house in his alb
sence. 1t Is great country, that Amer
lea"
at is, indeed" said Darrell. 81 wish
II could know where l am. l thiuk
stavfoPoi would De treated to sensa-
tioh.
hush! My cousin says that in Amer
ia your people treat our people with
irlehasnlp. he says that II is great
eoa,,try. where rai,roods "a every dav
that many OF orr people have lorse
farms, and the taxes are so light that
they can save money. Ia IT so?,
81 think 50. 1 know that there ara
many Russian villages in our great
west"
$50 That ia what NV consin called
It. but / know little of these things
Gould / get To America 2o
"Well. if IT was really an object and
I got out Of here I think Won might
TeitSn AIueC1Cu.
Keysk, seemed to th,nk that ~. oon-
versation had gone far enough in this
direction. He suddenly asked to see
the musical instrument, which he ex-
amined with childish wonder, making
a laughable attempt to extort a tone
from 1t. Then he returned 1t and has
tily left the cell. That evening Oar
rell had a much better supper than
usual. On subsequent occasions the
conversation was resumed, and at last
Kevski was led to definite statement
regarding the possibilities of escape.
"It can be DONE" he said. "The Off.
GERS of the prisoner trains do not care
for persons, They convey only names.
You are Seryius Btlowski. There ore
in Gredskov men who have lived In the
north and whose friends are near the
Urals. One can be found to take your
name and place."
Very good. That gets him to 81