Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-30
least. IL was some one else's."


"a moment! You slept hours, and
the prisoners you were guarding have
escaped"
Tmpossiblev' gasped 1tzig. almost
sinking through the floor.
Enough of thisv' said Neslerov.
"1tzig Is here, and If he has permitted
the men to escape he can be punished
any time. We are wasting precious
moments. Let us get down to the dun
geons and find them"
Jansky took a pistol, and 80 did Ne
slerov. They went to the guardroom.
Jansky took the lantern and opened
the door and iron gate. He led the
way, Neslerov and 1tzig following.
See? He has gone" said Jansky,
pointing to the chains.
"Are you certain this is the roomr
Certain? As am alive"
"Then for the other. and keep
watch. They are not armed, but re-
member Paulpoff's strength, and the
other is no pygmy."
Again Jansky led the way. He did
not tell Neslerov he had not been to
visit Vladimir. In his agitation Mt
finding the American gone he had as
sumed, of course. that II one could es-
cape both could. Reaching an obscure
corner, toward which Denton had not
shanced to go in his search, they found
another stairway leading downward.
This short fight brought them to a
horrible place-more horrible than the
x-ha ho ph
This was dungeon made cold and
| damp by the water that stood two
inches deep on the floor. and in which
blind reptiles that had never seen any
brighter place crawled around in the
Shiny ooze. Long strings Of rotten
moss hung from the walls. Here. In
this nosome and terrible place, was
Vladimir, chained in the same manner
as Denton had been.
II thought you said he had gone too"
exclaimed Neslerov. flood Of hope
and courage showing in his voice.
Il thought so. In my excitement I
believed both had gone, but If one Is
here the other must be. We will
search the dungeons"
They did not speak to Vladimir, who
was suffering awful fortunes, but turn
ed and assembled to the upper floor.
Here, winding and turning among the
passages, they crept stealthily-three
armed men searching for one man who
was unarmed, yet fearing that the one
might leap upon them and STAY them as
they walked. But they did not find
the American and returned crestfallen
to the Office of the superintendent Of
police.
THAT man did not set himself free"
said Neslerov. Some one who knows
my secret haU done this. Olga Is here.
Who else but Olga could do the thing?'
during the ball?" Jansky suddenly ask
ed Itzg. was it the princess who
gave you that wine1"
The pallor of the mans face gave
Jansky his answer.
"Heavens!" he exclaimed "Thc wine
must have been drugged! 1t was Olga
who set him free!'
Then we must act with extreme eau.
ton, for II she knows this much she
will ruin me. For a short time we must
act as If we did not know the Ameri
can had escaped. But you and Unsge'
thop must find him-fnd him-before
he gets out Of Tomsk. Then, with him
again in our grasp, l will deal with
Olga. Fool, to put her strength against
mine, and in Tomsk"
What about Vladimir" asked Jan
sky.
Leave him alone. Let him starve
He can do no harm"
Jansky went quickly to work. Uns
gethop, upon whom he depended most
had gone to another place In the dis
charge Of his duty. Jansky made sew
eral fruitless journeys during the day
but no trace of the American could III
find.
Olga, when. late in the day. she Join
ed the governor, noticed the studied
calm and the steely glitter Of his eye
She knew he had discovered the escap,
of Denton, but the resolute girl did no
fear him. She merely nerved hersel
to finish the work she had set hersel
to do. She had frequent errands tina
took her near the office Of the superin
tendent Of police. and she kept her ear
alert to catch the slightest whisper.
1t was evening when she went for tn
seventh time. and loud voices cam
from ths-superlntendent's Office. 50 ex
cited were the speakers that they dl
not realize that their voices reache
into the hall.
II tell you 1t Is SOL" said the voice @
Unsgethop, who had returned and VIII
seemed to be angry. How was l +
know that a man could escape from tn
dungeons? heard it-that the Amer
can had passed through Dorky on hi
way to Tivoloffsky. ! supposed Nesl'
row had changed his plans"
rs he going to Tivoloffsky? Oh
Paulpofr is still there" said the GOV
ernor.
But explain this thing" said Unsg'
thop. How could a man who wa
, chained to the wall in that dungeon 81
out"
by the help of a traitor, and l wi
know that traitor and STAY him" sal
Neslerov. Some one drugged sem
. wine. and Jansky, like fool. drank |
r Also Itzig who guards the door. Du
ing the time they were asleep the Anne
. lean was set free. The other, Paulpof
Is still there. Your work Is to captul
3 that American and bring him here"
IF he knows he may have told SON