Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-30
truth"
CHAPTER XIV.
NEsLERov KNOWS HIS PERIL


IA deep slumber which had not
refreshed him after the ball,
Jansky, superintendent of police, was
grooming and muttering in his own ef-
forts to wake up. He knew he was
awake, but the effect Of the heavy drug
was still upon him. Itzlg, however,
having succumbed to a lesser quantity
than was taken by Jansky, was sooner
awake and had been relieved by the
day guard and gone to his own quar-
tiers. The first question Neslerov asked
was for Princess Olga. When he learn
ed TINT she was still sleeping, he went
to see Jansky.
"what is the matter with you" he
asked. you seem to be ILL.,"
81 do feel rather ill.," said Jansky. II
don't know when felt like this"
"You were drunk; that's all. You
were drunk when left you. Did you
drink any more?"
"Yes; in making the round Of inspec-
ton discovered Itzig asleep and a
bottle Of wine half gone. drank the
rest"
'Itzig asleep! At his post! And this
danger near us?"
Pooh! The girl suspects nothing. A
girl of her age, even though she be a
princess, could not dissemble so well.
tell you Olga suspects nothing"
"Then why is she here?
"well, she Is eccentric, as you know,
and il Is quite possible that she would
like TO be the wife Of the governor OF
Tomsk."
Neslerov laughed.
"She would like to kill him, rather"
Even so. she does not suspect"
"But this thing Of Itzg being asleep
at his POSITIVE must examine into It,"
1.-THE poor devil wanted his share in
the festivities, suppose. We must not
deal too severely with him. He GER
tainly did not steal the wine. Some
one must have given it to him"
''Who1 must find that out. But,
since he has been asleep. you had bet
ter l1amine the prisoners"
"They are there all right. How could
they be 9th ,rwise."
But you know what it means to me
If they escape"
"Escape l will stake my head they
cannot escape. Why, to pass out from
the dungeons they must open the iron
See. here is the key to the guardroom
door"
STILL" said Neslerov hesitatingly. II
wish you would make an examination"
ooh, if your excellency wishes it,
will do so gladly. But l promise you
they are there"
Jaosky was still stupid from the
drugged wine. but he knew what he
was doing. He went to the guardroom
and unlocked the door leading to the
dungeons. In the passage he obtained
q lantern and passed through the iron
gate. He went down the stairs and
through the passages, which he knew
well, to the dungeon He entered and
stood horror stricken at the empty
chains hanging on the wall. With
fear in his heart he crept back to the
stairs. CHANGING nervously around him
for he knew the strength of the Ameri
can. Neslerov, to whom he went, look
ed in surprise at the ashen face.
Courses upon us all"' said Jansky
hoarGely. "They are goner'
Jansky looked sheepishly at the gov
ernor, and Neslerov looked at Jansky
like an angry wolf.
Gone! Both prisoners gonew cried
Nj.
"Unfortunately-the thing I thought
impossible is fact"
Neslerovs face was white.
Il thought-you told me-they were
both in chainsw he said, his voice
strained and tense.
81 did, and 1t was true. With my
own hands l chained them. Tht
American was in the dungeon at thu
first landing and Paulpoff was dowr
in the lower cellar. With my OWL
hands l chained them, and hold tn,
Key to the door. The key to the chainl
still hangs where l placed it. This II
a miracle. The men must be devils IL
human form"
The American is something like /,
devil" said Eeslerov grimly, "but
doubt II he has supernatural powers
If those chains have been loosened
Jansky some human agent has don,
1t. and there is 4 traitor in the pal
ace"
"Whom does your excellency sus
pect?"
'Afy cousin Olga"
"That girl! She would no more dar
60 down in those dungeons than sh
would enter a den Of wild beasts. An,
how could she learn that they wer
down thereT
ut is not quite a secret. Some Q
the servants saw them brought in."
"Since the princess came the servant
have had enough to do without talkin
about two prisoners of whom the
know nothing. Anyway, how coul
Olga, who has spent but little time
Russia and none near Graslov or Perm
ever hear Of the Paulpoffsi'
81 know not But certain it Is ther
Is traitor here. This escape, II escar
1t Is will cost us dear"
IF escape it Is! 1t may not be an e.
cape after all! The chains are old an
rusty. Perhaps they have given wa.
and the prisoners may be wanderin
around the passages. ! will send Il
Itzig"
Neslerov was terribly disturbed. Fl
paced to and fro in the police Office, ar
his face did not regain it's color. II
was playing for high stake-the higl