Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-12-09
CHAPTER Nv.
NESLEROv KNOWS HIS PERIL.

NEsLEROv KNOWS HIS PERIL.
"A BOUT the time Governor Nesle'
A ROY was rousing himself from
"a a deep slumber which had not
refreshed him after the ball,
Jansky, superintendent Of police, was
groaning 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. ltzig. however
having succumbed to lesser quantity
than was taken by .Iansky. was sooner
awake and had been relieved by the
day guard and gone to his own quar-,
ters. The first question Neslerov asked
was for Princess Olga. When he learn
ed that she was still sleeping. he went
to see Jansky.
what is the matter with you:" he
asked. "You seem to be III.
81 do feel rather ill.," said .Iansky 81
don't know wien felt like this"
You were drunk; that's all. You
were drunk when l 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 u.s."
Pooh, The girl suspects nothing. a
girl of her age. even though she he a
princess. could not dissemble so we'll |
tell you Olga suspects nothing.
Then why is she here"
"Well. she is eccentric. rs you Know.
and it 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 Itzig being asleep
at his POSITIVE must examine into it,
"The poor devil wanted his share in
the festivities, suppose. We must not
deal too severely with him. lie GER
tainly did not steal the WING. Some
one must have given it 10 him.
"Who, I must find that out. But,
since he nas been asleep. you had bet
ter examine the prisoners
"They are there all right. How could
they be otherwise"
But you know what it means to me
if they escape"
Escape. / will stake my head they
cannot escape. Why, to pass out from
the dungeons they must open the iron
gate and the door of the guardr0om.
See, here is the key to the guardroom
door,"
still" said Neslerov hesitatingly. IL
wish YOU would make an examination"
"Oh. if your eXcellency wishes it. l
will do so gladly. But l promise you
they are there"
Jansky was still stupid from the
drugged wine but he knew what lie
was doing. He went to the guardroom
and unlocked the door leading 10 the
dungeons. In the passage he obtained
lantern and passed through the iron
Sulc. Ilc NCIIl upNh tiIN '..'
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 10 the
stairs, glancing 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.
Curses upon us all!' said .Iansky
hoarsely. "They are gomez
Jansky looked sheepishly at the gov
ernor. and Neslerov looked at Jansky
like an angry wolf.
"Gone. Both prisoners gone. cried
the governor. rs this true?'
"Unfortuuately-the thing | thought
impossible Is a fact"
Neslerov's face was white.
81 thought-you told me-they were
both in chansr' he said. his voice
strained and tense.
81 did, and it was true. With my
own hands I chained them. The
American was in the dungeon at the
first landing and Paulpotf was down
in the lower cellar. With my own
hands | chained them. and | hold the
key to the door. The key to the chains
Still hangs where placed it. This is
q miracle The men must be devils in
human form"
.The American is something like a
devil" said Neslerov grimly. "hUt |
doubt if he has supernatural powers.
If those chains have been looscned,
Jansky. some human agent has done
1t, and there is a traitor in the pal
ace"
Whom does your excellency sus-
pect%
'1My cousin Olga"
"That girl, She would no more dare
20 down in those dungeons than she
would enter den of wild beasts. And
how could she learn that they were
down there"
ut Is not quite secret. Some OF
the servants saw them brought in."
"Since the princess came the servants
have had enough to do without talking
about two prisoners Of whom they
know nothing. Anyway, how could
Olga, who has spent but little time in
Russia and none near Graslov or Perm,
ever hear Of the Paulpoffs"
81 know not. But certain it is there
Is traitor here. This escape, II escape
1t is, will cost us dear"
"If escape it is! 1t may not be an es-
cape after all! The chains are old and
rusty. Perhaps they have given way,
and the prisoners may be wandering
around the passages. will send for
Itzig."
Neslerov was terribly disturbed. He
paced to and fro in the police Office, and
In pnlnr