The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-05-10

"IIer m.nd VIII return some day,
said Darrell 70 the gray old general.
IF you are with her then
II shall be always" he interrupted.
"untll my service is no longer desired
Tell her" said Darrell. with tears in
his eyes--"tell her l was the cheerful
est Yankee you ever saw and that
was happy because | had been able TO
do her a small service in the hour OF
need"
Yankee" repeated Durham, for the
word had been untranslatahle.
"Irs name for my people, an
twered Darrell "But forgot - am
hoffman Khan"
On tie ninth day. the Clrcassians be-
lag nearly all on route for their coun-
Wy. a small part of the Russian force
escorting General GetchiIloff took the
road northward toward Vladlkaukas.
Their start was delayed, and they met
with many obstacles. so that at night
/ fall they were passing through a vii
I lage about midway between the two
I cities. The greater portion of the force
passed on, but the general and his i'm
mediate encourage took up their quar-
tiers in the village, which was called
Meldek.
Darrell had made the journey in a
covered baggage wagon. otherwise
empty. much like M animal belonging
Il 10 a travelling circus. but be had really
nothing 10 complain OF. lie was com
Portable enough. and letters were con
sidered unnecessary. though he was In
formed that Kilziar and his friends
were not 50 fortunate.
Arriving al the village, Darrell was
confined in room OF small house,
where he was served with very
scanty supper. but as he was granted
the luxury of smoking afterward he
entered no complaint He was nearly
ready for sleep when, 10 his surprise,
two soldiers came and led him TO an
other house, seemingly without pur-
pose for the quarters did not differ
in any particular that he could per
ceiye.
You have been very badly fed said
one Of his new guards. THE general
heard about il and raised a row Here
is another supper for you"
If Darrell had not been SO careful IN
the written instructions for Gordon
which he had given to Getchikon II
s pursuance Of their agreement, he might
have seen something suspicious In foot
thus offered. especially when accompa
, MED by q small bottle of good wine
E Though the chances were that Darrell
: would be shot in Stavropol, he had M
wish 70 be poisoned or otherwise dis
e posed Of on the route, and he had eX
! plicitly provided in the agreement 10
, an open execution or none at all. Beini
c satisfied of Getchikoff's good faith II
the matter he ate the food and dram
e the wine. and when next he becam
0 aware of his own existence II wa
u broad daylight. and he was lying o.
G the floor having apparently fallen on
Of his bunk.
?. His head ached most dlstresslngly
n and his senses were duh. He could no
L even wonder at the absence of guards
a The principal object OF interest fc
d his bedimmed and struggling intelleC
II was large knife which stood u
straight from the table where he ha
3 eaten his supper. Even while lyin
]. on the floor he could see the end
d the knife's handle, which shone In IL
IS sun, and the thing seemed odd.
If He arose with some difficulty an
il stood staring at the knife. 1t WI
rs really n dagger OF rich WORKMANSHIP
1t the hllt incrusted with small but I'll
II gems,
k "vera's.' he cried aud staggered
n the table
The dagger was thrust through
ID sheet Of coarse paper upon which
ly diagram was rudely drawn In In
There was square marked with
n star I'm a corner Of the paper, and fro
he It line ran among other squares, sto
ping with a flourish az one OF thei
I'd which was also starred. II then tur
ed and ran across the paper toward g
left. cncountering a square mark
"Botka" and ending IN a large Gre
bearing the name Paris
. Darrell pulled out the knife and ey
- il with wonder slowly augmenting
his senses cleared. OF course IL W
-, possible that this weapon had be
80 taken from Vera and had come III
- Getchikons possession, but why W
-. IL there What was he expected to
=, with IT. Murder his guards
~ AT the thought he walked to the do
49, and shook IT, calling "Hello!' viii
:. Is good In all languages.
- There was no answer. Darrell ero'
- ed to the window. II was not fast,
=, ed, No guards were TO be seen.
- raised the sash and thrust out
- head. The town was still except
- the songs of birds, glad Of the brle
NJ morning.
MI Darrell returned TO the table and
-. down upon the edge Of H. his ril
- hand pressed against his aching 70
~ head.
'sThey drugged me, he mutter'