The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-21
FIRST CLASS CAFES
SAVANNAH GROCERY CO.,
DISTRIBUTORS

held a Cossack's cap and green
blouse.
Move, and I'll kill you!" he cried
in loud voice.
The truth seemed to flash at once
In the Counts mind; he realized that
he was in the power of Serge Platoff,
the escaped murderer. The cap and
coat fell at his feet.
Take your own off," commanded
the convict "and put those on. Be
quick!"
There was no alternative, since Sand
off was unarmed. Without delay he
donned the Cossack uniform, and
threw his tweed packet and shooting
cap across the truck. AS yet he could
only partly fathom his captor's inten-
ton.
Now take your choice" said the
ruffian. Either jupkp, or" A sig
nificant jerk of the pistol completed
the sentence.
To leap from the train, which was
at present laundering down grade be-
tween embankments, numbered with
rocks and trees, would be certain
DEATH And that was Platoff's aim
to have the mangled and unrecogniz-
able body of the Count identified as
his own, and thus mislead his pur-
suers.
DO you mean to murder me?" San
doff cried hoarsely.
Its your life or mine" the con-
Wet shouted. THE Cossacks are after
me. Jumpl If you refuse I'll shootl"
At that instant Sandoff's hand Slip
ped involuntarily into the side pocket
of the Cossack blouse. and touched
smething hard and cold. It was
pistol which the convict had forgot
ten to remove.
A ray of hope entered sandoffs
mind. There was IiAst one chance.
With stealthy fingers he cooked the
weapon, aimed as best he could
through the jacket, and pulled the
trigger.
The report rang above the rumble
of the train. The shot had missed.
sandhoff, lodging low behind the
smoke as quickly as he fired, turned
and fled for his life He heard the
crack of the convict's revolver. and
the scream of the ball as it grazed his
ear. He leaped into the adjoining
truck, stumbled through that one and
the next, and at the end of the latter
tripped and fell.
He saw Platoff hurrying towards
him, and he knew that he was lost
He still retained the pistol, but it had
only one chamber and was of no fur
Their use.
WOuu you XIII me IN cold hlnn6 wa
hound?' he cried.
The convict's answer was a threat
and curse. He stopped within
dozen feet, and deliberately examined
his revolver. And
From the dark space at one side of
the truck, bounded a great tiger
landing between the two men.
For brief second he crouched
Then he sprang full at Platoff, who
that he fired and missed. He tried
to jump out of the animals wav ToS-
ing his balance, he fell over the side
o. the truck Siue
Count Sandoff had extricated him
self promptly and taken flight he
was speeding across the third tr,,cl-
from the scene of his narrow escane
when he heard and angry roar and
slaneed pack to see the tiger in hot
Immediately in front of him VIA q
box-car used for TRANSPORTING br,'sas
Both OF the narrow end doors were
open. were
ne plunged in and darted through
y. 20 close was the tiger at his heels
mat ne had hardly made his ext, sns
Jerked the sliding door shut. than tha
snrssVn beast hurled itself against
the timbers "e"As'
sandoff climbed hastily to the ton
ne ar rushed 70 the other end
ana closed that door also. Then. nav
ing safely imprisoned the tiger. he
Mas himsef captured hy three ~
ne train hands who had crept unon
him from the rear. ~"
~, we've got sou, Serge Plstoof,.
thsy cried trumphantly.
~ took Count sandon the hette,
IeIt eI ~ hour 10 convince his can. |
~ ~ Yf tleif mistake be would nave
,-es. yer men had not one 81 fhe /
inth remembered seems 40,
fis1lfostos fortnight before
~ ihis tins ths train had puu.s