Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-14

at daybrcak n Circassian OUTPOST in
sight of the walls of Gredskov halted
grotesque and travel Worn creature,
apparently demented, yet with wit
enough to know his own business, and
after brief questioning sent him into
lie city under guard of single man to
finil Captain Earnek, for whom he as.
serted that he had an important mes
sage.
IL Darrell had declared that his bust
: ness was with Prince Kilziar. 1t might
have been looked upon as the custom
airy delusion of a Crank" and had he
Shown the Princess Vera's order at
such an early stage of the proceedings
other hands than his would probably
have delivered it, Therefore he had
named Sarnell, the officer who had
been charged with his execution, whom
Korna had described as friend-cer-
tainly man devoted to the khan and
well suited to be Darrcll's Intermediary
in this matter.
1t appeared, however, when they
were within the city that Captain Var
mex was not an easy man to find. Oar
relfs g,fN' IS directed here and there
with st positiveness in each
case, J. wrongly, and Darrell
was q t of attempting direct
comm; with Kilziar when the
prob., wed in an unexpected
manns
In the oace beside the prison
great GROVE. ,,ts gathered, and aG OAR
rell and his guard passed in the course
of their sealci, they heard the sound of
music and saw in the midst of the
throng considerable body of troops
drawn up in hollow square Two tall
timbers with Il crossbar on top seemed
to define most dismally the OCCASION Of
this gathering.
"An execution y asked Darrell. For
what crime?"
II heard the fellow had assisted the
ssSscape of n prisoner condemned by or
FER of the prince" was the reply. Gle
used to be n turnkey in that prison"
''Did you hear his name?"
'Kevski, or something like that" an
swered the man inditferently.
.'They will hang him." exclaimed
Darrell in horror ut the fate of this
man to whom he owed his own life
'.By the feet" replied the soldier. ~
believe there's some idea of getting
confession out of him, and when you
hang d man by the neck he hasn't SO
much time to think the matter over.
could never understand why people
should want to see such thing" And
he pointed to the crowd with ges-
ture of contempt that did him much
credit.
Darrell was already breaking through
the crowd. and in half minute he had
come up to the thin line of soldiers by
which 1t was restrained. AT that mo-
pent the unfortunate kevski was
saoisted up, his feet bound together, the
rope by which he was supported being
made fast between them. He swung
at first but little clear of the ground.
his hands bound behind his back. his
body slowly twirling on the rope.
This barbarlty is not uncommon in
that region, and it has u terrifying ele-
mcnt of uncertainty, for the amount of
torture inflicted by 1t Gun never be
known in advance, since 1t depends
upon the endurance of the individual.
Men have lived incredibly long and
have endured indescribable torments,
while others have passed beyond pain
in few minutes.
1t is always new wonder to the
most experienced that such spectacle
can be given the aspect Of an enter
tainment, yet here was the band bray
Ing as II to gather spectators for
mountebank's performance and here
were the people striving for the best
places. TESTS were far ensier to hear
than expressions of sympathy, though
these citizens of Gredskov, bred under
an alien rule, had no knowledge of pub
lie punishments for Justices sake, but
only as the cruelties of an irresponsible
tyrant.
The band ceased with rattle of
brass, and the next instant Darrell was
inside the line Of soldiers, holding to
his lips the pipes of Musef, from which
there seemed to issue shrill and lively
tune The thing was so quickly done
that no one raised a hand to stop him
us he began to march with crazy dig
nity IN the direction OF the musicians.
Inc crowd laughed, the soldiers waited
for an order, and the officers, seeing no
harm DONE hesitated to give 1t.
You do not play SO badly" said OAR
reli' lowering MS pipe and addressing
the leader OF the band, put my music
is much more popular"
ne waved MS lanu III the uirec,ioh
VI .na eiomu' %iiicn REWARDED. u, hii,i
VII cheers anu iiush.ei. me panu,
n"stef .lriieu an eye upon 'he coio,ei
VI .he regiment VINO iiau "neeleu ms
notse ~ li't uiiec.ioh; ne was man
ea, 1ov,, As .p anu ne seemed SCENE, 70 oe
rel, iudaad him 70 he NJ "t an amoa 70 ~,
comadv ana ,ras not "a aaaa,,.a,, " ,,, ,n,
4,,asasaa' ter ~ -. l. ~ W.,