The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-11-27

= H. u,
since he has 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 guardroom.
See, here is the key to the guardroom
door,"
"Still," said Neslerov hesitatingly, 81
wish you would make an examination"
"Oh, if your excellency wishes it, 1
will do so gladly. But promise you
they are there
Jansky 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
lantern and passed through the iron
gate. He went down the stairs and
through the passages, which he knew
we'll, 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, 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 Jansky
hoarsely. "They are gone!'
Jansky looked sheepishly at the gov
ernor, and Neslerov looked at Jansky
like an angry wolf.
Gone! Both prisoners goney' cried
the governor. els this true?'
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES thing I thought
impossible is a fact"
Neslerov's face was white.
Il thought-you told me-they were
both in chainsv' he said, his voice
strained and tense.
II did, and it was true. With my
own hands l chained them. The
American was in the dungeon at the
first landing and Paulpoff was down
in the lower cellar. With my own
hands I chained them, and I hold the
key to the door. The key to the chains
still hangs where placed it. This is
a miracle. The men must be devils in
human FORM"
"The American is something like a
DEVIL said Neslerov grimly, "but I
doubt if he has supernatural powers.
If those chains have been loosened,
JansEy, some human agent has done
it, and there is a traitor in the pal
ace.''
"Whom does your excellency sus-
pect?"
'HMy cousin Olga"
'"That girl! She would no more dare
go 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 a 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 PaulpoffsY
II know not. But certain it is there
is traitor here. This escape, if escape
it is, will cost us dear"
IF escape it is! It 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. I will send for
Itzig."
Neslerov was terribly disturbed. He
paced to and fro in the police Office, and
his face did not regain it's color. He
was playing for high stake-the high
est stake playing for his life-and the
game seemed lost.
Jansky sent for Itzig, and he came be-
fore them.
"You went to sleep last night" thun-
dered Jansky, whose theory was that
to obtain the truth from a culprit you
must terrify him at the start.
II swear did not, your excellency"
replied Itzig, shivering in terror.
"You lie! I went in the guardroom,
and you We're asleep. I found there a
portion Of bottle Of wine. Who gave
you that?"
Il! A bottle of wine! 1 never tasted
wine in my life. Brandy and vodka,
plenty, but wine-I am too poor.'
"Oh, you did not buy this wine. Some
one at the fete gave it to you. Who
was it,"
II know not! I swear l know not
who put the wine in my room!''
''You are lying. A tray was also
there, with dishes. You had your feast
and got drunk. Who brought the stuff
to you?'
II swear no one. If there was a
feast, it was some one else's."
'tHow could any one else eat there
and you not know it?''
Itzig saw he was lost.
II may have-perhaps slept mo-
ment."
"a moment! You slept hours, and
the prisoners you were guarding have
escaped"
'Impossiblev' gasped Itzig, almost
sinking through the floor.