The Iola register., 1902-08-01

much in need. Afterward he was al.
lowed to sleep on pile of blankets in
the rear of the line, where some Off
GERS horses were tethered. A fringe Of
trees approached near to this spot, a
spur of the woods. In the latter part
Of the afternoon there was a smart and
sudden shower. Some of the soldiers
sought shelter under the trees, and 1t
was remembered that the demented
wanderer went with them, but not
man of that force saw him afterward,
except a picket on the road toward
Gredskov. who in the early evening
challenged n shadow fitting by in the
edge of some bushes, fired upon it and
then decided that it must have been a
wild animal if, indeed It was not
product Of his own Imagination.
At daybreak n Circassian outpost in
sight of the walls Of Gredsliov halted
a grotesque and travel worn creature,
apparently demented. yet with wit
enough to know his own business, and
after brief questioning sent him into
the city under guard Of a single man to
find Captain Narnek, for whom he as.
serted that he had an important mes
sage.
If Darrell had declared that his busi-
ness was with Prince Kilziar, il might
have been looked upon as the custom
ary deluslon of crank" and had he
shown the Princess Nera's order at
such an carly stage of the proceedings
other hands than his would probably
have delivered 1t. Therefore he had
named Narneb, tire oniccr who had
been charged with his execution, whom
Korna had described as a friend-cer-
| tainly n man devoted to the khan and
well suited to be Darrell's intermediary
| In this matter.
II appeared, however, when they
were within the city that Captain Var
mex was not an easy man TO find. Oar
rells guide was directed here and there
with the greatest positiveness in each
case, but always wrongly, and Darrell
was on the point of attempting direct
communication with Kilziar when the
problem was solved in an unexpected
manner.
great crowd was gathered, and as Oar
rell and his guard passed in the course
Of their search they heard the sound Of
music and saw in the midst of the
throng a considerable body OF troops
drawn up in hollow square. Two tall
timbers with crossbar on top seemed
to define most dismally the occasion Of
this gathering.
"An execution?" asked Darrell. For
what crimeT'
'I heard the fellow had assisted the
escape of a prisoner condemned by or
der of the prince" was the reply. "He
used TO be turnkey in that prison"
Ibid you hear his nameY
"Kevski, or something like that" an
swered the man indifferently.
"They will hang him" exclaimed
Darrell in horror at the fate of this
man to whom he owed his own life.
by the feet" replied the soldier. Il
believe there's some idea of getting n
confession out of him, and when you
hang 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 n ges-
turc 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 II was restrained. At that mo-
ment the unfortunate Kevsli was
hoisted 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 twlrling OH the rope.
This barbarity is not uncommon In
that region, and It has terrifying ele-
ment OF uncertainty, for the amount Of
torture inflicted by 1t can never be
known in advance, since It 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 n spectacle
can be given the aspect of an enter
tainment, yet here was the band bray
ing as If to gather spectators for n
mountebank's performance, and here
were the people striving for the best
places. tests We're far easier 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 n 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