Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-12-02
81 am ready. Command me. prin-

nerve, Listen. The ball IS over anu
the guests have gone. Chance has IA
yored us tonight. 1t has enabled me to
plot and plan for what we are to do.
Neslerov dismissed the guard, and
there will be in short time no one
awake in the palace. The superintend-
ent of police carries the key TO the dun
geons, and he is now half drunk. The
door 10 tie dungeons is guarded by
stupid fool named Itzig. | found him
at his best. and sent him bottle OF
wine and tray of food. Into the wine
| poured that vial of toothache medi-
cine obtained from you. 1t Is enough
to make any one sleep for hours.
Where .Iansky sleeps l do not know;
but we must find him. We must wait
it is too soon-but in half an hour it
will Lc safe to iescend. Jansky said
II would Hot be daylight for two hours.
That will give us an hour and half
to work"
"And that work."
"To release the American and Nladi-
mir from the dungeons and send them
to old Paulpoff to get him to safety.
He must not be harmed, for we want
his testimony"
"Goodw said Therese, with shiver.
ut is grand-but dangerous"
Olga opened travelling bag and took
therefrom a silver mounted revolver.
81 do not wish to kill" she said;
"but If we are discovered there will be
trouble, and l must succeed. Come
now, for the honor of the Neslerovs
and the house of Graslov"
The princess opened her door and
peered into the corridor. The lights
were still burning as brightly as dur
ing the ball, but no one was in sight.
"Come-all is silent as the grave"
she said. Even If we meet some one,
It will not cause suspicion"
She led the way, and Therese, shiver-
Ing with terror, followed. The great
stairway and hall were deserted. but
from the little guardroom at the end
of the police quarters there came the
sound of curses.
Stupid blockheadw said the voice
of Jansky. Drunk. Who brought
him this bottle Of wine?"
With a quick motion Olga whisked
Therese into the same room where she
had crouched to listen to Jansky and
Unsgethop. There came the sound OF
unsteady footsteps. Jansky, with the
unfinished bottle Of Itzigs wine In his
hand, went drunkenly to his office.
.I'n finish this-then go to bed" he
muttered.
He finished It, and it finished him.
1t was not ten minutes before his own
eyes closed in that terrible sleep from
which he could not arouse himself until
the effect of the drug had passed off.
"Come!" said Olga.
Neryously and quickly she rifed the
sleeping mans pockets and found
bunch of keys. Swiftly. then. these
two rushed to Itzig's room and, shut
ting the door. barred 1t on the inside.
"Now we can work without molesta-
tion." said Olga.
She tried several keys in the lock OF
an iron door that formed part of the
| rear wall, but without success. FL
| pally she found one that turned the
rusty bolt, and the door swung open.
| This door led into a small passage. IN
which there were various articles-lan-
terms, whips, chains and weapons. Olga
quickly chose lantern which showed
It had been recently used and lighted
II. At the end Of the passage was an
iron grating forming door. and this
too, she unlocked with Jansky's keys.
Beyond this was a flight Of stone
steps leading downward, and then all
was darkness. Olga, holding the
lantern above her head, led the way
down the steps. The stones were cold
snd damp and slippery as she neared
the bottom. The dark atmosphere sent
a chill through her, but the brave girl
did not falter. Therese came creeping
after her, shivering with fear. They
did not count the number Of steps, but
knew there were many. At last they
stood on O cold stone floor.
"Now, which way" she asked. hold
Ing the lantern to fash its light as far
as possible around her.
She could see that they were IN q
large chamber from which various
passages broke away in every direction.
1--WE must not lingerie lose time
would be to lose the game" she said.
"Choose this passage and follow 1t to
the end"
She turned into the nearest passage,
and the CLEANS of the lantern were re-
aected from slippery walls. AS she
walked she examined these walls FOR
doors. There were arches that led to
other passages and smaller ones that
opened into chambers that had evil
IDENTIFY been once used for prison cells
for chains were hanging on the walls.
The lantern In Olga's hand flashed Its
light into every nook and Granny until
at last she reached the end OF that
passage. Making sure Therese was
close behind, she turned her steps Into
another passage, running apparently
at right angles with the other. This
she traversed in the same way until
the very bigness Of the place and Its
silence began to awe her.
The first courage that had led her tc
the desperate act gradually gave way
to the awful gloom and mystery Of the
place. But in its stead there came
determination not to reiinquish the
search until she had found the unfortu
nate victims Of Neslerov's hate or prov
ed that they were not there. She walk
ed on, gradually increasing her pace. a
door at last greeted her Visions rea
door that swung on hinges.
."At last, perhaps" she said.
She tried her strength against thu
door, and, though 1t was not Locked
vet she could not open it sufficiently t
enter.
"Therese, help me-" she said, setting
the lantern down upon the floor.
The two placed their shoulders agains
the door and pushed. and 1t suddenly
opened. Therese was precipitated head
long into the chamber. A rush Of fou
air almost stifed Olga. There was
peculiar sound, as If Therese had fall
en- upon heap Of something. She wa'
whimpering in her terror.
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