The Washington times., 1903-03-22

the plundered transport train OF gold
had returned to the station.
IF you mean Captain Dagmar." said
Urmanov, he has not returned. for
the simple reason that he is either
dead or prisoner-probsbIy the latter.
for we did not find the body
That must be the man" replied
Donald. but he is not dead"
He went on to relate his strange ad-
venture on the river the night Of tho
fight. and his companions dropped
their knives and forks to listen. When
he came TO the upsetting OF the sledge
he was interrupted by Urmanov.
"Ah! there We have cIew to the
missing gold The other sIedges must
have forded the river in safety. Could
you ind the spot where this one up
set: II so. the chests can be recov-
cred when the water falls"
Yes" replied Donald. Il think l
could find the place"
Go on" cried Colonel sudekin i'm
patiently. What became OF Captain
Dagmar? Where is he now"
Il don't know" replied Donald
gravely- Il thought he had come back
here. We foated down the river on
that terrible night 20 an island ten miles
below here. occupied by a peasant and
his son, who took us to their cabin and
nursed us back to lie The weather
prevented us from leaving. even had we
been able Yesterday the peasant heard
from some one who passed down the
shore that the convicts had carried of
the Cars gold and from that time Cap
tain Dagmar appeared to be greatly wor-
ried and would not talk
This morning IL Was found that he
had left either in the night or az early
dawn. and crossed TO the mainland Jy
an ice gorge that had formed az the
could be traced that far He left no
message behind-only this which 1
found in my pocket"
Donald produced a small purse con-
tanning twenty gold rubles, and laid Il
on the table.
Strange. Very strange" muttered
the governor. WAS he-ahem! in his
senses"
"YoI. so far as 1 know" said Don
aid We had both thoroughly recov-
cred from our exposure He was warm
ly dressed and had with him a pair OF
pistols waited at the cabin until
noon. thinking he might return. and
then started for the post station -
Poor fellow said Colonel Sudekin
huskily. This is indeed sad. / greatly
fear that he has committed suicide,
through worriment over the loss OF the
gold. This is another severe blow sor
the count The Dagmar family have
been peculiarly unfortunate OF late
years"
Yes. very" assented the governor
1T is time TO start" he added a mo-
ment later. Get on your boots and
furs without delay"
Further speculation over Andres fate
was cut short. and the interior Of the
post house Immediately became a scene
OF hustle and preparation, as arms. am
munition. and provisions were over
hauled and packed up.
Ten men were left in charge Of the
station-for the rescued chests or gold
were locked up In one Of the starosta's
closets-and promptly at 10 o'clock the
expedition started on foot. seventy Cos
sacks we'll armed and provisioned. led
by the governor. Colonel Sudekin. Cap
tain Urmanov. and Donald-the latter
acting as guide.
They marched silently down the post
road crossed the Augara. and then
struck OF into the mountains. II was
bitter cold night. and the snow crust
was hard and CLASSY
Donald was addressed by his compan-
ions as "Chomlay," for. on being inter
rogated by the governor. he had unhesi-
tatingly given his real name, and ii
being a matter OF little moment at that
time. they promptly accepted IL. and
probably believing il to be Russian.
gave il a pronunciation to accord.
Another circumstance that was des
tined to initiate against Donald in the
near future