The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08

by his side
Contrary to the usual custom. Donald
was not at once sent forward on the
next stage Of the journey. though at in
tervaIs of three or four days exile par
ties started for the dreaded miaes Of the
Trans BatkaI.
He remained in his gloomy ceIl-vis-
lied only by the guard who brought him
food and drfnk-for a period Of two
weeks. and by that time he had begun
TO believe himself fated to spend the
balance of his life here. short. indeed.
would that life be-fn such foul. damp
quarters He lost all hope and grew
sUUen and morose. even desperate at
times, meditating an attack on the
guard who visited him daily. and an at
tempt to force his way out Of the prison.
In his sober moments he realized the
folly Of such a thing and the death pen
atty 1t would bring with it,
The fifteenth day after his arrival at
the Tomsk prison came and passed. and
that night Donald was reused from a
sound sleep by ne Of those fanciful
alarms which exist only in the magma
ton. and yet are the cause of the most
acute terror. He sprang from his bed
and paced the narrow limits of the cell.
trembling in every limb and wet with
perspiration.
Presently he became more composed
and leaned up against wall
There was no cause Gor fright he
muttered. I've had bad dream, that
was all What coward I have be
come in these last few weeks"
Suddenly a faint noise reached his
ear, as though people were engaged in
/ conversation at no great distance OF
He bent forward to the ground, but
the sound had ceased by this time, and
he could hear nothing
Donald was greatly amazed, and not
little mystifed. 1T must have been
Imagination" he said. aloud. and We,
1 was sure I heard voices. Perhaps
some one is outside the building. But
what could they be doing there at this
time OF night2 It must be past"
The sentence was choked OF on Don
aids lips. for that instant the floor Of
the cell seemed to drop from under his
/ feet, and down he went into space The
fall was not very great He struck
something soft, hearing tndistinctjy. as
he did so a sharp cry, and then brought
up against the bottom with a dull force
that partially stunned him and knocked
the breath from his body
For half minute there was utter 81
Ience. He lay still. slowly recovering
breath and trying TO realize the mean
ing Of this strange thing that had hap
pened.
1T must be dream" he thought.
as he made an effort to rise,
That instant ne knew his fall TO be
no dream, but rather a stern reality.
for Just as he gained a sitting posture
he was dashed violently backward. and
a pair of muscular hands tightened on
his throat.
In the presence of a real danger Don
AIDS courage came back to him. and
with all the strength he possessed he
struggled and strove to throw of lis
rrr, -yrrr.- a-ts-vorfz+
But this proved to be a difficult task
The other man fought with equal des-
peration, and for a time Donald was
unable to break the choking hold on his
throat At last with great effort. Re
partially freed himself and rolled his
enemy over.
Donald was now on top, but his victory
was short lived With a hcarse snarI OF
fury-thc only sound he had yet uttered
IBIS opponent reversed the situation.
and Donald found himself again under
Meath
Both men now fought with all the
strength that was IN them. rolling over
and over on the soft ground and striking
against what seemed to be wall of
earth on either side They were pretty
evenly matched, and as neither had
weapons TIE struggle threatened 90 be
indefinitely prolonged.
It was a horrible place for a fight The
darkness was intense and the air was hot
and close to suflocation- Harder and
harder Donald gasped for breath. He
felt MS strength leaving him, and made
one more effort to oveIturn his assailant
he partially succeeded, and the next in
.stant-how # happened ne knew not-he
was lying fat on his back with great
weight on his chest and his eHemy's hot.
'feuc breath blowing on his cheeks
Mercy" painted Donald Don't kill
me"
No mercy for you" Kissed the
/ stranger. and then in low, hoarse whis-
rer he added. Pierre Pierre Val6ort-
. strike a light. quick. ard hand me your
ilyr-sfa +f1f Z s4sf tHfs fellows throat 90