The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-30

| WHICH lOOhGU OuI VI uoOlS. as IlS
reached the foot Of the stairs he
found himself upon a brick floor,
and lie saw the walls were of stone.
A little farther on a door was open
cd, and this led to small apart
ment, within which was fireplace
and a good fire burning.
'There, good sir" said the sec
ond guide, ''if you will wait few
moments / will 60 and see how the
lieutenant is.
AS soon as Ruric was left alone
he looked about him. The room
was of moderate size for a small
house, and the idea Of inhabiting
the cellars was a common one in
Moscow during the winter season.
The windows, two in number, were
close up to the ceiling and very
small and were patched with pieces
of board in two or three places.
Ere long the man came back, and
with him came three others, one Of
whom the youth recognized as the
individual who had conducted him
to the house.
ssOrsa will see you, sir," said he
with the lantern.
Ruric arose to follow him, the
other three men approaching the
fire as though they would remain
there. He had reached the door
and passed through into the room
beyond when he thought he heard
footsteps behind him. 1t was a slid
ing, shufaing sound, and he turned
his head to see what it was. As he,
did so, he received a blow which
staggered him and which would
have felled an ordinary man to the
floor. He gathered himself quickly
up, but before he could fairly turn
about he received a second blow.
heavier than the first, which
brought him upon his knees. In an
instant all four of the men were up
on him, and he could see that they
had ropes in their hands with which
| to bind him. With all his might he
threw the fellow who held his right
hand back against the wall, and an
other he sent in an opposite direc-
ton, and in a moment more he,
would have been upon his feet, but
just at that instant a moose was
adroitly slipped over his head, and
as the rope tightened about his
neck he was drawn back upon the.
brick floor again.
Now, resist any more, and we'll
choke you as sure as fate" cried the
man who had held the lantern and
| now had hold upon the rope.
"0h,'' groaned Rrric, while the
massive cords worked like cables in
his arms and shoulders, sgive me
fair chance! Let me up and free
then lock your doors, if you please"
"No, no, good sir" replied the.
rufian, with a wicked smile. Owe
know your power, and we are not
disposed to test it further. We have
had trouble enough already, Shall
We
The man stopped speaking, for at
that moment another moose was
slipped down over Ruric's head, and
ere he could avoid it it had been
drawn tightly about his arms. He
was now at the mercy of his captors.
and, having rolled him over upon
his breast, they proceeded to secure
his arms behind him, which, being
done, they bade him to rise. OF
course he could have no desire to lie
there upon the cold bricks. and he
got upon his feet as well as he could
"Now, Ruric Nevel, / Will conducs
you to YOUR own apartment, said
the leader of the gang.
'eBut wherefore is this?" the gun
maker gasped, rendered almost
speechless with the mingled emo
tions of surprise and anger. why
have We done this? Whose hirelings
are ye that ye thus waylay and seize
upon an honest man who has done
no harm to any Of YOU"
'sNever mind that now, slr," the
ruffian coolly answered. Suffice i
for vou to know that you are safe
for the present"
"But will ye not tell me what this
is for9 There is some intent.
"Yes, and come with me and you
shall sec. Come
Thus speaking, the man turned
once more, and, having picked Up
his lantern, he moved on, while the
Others, taking Ruric by the arms,
followed after. The prisoner made
no resistance now, for he knew that
- ll Lo ,,co1ol.- r . short dis