The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-22


sleeve OF his arm was stained with blood.
With the uniniured hand he reiDed in his
painting horse. and quickly scanned the
Cossacks who surrounded him
Thank God that you are here he
cried. cxcitedly Il feared to find thu
station empty. Mount your horses at
once and come with me. l need your
help. An hour ago I was attacked by halt
dozen villains in ambush near the An
CARA River. They killed my escort and
wounded me in the arm. as you see. and
have carried off my daughter Varia.
would have been killed had I tried 20
rescue her. so I made my escape and
rode on to the station for help"
The utmost confusion followed these
startling words. The Cossacks rode to
and fro. those who had horses Of their
/ own mounting them in haste, while 9TH
ers made use of the baggage animals
The exiles. who were all awake by
this time. crowded close to the gates in
their curiosity. and were roughly driven
/ back.
Meanwhile the handsome stranger sat
on his horse and watched the prepare
tions that were going on with apparent
calmness. but his trembling hand and
twitching lip told Of the mental agony
he was enduring.
1T is his exceTency. the governor"
whispered a soldier to his companion as
they mounted their horses in front Of
the gate.
The stranger caught the words. low
spoken as they were.
You are right, my man" he SAID
aloud Il am General Tichimiroff,
governor Of Irkutsk. and If you rescue
my daughter from these assassins you
shall have one hundred rubles apiece"
\ wild cheer broke from the Cossacks
at this munifcent offer.
we will do it, your exceIIency," they
shouted. Never fear, your daughter
shall be rescued.
A spasm OF pain distorted the gov
My child. my poor varial' he NUT
tered. God grant that she be saved
Then in a voice like thunder he add
ed: Come on, my brave fellows! Every
moment that we lose is precious, Are
you ready"
Eyes. yes. yes cried the soldiers.
/ swinging their rifles in air.
! A brief delay followed as the starosta
distributed handful of torches. and
then the troop Of Cossacks. twenty in
/ number. cIattered out Of the courtyard
with General TichimirofT at their head
! ard dashed at full speed over the frozen
road.
As the echo OF hoofs faded in the dis
lance the four soldiers who remained
behind closed tx gates and stationed
themselves before them.
The greater part Of the exiles dropped
down on the snowy ground to resume
their interrupted sleep. but here and
there few stood talking in low tones.
Donald moved back to his former place
by the fire.
He had heard everything that was
said. and while he regretted the losing
OF the opportunity OF appealing TO so
powerful man as the governor Of r.
kutsk-a chance which under different
circumstances he would have eagerly
scized-he was conscious Of a feeling OF
intense pity for the young Russian girl
he felt convinced that she must be both
young and beautifuI-who had fallen into
the power Of these desperadoes
Il hope they will save her. he re-
peated over and over to himself. and
then he reflected gloomiIy that the
chances were against her rescue.
1t was dark night and how could the
Cossacks hope to overtake the assassins
in such rugged. mountainous country?
For an hour Donald worried over the
fate Of this young girl whom he had
never seen or heard OF. He grew angry
at himself for his foolishness; but that
made no difference.
AS he sat by the FIRE. feeling no desire
to sleep, the word 'Varla" seemed to
spell itself out in letters OF glowing
fame. Varia, II was a pretty name.
The night grew longer with the ex-
ception Of Donald. all the prisoners were
sleeping.
Down at the gates the four Cossacks
smoked and chatted. The starosta came
out of the dark stationhouse with
lighted lantern and joined them Outside
the courtyard was the stiffness of the
grave
There was no sign TO tell the anxious
watchers how their comrades were faring
| in their quest.
! Suddenly a sharp rat-tat-tat echoed on
the gate. Some one was striking Il from
a.4aa