The Washington times., 1903-02-01
CHAPTER ".
The Stranger at the Bridge

+ must return for brief inter
Nv val to Serge Maslof. He oc-
eupied a sleeping berth in the
rear coach of the Berlin ex-
press. and during the long ride from
St Petersburg he slept most OF the
time, for his passport gave him q
sense Of perfect security, and he beIiev-
ed himself as safe as though he we're
already In Paris.
About notwithstanding that Wiz
baIlen was not many miles distant-he
slipped on his coat and sat by the win
dow. For the first time vague feeling
Of danger oppressed him-which he
tried in vain to shake off-and when the
train at length began TO slacken speea
in a locality which MasIon recognized
by certain landmarks as the outskirts
of WirbaHen. he forced open the window
by his side with a trembling hand and
leaned out
It was well for him that he did so.
Less than enc hundred yards ahead the
track was crossed by one Of the sub
urban streets-a fact which was indi-
Gated BIZ a glimmering row of gas jets
and at the point Of intersection stood
a man waving red lantern. the light
Of which shone family on a group of
horsenen drawn uD by the side Of the
track.
Like fash Serge Maslof compre-
hended the situation. incredible as it
seemed. His crime and escape-evsn
his real identity-had been discovered
by the police, and now they were stop
ping the train on the outskirts of Wir-
balIen-as is often done in such cases
SO that his arrest could be effected Sc
cretiy.
He did not pause 10 think what error
could have led to his detection. It was
not until long afterward that he remem-
bered the letter he had tossed so care
lessly on the fire. He knew the Cos
sacks waiting for the stoppage Of the
train we're acting on orders flashed over
the wires from st. Petersburg-and as
desperate situations require desperate
action, he squeezed hurriedly through
the window OF. the coach. chung by his
hands for an Instant and then dropped.
The train was still moving. but he
landed unhurt by the side Of the track.
and. rising to his feet, plunged at once
into the friendly gloom. hearing behind
him as he ran shout from some one
on the coach he had just left. probably
one Of the trainmen.
moment later the long line of
coaches came to q fun stop. and after a
brief interval Of silence the furious clat-
ter Of hoofs echoed on the hard ground.
All doubt vas now gone The Cossacks
had discovered the daring escape Of their
intended prisoner and we're separating to
search the vicinity
Serge Maslon ran swiftly away from
the track for distance Of fifty yards
OF more, and then turned sharply 10
the left. hoping temporarily to check
his Dursuers- The strategem was sue
cessfuI. He crouchea low as half
dozen Cossackz dashed by. and then ran
On toward the distant lights of The town.
for he knew that in Wirbauen lay his
only safety. He had friends there who
would hide him for a time. II he could
only find them.
Several times the scattered horsemen
came very close. but he covered half a
mile without detection. and finally gain
ed the edge Of a deep ravine through
which flowed shallow stream. 10
plunged down into the bed Of this with
out hesitation, and followed his course
toward the town. now wading breast
deep ia thc water. now scrambllng
through the bushes that lined the foot
OF the steep bank
This breathing spell gave him an op-
portunity 20 think over the situation.
and his heart sank at the gloomy pros
peet that faced him. He knew that the
police would seour the surrounding
country and search WirbaHeu high and
low for such q famous criminal as Serge