The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-04-13
CHAPTER XIV.
NRs1ERov KNOWS HIS PERIL.

EA ROY was rousing himself from
IL GA deep slumber which had not
refreshed him after the ball,
Jansky, superintendent of police, was
grooming and muttering in his own eff
forts to wake up. He knew he was
awake, but the effect OF the heavy drug
was still upon him. Itzig, however,
having succumbed to lesser quantity
than was taken by Jansky, was sooner
awake and had been relieved by the
day guard and gone to his own quar-
ters. The first question Neslerov asked
was for Princess Olga. When he learn
ed that she was still sleeping, he went
to see Jansky.
What is the matter with you"' he
asked. You seem to be i'll.
~ do fee! rather ILL.," said Jansky. II
don't know when felt like this"
You were drunk; that's all. You
were drunk when left you. Did you
drink any more?"
"Yes; in making the round of inspec-
ton | discovered Itzig asleep and q
bottle of wine half gone. drank the
rest"
"Itzig asleep! At his post! And this
danger near us?"
"Pooh! The girl suspects nothing. A
girl Of her age, even though she be a
princess, could not dissemble so well. l
tell you Olga suspects nothing"
"Then why is she here?"
"Well, she Is eccentric, as you know,
and it is quite possible that she would
like to be the wife of the governor of
Tomsk."
Neslerov laughed.
'.She would like to kill him. rather"
Gwen So she does not suspect"
''But this thing Of Itzig being asleep
at his post-we must examine into it"
"The poor devil wanted his share in
the festivities, suppose. We must not
deal too severely with him. He Ger.
?ainly did not steal the wine. Some
,ne must have given it to him."
"who7 I must md that out. But.
since he has been asleep. you had bet
ter examine the prisoners"
''They are there oil right. How could
they be otherwise"
"But you know what it means to me
II they escape"
Escape! I will stake my head they
cannot escape. Why, to pass out from
the dungeons they must open the iron
gate and the door Of the guardroom.
See, here Is the key to the guardroom
door,"
"Still," said Neslerov hesitatingly, II
wish you would make an examination" I"
"Oh, If your excellency wishes it,
viii do so gladly. But promise you
they are there"
Jansky was still stupid from the
drugged wine, but he knew what he
was doing. He went TO the guardroom
and unlocked the door leading to the
dungeons. In the passage he obtained
hntern and passed through the iror
gnte. He went down the. stairs anG
through the passages, which he knew
well, to the dungeon. BE entered and
stood horror stricken at the empty
chains hanging on the wall, Will
fear in his heart he crept back to the
stairs, glancing nervously around him
for he knew the strength of the Ameri
can. Neslerov, to whom he went, look
ed In surprise at the ashen face.
Courses upon us ALL" said Jansky
hoarsely. .They are gonev'
Jansky looked sheepishly at the gov
ernor, and Neslerov looked at Jansk,
like an angry wolf.
"Gone! Both prisoners gone" crie'
the governor. as this true"
"Unfortunately-th thing though
impossible is fact"
Neslerov's face was white.
II thought-you told me-they wer
both in chainsw he said his yoic
strained and tense.
II did, and it was true. With m.
own hands l chained them. Ih
American was in the dungeon at tn
first landing and Paulpotf was dow
in the lower cellar. With my ow
bands | chained them, and l hold tn
key to the door. The key to the chain
still hangs where l placed it. This
a miracle. The men must be devils /
human form"
'"The American is something like
DEVIL" said Neslerov grimly, "but
doubt if he has supernatural powers
If those chains have been loosenet
Jansky, some human agent has don
it, and there is traitor in the pa
ace"