Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-10-28
CHAPTER xIv.-(Continued. }

long gown and high cap Of the priest
thou lookest gigantic
He takes me by the arm and twists me
about, viewing me from all sides, ana
his countenance grows even more grave.
1.-The priestly garb is mistake" he
mutters, 1T adds to the height, which
Is already conspicuous enough. All eyes
will dwell on thee. Not that it matters
ae adds quickly. $50 that thou art easy
and composed they may stare their I'LL.
Thy own mother might stare at thee I'M
Ill she grew blind, she would never know
4hee to be her son!'
THAT she would not" endorses Ka-
2atch
Now Yerack leads the troika into the
middle Of the road and unyekes the ad-
vance horse, which he ties with hal
Ser to the back of the cart.
''It looks not usual for a troika to be
drawing cart Of this kind" he ex-
plains. "Thus it will appear as if the
beast were being led for sale. Now we
shall do. We are traders journeylng
50 the fair at Wilma, and thou art
priest who has henored us by accepting
a lift. We proceed leisurely, for we have
no haste; the fair only begins to-mor-
TOW. At the same time, brother, so i'm
posing is thy appearance, that thou look
est out of place in cart with trading
Cossacks, and therefore at Borlitch we
nad better part company and thou VIII
proceed with the post"
'But, my good friend, this will cost
money, and I am without a copec! L
cry.
81 have enough and to spare"'
'Yerack, how can | take so much
2rom thee? l excIaim, deeply moved by
che Cossack's generosity. Thy devo-
zion I can never repay, but the money
thou art laying out on me | may some
day be able to refund. Give me soH1e
address to which l may send it. Surely
IN time | shall work for the means to pay
my just debts"
''Bah Keep thy mind easy and make
not a mountain of a mole hill! What
are a few roubles to me? l have neither
aith nor kin, and what shall | do with
superluity? Let me put trife of it to
a good use. l have taken fancy to
thee, my son. 1 beg thee, let lonely
man have his whim!'
Yerack's voice shakes a little as he
speaks. His face is averted. What can
I reply to this? Nothing. My trembling
lips refuse to form even a word OF
thanks Silently 1 wiring my benefac-
5ors hand.
1t is still very, very early when we
ceach the town, yet before we arrive
at the inn where Yerack halts we have
encountered many people, but all of the
lowest orders. l have had to respond to
many greetings, and am made thorough
Ly uncomfortable by the obvious sensa-
ZION l create. I feel relieved to enter
the dark fore-place of the inn, with its
small, dirty windows, and l hear Yerack
give vent to sigh which know is of
relief.
The innkeeper comes yawning to meet
as, from an inner room, putting up his
blouse. He stops with one arm above
his head as he sees Yerack, and his
brows go up. They are evidently old
friends, these two.
Yes, it is myself, Thema Fedorei-
vitch," says Yerack, grinning from ear
10 ear. And l want to drop word
IN thy ear, little father" With this he
takes the man apart and whispers to
aim. during which the listener glaAces re-
peatedly in my direction, his SHALL eyes
Beginning to twinkle, and his mouth wild
aning to grin. Sometimes he puts
question.
At length the CONTEMPLATION comes to
an end, and the innkeeper, after signing
10 us, leads the way through passage,
and opens the door Of small, dingy
room at the back Of the building. We
enter, and he leaves us, shutting the
door.
"Thoma Fedoreivitch Is a safe man."
observes Yerack, knowingly. That
kind of man is always safe so long as
YOU grease his palm. Thoma and l have
aad our little transactions together"
The landlord returns bearing tray
with breakfast. The repast consists Of
raw salt herring, preserved mushrooms,
and white bread.
"Ah. | am as hungry as a hawk says
Yerack. taking up a herring by the tail
10 hold it over his mouth and crunch it
up.
I take the opportunity to ask for writ
ing materials, and if it is to be had, a
stamp, as it is still too early fer the
postoffice to be open
Certainly, Holy Father" responds
the landlord. with a twinkle in his beady
eye. Il can furnish your Holiness with
all"
Another burst of laughter from the
CossaCks, while the speaker crosses his
hands on his breast ana BOWS low before
me ere he goes. He brings ME the pa
per in his dirty finger and thumb. 1t is
creased and soiled, the pen splutters and
the ink is of the consistency and color
Of mud but they suffice me to write
these lines:
''On receiving this, lose not an hour
sn procuring thy passport, but travel
day and night / hope to precede thee,
and will await the arrival Of all trains
from Konigsberg. Should l be deferred,
seek our brother, Conrad Rosen, Stein
Strasse, Ne 70, who will advise and
assist thee If possible, send warning,
indirectly, to Ivan and Pavel. All is
Known and searching inquiries will be
made 1 am safe and with friends.
Thine until death.-V."
l read over what I have written. 1t
is sufficiently explicit and l have no fear