Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-12-30


BILE out Of the coffin. l drop my stiifen-
ed legs to the floor.
l reel like a drunken mani make
the half circuit of the table, reach The
window, and seek with my shaking fin
gers for button or hasp, and there is
rush of cool night air on my brow. 1t
revives me somewhat, and now for it.
l set my teeth and raise myself with
my hands by the Trace, thrusting out my
head and part of my shoulders. Then |
pause to gather up my forces. Some
thing taps my crown, making my heart
leap to my mouth. 1t is only the sway
ing bough of treel Another violent
effort and my shoulders stick fast.
And now commences a fearful strug-
! gle. 1t is almost as bad as hanging
the sensations are certainly similar
eyeballs starting, skull bursting, and legs
! plunging aimlessly, until a frantic kick
! backward brings my foot unexpectedly
in contact with the edge of the tible, and
i get a purchase.
! | strain every sinew. There is a crack
ing and crunching which l imagine to be
my shoulder blade, and l am precipitated
forward, carrying the window frame,
cut, bruised and painting.
| There is no sound save the wind tus-
sling with the trees and bushes that en-
close me. No! what is that? 1t is the
faint music of tricklng water! My very
soul longs for it! My swollen and parch
ed tongue makes futile effort to lick my
lips.
| At length, putting out my shaking
hand, feel the ground moist. Another
movement, and yet another, and | come
in contact with cool iron tank! Still
one desperate effort, and | have dragged
myself up by its edge. My fingers are in
water, my lips touch it!
| | take-ah, what drauGht and sinl,
to the ground again, whilst tears l can
not check rush to my eyes-a perfect
torrent of unspeakable relief. | scram-
BILE to my feet. That drink has won
derfully revived me. And a moment l
pause to lave my temples in the water
before starting on my hazardous ven
| ture.
10 get out from amongst the trees and
ascertain my whereabouts must be my
| first step; so l commence to feel my way
| along the wall until | turn the corner
Of my recent prison, and at length
emerge under the open sky, on what ap
pears to be a gravel drive. l can dimly
| discern the outlines of things near me,
and within a few feet of me the Sleep
ing box of watchman, which impels
me to beat hasty retreat in amongst
the trees again. Now l begin moving
in slanting direction, with view to
arriving at the garden wall; and | even
tually come against it; but, alas! my
| hopes of escape are on the wane again
| -it-is too high to scale Baffled, but
still determined, l set my teeth, and
follow the wall. Presently / come out
on path, and before me is a long, low
shed, open to the front. 1T is gar
dener's -toolshed," l surmise, and swift
as light follows the thought: Here l
shall surely find something to aid me-"
/ grope my way in, and just then,
as if sent by a merciful Providence, the
moon breaks through a coudrift, and
shows me a gardeners light ladder In
moment it is dark again. But have
the ladder, and the darkness is just what
| want.
1t is the work of few moments to
place the ladder in position, to mount
it, and drop to the other side. lean
for support against the wall, unconscious
of every thing save the overwhelming
shock of pain in my head. 1t is my
head-my head! If only it fail me not
l have confidence in my legs, uncertain
though they be, to carry me whittier |
mean to go.
When l am able to open my eyes l
at once recognize the locality, for am as
familiar with St. Petersburg as a school
boy with the interior of his trousers
pockets. | am in the very heart Of the
city. This is the Nevski Prospect, and
| stand outside the extensive grounds of
Prof. Schleeman, one of the first sur
geons we have, and second to few in the
world.
"And so you have purchased the body
of your old pupil for dissection, little
father!' l smile grimly. "And | am a
thief, for l am stealing it from YOU"
The light of street lamp shines full
on me. | retire quickly out of its radia-
ton, and pause to consider my next
move.
My object has been, since quitting the
shady retreat of my coffin, to make for
the quarters of my friend Ivan Ivano-
witch Kolinsky, there to lie in hiding
until l should have sufficiently regained
my forces to fly the country! now, how
ever, | must change my plans. Ivan
lodges fully three versts from here; to
reach him | should have to traverse
many streets and run many risks, even
if my strength held out. | put a hand
to my raging temples, and pass in review
the different members of our section. In
the urgency of the case l may not in
dulge preference; the nearest must be my
designation. 1t Is none other than Ma
ruscha! Yes, to gain her lodging Is my
only chance, for l can gain it in twenty
minutes II | am fortunate. My love lives
at this end of the Bazaar" over q fur
rier's shop.
(To be continuedJ
Largest Foot in Germany.
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