Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-16

to the merchants villa. Entering the
grounds, he dashed up to the house. opened
the door and strobe in without further
ceremony. Entering the drawing room. he
found Miss Otrelsky sitting in the COM
pany of her governess, Miss King. and
frightened the ladies by his sudden ap-
pearance. Selling Miss Otrelsky in his arms
he kissed her again and again and de-
clared that he intended to marry her. The
girls screams brought the servants
on the scene and they threw themselves
on the baron with tho intention Of ejecting
him from the house. Taking advantage OF
the diversion, Miss Ostrelsky escaped from
his grasp, fed from the room and locked
herself in her own chamber
Meanwhile the baron, who was a man OF
extraordinary strength dispersed his assail-
ants with ease, bestowing on them black
eyes, bleeding noses and other conspicuous
marks Of his heavy fists In his rage he
demolished some of the furniture OF the
room and killed Miss Ostrelsky's pet dog,
which had flown at his throat, by blow
with the butt end of his riding whip Then.
mounting his horse again, he rode off and
disappeared. Ivan Ostrelsky, who was alb
sent during this invasion of his premises,
now realized the dangerous character OF
the young aristecrat and took precautions
to prevent a repetition of the violent IN
| trusion. The approaches to the grounds Of
| the villa were henceforth carefully guarded
| day and night by the merchants retain
| ers, and half dozen armed men were al
ways in the house ready to protect their
young mistress from outrage
This took place in February. 1902 Hence
| forth Baron Liupianoff plotted and plaaneI
| and schemed to kidnap the merchants
beautiful daughter. Finally an opportunity
| presented itself on the occasion of the mid
night service held in the cathedral at
KaZan on Easter Sunday. The baron. by
means of his spies. ascertained that Miss
Ostrelsky and her governess intended to
drive from the villa to Kazan on the Sun
| day evening and to meet Ivan Ostreisky
a
accordingly be alone and almost unprotect-
ed during the long drive of thirty miles,
| and the baron perceived that this would be
an excellent opportunity of carrying out
his plan of kidnapping the girl. Notwith-
standing the lawlessness prevailing In Rus
sia and the license which aristocratic mag
mates enjoy, the project was dangerous
one, and the baron intrusted the secret
only to two accomplices, his own groom
and his own personal valet, both sturdy,
muscular fellows.
On the evening of Easter Sunday the
baron and two retainers left the castle
mounted on powerful steeds and armed
with revolvers and daggers, and provided
with manacles, gags and other appliances
for the projected outrage. At the castle a
priest of the orthodox Greek church was
waiting In readiness to perform the we'd
ding ceremony between the baron and the
girl as soon as he brought her to his home.
After arriving at the wayside of the road
leading from Kasanbazh to Kazan the
baron and his two retainers dismounted
tanning Miss Ostriesky and her governess
In spite, however, of the secrecy with
which Baron Liupianoff had planned his
coup Ivan Ostrelsky had received informa-
ton regarding the projected seizure of his
daughter. Baron Ldupianoff's personal valet
was married man and in an incautous
moment he had confided the secret of the
1
no particular love for her husband and see
Ing an opportunity for liberal reward, be-
trayed the secret to Ivan Ostrelsky and re-
cefved 5000 for her information. So, In
stead of allowing his daughter and her
governess to drive at night to the cathe-
! drel. the merchant placed two of his own
strongest reteiners in the carriage and two
others on the box by the side of the coach
man. The carriage was thus manned by
five faithful servants of the merchant, all
of whom were well armed and all fully pre-
pared for an attack.
When the baron and the two reta.ners
held the carriage up they met with recep-
ton for which they were entirely unpre-
pared. Ostrelsky's five servants overpow-
cred them after a short sharp struggle,
bound them hand and foot. pitched them
into the carriage and drove them back to
the merchants villa, where they arrived at
midnight The merchant himself was wait
was brought before him he addressed him
as follows: You are dangerous char
acter. You are worse than an outlaw for
your rank and position give you undesir-
able power. I see my daughter will not be
safe from your prosecutions until she is
married, SO I intend to keep you prisoner
until she has the protection OF husband.
Your men must share your Imprisonment
My cellars have been prepared for your re-
ception. Adfeu.
This speech ended. the baron and his two
companions were dragged down into tho
cellar to begin their long period of iaLar-
ceration. During this they were well fed,
well clothed and well attended. The cellar
was well warmed In winter and well VEN
tilated in summer. The baron and his COM
panions were reduced to passive obedianee
leather straps, which prevented them from
violent movements without otherwise serf-
ously mountaineering them. Every night
they were permitted to leave the cellar and
take one or two hours exercise In the sur
rounding park. On these occasions they
were tied together and closely guarded by
three or four of the merchants most faith
ful servants. In the earlier months of their
captivity they attempted to break loose and
| to attract the attention OF the merchants
household by noisy demonstrations These
outbreaks. however, were promptly sup
pressed by applications OF the knout, and
| In time the baron and his two servants be-
came accustomed to captivity and found 1t
more advisable to submit passively than to
| Increase the severity OF their punishment
| by resistance.
Three years and six months passed by
| before Miss ostrelsky married. and baron
Liupianoff's captivity continued throughout
| this period On the day Of the departure
OF the merchants daughter on her honey
moon journey the baron and his two re-
country to which they had become ..s praeti
caily foreigners. The baron made his way
| TO his home and found that he and his COM
panions had been formally and legally al
Judged dead persons.
Their mysterious disappearance had
created much curiosity at tho ume, hut -