Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-03-31

shouted the officer.
Masters. | am here" said Charka.
rubbing his eyes and blinking in the
light OF the lanterns they carried.
What has happened"
"A prisoner of the car has escaped
Assisted by n woman who is a traitor.
he escaped from the prison at Tihis
tonight and must be. with his compan-
ion, somewhere in the city"
"Well, am the prisoner"
mo. you pig"
Am |, then, the woman
Curses upon you"'
why am awakened with these
shouts? am peaceful man from Ash
kar, trying to sell my hay"
"Oh. your hay" shouted one of the
| soldiers, with laugh With the busi-
ness of finding a prisoner of state On
our minds we must think of your hay"
! As he spoke he thrust his bayonet deep
! into the hay
by the gods" exclaimed another,
that is an idea! This man is from
Astrakhan and would no doubt assist
the American 10 escape
shat your mouth, FOOL" said the Of
hcer There is no American. 1t was
a Russian who escaped"
Pardon. | forgot. But the Astra
khans do not love the ear"
How much you love the czar!' re-
piled Charka. 1T is fear, not loyalty.
that makes you curse me and stab my
hay"
by heaven, we will stab you! What
lid you come to Tifis for"
ITO sell my hay. II has been pur
thased. but not yet paid for
'Insolent pig. And do you think we
want hay from youi'
1T is for beasts OF a higher class
keep my hay" said Charka calmly.
A volley OF curses answered him and
n bayonet pricked his leg.
Charge the hay" said the officer
"They may be hiding in IT,"
"Purn the hay" laughed a soldier
THAT will settle it,
Burn it il you dare! have some
thing in my pocket"
"A pistol. which you would use on the
folders of the CAR
"No; a passport TO safety signed by
the governor"
DO rot burn his hay" shouted the
officer as one of the soldiers made
light by twisting a wisp of the hay
into the flame of the lantern. I'VE are
after prisoners. We do not wish to run
against the passport"
The soldiers were crawling over the
hay. jamming their bayonets deep into
IT, The officer was slashing it with his
sabcr.
dogs OF Muscovites! When get my
money, will not stay in this place"
What is thatT demanded the OF.
ficer, turning on Charka. You call us
dogs-we who are your masters?"
You should tell the mollah that. He
would be pleased"
Are you a follower Of the mollahW
"Who elsef Ii is SO written. Char
Ia OF Ashkar was never false TO the
faith"
Then leave Tifiis. The governors
passport will save you from harm. but
In the name OF the czar | command
lOu W IT OuNts VIII bhtn
be no chance OF your doing mischief.
We know the fugitives are not with
you now. But IL they came you would
give them shelter
II say truly would do so II they
came"
Loosen your boat from its moorings
and take yourself 10 the Caspian"
But my hay is already sold"
1T is robbing no one. There is plen-
~ OF hay, and you say the payment
has not been made. Go. or will for
get the passport"
With assumed reluctance Charka
went TO the door OF his box, into which
two soldiers had gone TO investigate,
and came out with two sleepy Astra-
khans.
Behold the loving acts OF the car.
our master" said Charka to his men.
I'VE have sold our hay. but before
payment is made we are commanded
10 go to the Caspian"
1T will destroy the hay. There will
be no profit from the fair" said one.
Profits! You want profits from a
fair and yet follow the mollah against
the czarf" returned one OF the soldiers
Charka made sign. The men at
once began releasing the boat. amid
the shouts and cries OF soldiers and dis
turbed boatmen all along the river
Hundreds OF soldiers fiocked along the
wharfs. invaded boats, routing out
men and women that they might in.
spect the most secret places.
Charka. grumbling and with much
make believe anger. slowly got under
way. The soldiers laughed as the hay
boat began slowly TO descend the
stream. The boat was n most crude
affair. Its only means OF propulsion
was a great lateen sail. useless on this
quiet night So the men resorted 10
long poles. and the big boat crawled
along the bank.
The search throughout Tfis went
on. Generals and colonies. many Of
them Informed FOR the first time that
the. abduct Of Koura Biartekis WAS
an American. joined in the hunt. OFF
GERS In the brilliant uniforms they had