Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-02-10
By Order of the Gar
A Story of Russian Power
By MARCUS EHSTLAKE
~O@~

Straight across where Yerack awaits u.s."
am ON the stool preparing to thrust
out the grating.
Toward you! Toward you! Pull the
bars inside" whispers the Cossack. at
will make less noise. And by all the
saints, the light" he darts to the lamp
and puts it out. and is standing below
me ready to receive the grating from my
hand.
Already am drawing myself up to the
stone edge. My head is through the
aperture when-what was that2 A IA
miliar click! The Cossack has me by
the legs and Is actually pulling me back!
1 hear him say:
"Ah, just in time, Anton Antoneivitch.
Not quite smart enough, my brave. Ha,
ha" as he drags me to the ground
And while l am struggling. dazed and
| bewildered, to my feet he has rushed
to the door, unlocked it, and by the dim
light that illuminates the corridor l see
him seize some one by the arm. jerk that
some one into the cell and lock the door
again.
Just in time! Just in time to help
me-" l hear him repeat, with a strange,
| VIII, eAulLdllOu III HIS NOlCt.
Then there is a short, fierce struggle
in the dark. The bed creaks under
falling body. A cry of "help!
that is instantly smothered, followed by
gasps and groans.
What means it? Who is the vanquisn-
ed? Is it the Cossack who lies groaning
on the bed or that other one? In vain
my eager eyes try to pierce the dark
ness. 1t is as black as pitch. The Cos
sacks voice treasures me at length.
II have him. he pants.
Another groan and a gurgling sound.
you were going to spoil our little
game-whatW says the Cossack with
cutting irony; and there is an unpleasant
thud as a head being knocked against a
wall. Where are you, my brother?
Come here quickw l feel my way to-
ward the voice, and my hand comes in
contact with the arm Of the Cossack.
I'm my trousers pocket you will find
match box. Strike light" he die
tates. IL must see what | am doing
here"
comply, and see a ghastly sight. On
his back on the bed, his body convulsed,
his face purple and swollen, his tongue
protruding from his mouth. Is the war,
der. The Cossack's fingers are tightly
twisted in the collar Of the PROSTATE
mans uniform, and the Cossack's knee
is on his chest. He is to all appear
ances lifeless.
"He will tell no tales" observes the
, Cossack. And the smile with which HI
, regards his senseless foe Is truly dia
, bolic. "Yet he might come round. Shal
make sure?" He draws small stilettc
, from the bosom of his coat and suspendl
it in midair.
stay his hand.
, "Slay him not" say. III he be reall,
= still in him, leave him the chance Of 1t
q His death will not benefit u.s."
'Humph; less trouble to have giveI
+ him his quietus," he murmurs, hiding
away his knife again. 1--WE cannot leav'
q him thus. We must tie his hands ant
o gag him, or he might set the dogs on u
| sooner than we expect"
While he talks he loses no time. H
produces some strong cord from his pock
ct and binds the mans wrists togethe
n behind his back. After which he pro
! ceeds to gag his gaping mouth with
handkerchief 1T is cleverly DONE" h
!, chuckles. 81 was quick. Yes. In an In
n stant had him! Once he had got ava,
to give the alarm, though we might still
Q have escaped by the window, l woul,
not have given the snuff Of a candle 70
our chances Of landing at the other sid
save into the arms Of the gendarmes
n 1t was even the best thing that coul
: have happened that he should have come
t for now, reckon, they will not be likel
4 to find out that the bird has flown be
fore in the morning, and by then the
i will find 1t a difficult task to get nea
enough to him to strew salt on his tail.
While speaking his quick, nervous fin
gers are busy tying the knot at tn
O back of his victims head.
q There now, thou art fixed up-wal
q ranted not to go off, he continues apos
trophizing the insensible man. "Adier
. my friend and a good recovery! An
!. now out with the light and let us star
h Yerack will think that all is lost.
q In less than five minutes l am cleay
n ing the cold, black water, striking ou
e blindly for the opposite shore. In m
rear comes the Cossack, gasping an
)! spluttering
o The river is not wide, and alread
Il feel the bank. Cropping for a hold, m
e hand comes in contact with a branch
n by which l pull myself up. The Coz
% sack is close on my heels.
y "Catch hold Of this branch" whi
Il per, bending 1t down to whtre l hear hill
is gasping.
d So hastily is 1t snatched from me tbs
h I almost lost my balance. l recover m.
it self to fnd dark object rising at IN
If feet.
"Onwardw he pants, taking the lead.
4 A little more scrambling, and we al
le on the road. The Cossack. hurries n
le along few PAGES. Then a form steI
lie out from the trees and silently confron
st us. 1t is Yerack!
| A