Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-08-15

10 ue provlsloned for several months
ahead at the very lowest calculation.
Now, the first thing to do Is to put
this ancient Johnny in his little cell.
Then I'll tell you where our chief dan
ger lies"
The governor made neither protest
nor complaint, but walked into No. 9
and was locked up.
Now. Johnny, my boy" said Drum
mond, "our anxiety is the soldiers.
The moment they find they are locked
IN they will blow those two doors open
In just about half a jiffy. We can, of
course, by sitting in front of the lower
door night and day pick off the first
four or five who come down, but If the
rest make a rush we are bound to he
overpowered. They have presumably
plenty of powder, probably some live
smells, petards and whatnot that will
make short work even Of those oaken
doors. What do you propose to dot"
Il PROPOSE" said Jack, 'to fill their
crooked stairway with cement. There
are bags and bags Of it in the armory."
The necessity for this was prevented
by an odd circumstance. The two
young men were seated in the govern
or's room when at his table q telephone
bell rang. Jack had not noticed this
instrument and now took up the re-
ceiver.
"Hello, governor!w said a voice.
your fool of a jailer has bolted the
stairway door, and we can't open it,"
ooh, I beg pardon" replied Jack in
whatever imitation of the governors
voice he could assume. "I'll see to it
at once myself"
He hung up the receiver and told his
comrade what had happened.
zone or both Of these officers are
coming down. If we get the officers
safely into a cell, there will be nobody
to command the men, and it is more
than likely that the officers carry the
keys of the powder room. I'll turn out
the electric lamps in the hall and light
the lantern. You be ready at the foot
of the stairway to fire If they make the
slightest resistance"
The two officers came down the cir
cular stairway, grumbling at the delay
to which they had been put. Lennon
toff took advantage of the clamping of
their heavy boots in the echoing stair
way to shove In the bolts once more
and then followed them, himself fol-
lowed by Drummond, into the govern
or's room. Switching on the electric
light, he said:
Gentlemen, l am Prince Lermontoff,
in temporary charge of this prison.
The governor is under arrest, and l re-
greet that l must demand your swords,
although l have every reason to be-
lieve that they will be handed back to
you within a very few days after I
have completed my Investigations"
The officers were too much accus-
toned to sudden changes in command
to see anything odd in this turn of af-
fairs. Lermontoff spoke with q quiet
dignity that was very convincing, and
the language he used was that of the
nobility. The two officers handed him
their swords without a word Of pro-
test.
81 must ask you whether you have
yet received your winter supply of
food"
ooh, yes" said the senior Officer,
tive had that nearly q month ago"
us 1t stored in the military portion
Of the rock or below here?"
Our rations are packed away in a
room upstairs"
II am sorry. gentlemen, that l must
put you into cells until my mission is
accomplished. If you will write q
requisition for such rations as you are
accustomed to receive, l shall see that
you are supplied. Meanwhile write
also an order to whomsoever you en-
trust in command of the men during
your absence to grant no one leave to
come downstairs and ask him to take
care that each soldier is rigidly re-
stricted to the minimum quantity Of
vodka"
The senior officer sat down at the ia
BILE and wrote the two orders. The
men were then placed in adjoining
cells without the thought of resistance
eve occurring to them. They sup.
posed there had been some changes al
headquarters and were rather relieved
to have the assurance of the prince
that their arrest would prove tempo.
rary. Further investigation showed
that there would be no danger of star
walton for six months at least.
Next day Jack, at great risk Of his
neck, scaled to the apex of the island
as he had thought of flying, If possible
a signal Of distress that might attract
some passing vessel. But even though
he reached the sharp ridge, he saw al
once that no pole could be erected
there, not even if he possessed one
The wind aloft was terrific, and he
gazed around him at an empty sea.
When four days had passed they be
gan to look for the Russian relief boat
. which they knew would set out the mo
ment the governors telegram reached
t st. Petersburg.
On the fifth day Jack shouted dowr
to Drummond, who was standing by
T the door:
t,y1,l,o p,,..:,,, =: a~~,:,-t =.