The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-24

than few minutes at time, and IL
he worked In the tunnel he would be
oil but submerged. He feared he would
perish with cold and cramp before he
had made any impression on the rock.
To the edge of the stream he drew
the table. and, mounting 1t, examined
the upper orifce through which the
water escaped when the cell was full.
BE found he could stand on the table
and work IN comfort until he had ex-
cayated sufficient rock to allow him to
Chamber into the upper tunnel and so
continue his operations The water
he used would flow through the tun-
mel and down to the main stream in
the next cell. All be had to do was TO
dissolve a semiclrcular hole in the rock
that would bend around the end of
those steel bars and enter the tunnel
again on the other side. Eager to be
at work, he took the full basin, showed
1t far along the tunnel until it was
stopped by the bars; then. placing his
candle beside 1t and standing on the
table, he began operations.
The limestone under the influence of
".
by the time the basin of water was ex-
hausted all the effect visible under the
light Of the candle was an exceedingly
slight circular impression which was
barely visible to the naked eye
Il must make the solution stronger.
l think" he said. grievously disappoint-
ed at the outcome of his labors, and as
he looked at it he heard the clank of
the Withdrawing bolts. Blowing out
the candle, he sprang to the floor of the
cell, picked up the table set il down
In the center of the room, CROPPED for
the chair and sat down, his heart pal
pitating wildly at the fear of discoy-
cry.
Followed as usual by the man with
the lantern, the jailer came in, carrying
a bowl of hot, steaming soup, which he
placed on the table; then he took from
his pocket a spoon, a small hunk of
black bread and piece Of cheese. In
the light of the lantern Lermontoff
consulted his watch and found 1t was
6 o'clock. The jailer took the lantern
from his assistant, held 1t high and
looked round the room, while Lennon
tor gaZed at him in anxiety, wonder
ing whether that brutal looking off,
cial suspected anything. Apparently
he did not, but merely wished to sat
isfy himself that everything was in
order, for he said more mildly than be
had hitherto spoken:
ut Is a long time since any one &C.
cupied this cell"
Then his eye rested on the vacant
corner shelf.
"Ah, excellency," he continued, "par.
don me. 1 have forgotten. / must
bring you q BASIN"
I'D rather you brought me q can
de-" said LermontoH nonchalantly, al
though his lips were dry, and he mois
tened them as he spoke. Then, to learI
: whether money was valueless on thu
rock, as the governor had intimated
! he drew from his pocket one of the re
naming gold pieces, glad that he hap
pened to have so many, and slipped |
J into the palm Of the jailer's hand
whose fingers clutched 1t as eagerly al
} If he were in ST. Petersburg.
81 think q candle can be managed
} excellency. Shall bring a cupY'
Il wish you would"
The door was again locked and bolt
: ed, but before Lermontoff had finishes
: lis soup and bread and cheese 1t wa
{ opened again. The jailer placed II
basin similar to the former one on th
!. ledge, put a candle and a candlestic
0 on the table and tin cup beside then
r Il thought there was no part of Ru:
r STA where bribery was extinct" sal
j the prince to himself as the door close
again for the night.
After supper Lermontoff again shift
9 ed his table, stood upon it, lit his cal
die and resumed bis tunneling, worl
J. ing hard until after midnight. HI
progress was deplorably slow, and th
spraying of the rock proved about q
firing a task as ever he had undertal
\ en- His second basinful OF solutio
n was made q little stronger, but witt
, out perceptible Improvement in its G
a feet. On ceasing operations for tt
q night he found himself in a situatio
= common to few prisoners-that of b
~ ing embarrassed with riches. BE po
4 sessed two basins, and one Of the
= must be concealed. OF course
! might leave his working basin In Il
\ upper tunnel where it had rested whe
4 the jailer had brought In his suppe
: but he realized that at any moment Il
a lanterns rays might strike its shinir
e surface and so bring on an investig
y ton of the upper tunnel, certain
~ prove the destruction Of his who
a scheme. A few minutes thought, hoI
"a ever, solved the problem admirabl
r He placed the basin face downward
N the rapid stream, which swept 1t
= the iron bars between the two cell
= and there 1t lay quite concealed wi
II the swift water ripping over 1t. TIL
n done, he flung Off his clothes and g
- into bed, not awakening until the ia
- er and his assistant brought in brea
cheese a.. coffee for breakfast