The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-12-12

AkSyOuOI was DauuSOuo, lalT-
haired. curly-headed fellow, full Of
fun, and very fond of singing. When
quite young man he had been CIV
en- to drink, and was riotous when
he had had too much; but after he
married he gave up drinking. ex-
oept now and then.
One summer Aksyonof was going
to the Nizhny Fair, and as he bade
goodbye to his family his wife said
to him: Ivan Dmitritch, do not
start today; have had a bad dream
about you"
Aksyonof laughed. and said: You
are afraid when | get to the fair l
shall go on the spree"
His wife replied: Il do not know
what / am afraid Of; all know is
that / had a bad dream. | dreamt
you returned from the town. and
when you took off your cap l saw
tAat your hair was quite gray"
Aksyonof laughed. That's d
lucky sign,' said he. See If don't
sell out all my goods and bring you
some presents from the far"
So ne said goodbye to his family
and drove away.
When he had travelled half way
he met a merchant whom he knew,
and they put up at the same inn for
the night They had some tea to-
sether, and then went to bed in I'd
joining rooms.
1t was not Aksyonof's habit to
sleep late, and. wishing to travel
while 1t was still cool. he aroused
his driver before dawn, and told
him TO put in the horses.
Then he made his way across to
the landlord OF the inn, who lived
in a cottage at the back. paid his
bill, and continued his journey.
When he had gone about twenty
Ave miles, he stopped for the horses
to be fed. Aksyonof rested awhile
lepped out into the porch. and. or
hring a samovar to be heated, got
~!t his guitar and began to play.
Suddenly royka drove up with
nkling bells, and an official alight-
Il. followed by two soldiers. He
came to Aksyonof and began to Ques-
ton him, asking him who he was
and whence he came. Aksyonof an
ewered him fully, and said: Wont
you have some tea with mef" But
the official went on crosse uestioning
him and asking him: where did
Juh
alone, or with fellow-merchAnt?
Did you see the other merchant this
morning? Why did you leave the
inn before dawn!"
Aksyonof wondered why he was
asked all these questions, but he de-
scribed all that had happened, and
then added, why do you cross
question me n IL I were q thief or
"a robber? l am travelling on busi-
ness of my own. and there is no
need to question me-"
Then the official. calling the sol
diers. said: Il am the police officer
of this district. and / question you
because the merchant with whom you
spent last night has been found with
his throat cut. We must search
your things"
They entered the house. The SOL
diers and the police-ofticer unstrap-
ped Aksyonof's luggage and search
ed it. Suddenly the officer drew a
knife out of bag. crying: Whose
knife Is this?"
Aksyonof looked. and seeing a
blood-stained knife taken from his
bag, he was frightened.
How is 1t there is blood on this
knife?"
Aksyonof tried to answer, but
could hardly utter a word. and only
stammered: Il don't know-uot
mine"
Then the police officer said, This
morning the merchant was found In
bed with his throat cut. You are ths
only person who could have done 1t.
The house was locked from inside,
and no one else was there. Hero ia
this bloodstained knife In your bag,
and your face and manner betray
you. Tell me how you killed him.
and how much money you stole"
Aksyonof swore he had not done
u: that he had not seen the mer-
chant after they had had tea to-
gether; that he had no money except
6ght thousand roubles of his own,
and that the knife was not his. But
bis voice was broken, his face pale,
and he trembled with fear as though
he were guilty.
The police officer ordered the aol-
d1ers TO bind Aksyonof and to put
him In ths cart AS they tied
h5 feet together and flung him
INTO the cart. Aksyonof crossed
himself and wept. His money
aid goods we're taken from him,
ana be was sent to the nearest town
md imprisoned there, Inquiries as
10 his character were made In Vlad-
iInir. The merchants and other In
hAbitants OF that town said that IN