The Elbert County tribune., 1907-01-03
The NV NI1IY


py secret marriage with lady upon
whom the latter had set his heart,
were transported to Kara. This was
when the mine was comparatively a
new one, but the brutal treatment or
these two men strengthened their mu-
tual sympathy. A friendship, undy-
ing in It's devotion. rapidly grew into
a plot. They had shared each others
condolences. Gideon had heard how
Valdermere was torn away from his
bride. in the midst of their honeymoon
how his rival had afterwards sub
jected her in her defenseless condition,
to insult, and even to brutal assault.
at which recital the giant ragged and
beloved until his chains ratified and
the guard had been summoned
IF Gideon was punished Valdez
mere would wantonly reduce himself
to the same fate. Together they plot
ted in the. dark of the night-in the
midst of the shadowy groups of dying
convicts. who fitted about like spirits.
their sad faces haunting the memory
OF Valdermere and infaming the
hatred of his companion
''Valdermere. though slight in mold,
had capacity for endurance almost
equal to that of the giant, who seem
ed to delight in the discontinue of
the guards, who roared and blasphem-
ed and terrorized until his chains
were doubled. and he was reduced to
the very limit of punishment, still,
he laughed in the faces of his persecu-
tors. and swore a great oath that he
would yet tear his keepers limb from
limb"
Among the haIf-starved scurvy dew
lis who moved like hideous feshless
automatons was a man who had
known Coroni. the founder of our
brotherhood. This man, in some man.
ner. told the story to Gideon, and in
turn 1t was told to Valdermere"
Ha, said the giant to the little
man who had told this story, we shall
join him when we are free
When you are free, said the man.
what do you mean? Are you to be
Free?
Without a doubt said the giant,
and we shall save you
"And they did save him, Rodin. and
it is he, whom you know as Pen
gully. and who invented the submar-
inc. 1t is his hand that will blow
Kronstadt Harbor into oblivion"
"Ah. how strange this sounds
said. how like a horrible dream, and
yet It is but justice-the justice of
Cod"
"Ah, you speak truly, my dear Rod
in, it is but justice-tardy, but sure,
and / believe as you do that the hand
of God is with us"
And the plot was carried out" !
said. 'the plot to escape-pray go on.
my dear sir"
Yes, 1t was carried out to the let
ter. but in its consummation there
was mystery, / have never heard of
in similar case; in fact, have
heard of no analogous case. 1t was
an extremely cold day, and the pris-
oners, Valdermere. Gideon and Pen
gully. had found an opportunity to
converse, unobserved by the guards,
who had drunk their vodka to excess,
for the blood seemed frozen in the
veins; but at length one of the guards.
in passing the giant, who stood shiv-
ering in his chains, struck him wan
tonly, and without provocation. across
the face, for he hated Gideon. and the
jibes of the latter had rendered him
an object of abuse to the keepers and
officers in charge
No sooner had the cruel lash fallen
upon his face, than Gideon, notwith-
standing his manacles, had seized the
brute by tie middle. and despite the
protest of Valdermere, he dashed his
brains out against the very whipping
post where he, himself, had so often
suffered at the hands of his victim.
His anger was terrible to behold, and
seizing chain. which was fastened to
the iron band at his ankles. he literally
wrenched it from its fastenings, and
waving 1t about his head, his eyes
blazing with fury, he held completely at
bay the five guards who had been
summoned by the noise and cries of
the Knove whom he had slain.
Zone of these, seeing how futile 1t
would be to attempt to disarm the
giant. raised the weapon to fire upon
the offender, wherupon Valdermere.
who had stood appalled, at the fury of
his companion, sprang forward, and
fixing his strange magnetic eyes upon
the man. cried:
Drop that weapon, dog, or may
you fall dead in your tracks
"Penguilly. who stood near by, ex-
pected to see Valdermere shot dead,
and. indeed, the angry guard turned
his weapon as if to shoot down the
convict VINO dared TO interfere with
him. but instead of firing, his hand
l.:
face became blank and expressionless.
his trembling hand let the pistol fall
and he sank unconscious upon the
stones at his feet. You have perhaps
felt the subtle force of this strange