The San Francisco call., 1908-10-24

pieces of statuary by Russian sculp-
tors, who are famous for the lie anu
grace of their work.
The count loved fish, and in order TO
watch their movements without fright
ening them. he had an immense aquar-
ium built I'm the second story, the glass
floor of which formed the ceiling of
the room below. In this aquarium he
kept all kinds OF fish and enjoyed
watching them as they swan about SO
gracefully in their pretty home.
There were also Conservatives con-
tanning rare and beautiful flowers, so
little Tad had plenty to enjoy though
he had no playmates.
There were no people but peasants
within 80 versts, and Tad, being the son
OF count. was not allowed to play
with the little peasant boys and girls
Under the castle were deep, dark
dungeons. some of them partially
lighted by very small, narrow windows
near the ceiling; others quite dark.
They were reached by a flight of very
narrow, winding stone stairs, which
led TO dark corridor running the
whole length of the building.
In the wall near the foot of the stairs
was secret vault which no one knew
about but the count himself The door
or 1t looked just like the rest of the
wall and could only be opened by press
ing small spring, which itself was
carefully concealed. In this vault he
kept all his wonderful Jewels which
had belonged to his family for many
generations. and most of his gold. He
is said TO have been very rich and to
have owned thousands and thousands
Of rubles' worth of diamonds rubies,
emeralds and other precious stones and
some priceless old laces.
But to return to our tale. The next
morning at breakfast the count told
Tad that he must go off again and be-
gone a long time. This time it is more
than talk, my brave boy"-and as he
kissed the child goodby at the door he
said with almost a sob: IF papa never
comes back be good boy and serve
your country"
Turning to the nurse. he said: 'Re-
member what / told you last night, and
may God reward you according as you
care for my child"
Then he sprang upon the back of his
great black charger. which had stood
impatiently paving the earth and
champing his bit; and horse and rider
We're soon a mere speck in the distance
Poor little Tad turned back to the house
with sad heart, for he loved his
father; but with a brave heart too, for
he loved his country and longed to be
old enough to give, not only his father,
but himself, in her defense.
AS the long days and weeks passed a
few bits of news occasionally reached
the castle. but no details, and so Tad
did not know whether his father was
alive or dead. But one day in the late
summer, as he was playing in the gar
den with Kadro, he heard the eiatter-
ing of hoofs and saw a cloud of dust on
the high road, and presently up dashed
the splendid black horse, the white
foam flying from his mouth, and down
ieaped Tad's own dear father
Catching his child in his arms. he
fushed into the castle and then told him
that the war was over, the Poles ut
terly defeated. that he himself had
barely escaped capture To the child's
eager inquiries as to the war. the last
light what had happened, how his
rather had escaped, etc, he said: "I'II
tell you all about it some time. but
there is no time now Soon the Rus
slams will be on my track, for the car
has offered big reward for my cap
lure- But / think We'll have plenty of
ume TO escape TO Germany by that long
passage l took you into one day before
the soldiers trace me here, for 1 came
by long, roundabout way and threw
them on the track. They think l have
gone SOUTH instead of north"
then he, called the old nurse and
told her TO pack some of Tad's clothes
IN basket and to ppt up what food he
and rad would need for a few days in
another basket. while he hiMself would
make the rest of the preparation for
their departure Hastily getting TO-
gether what Jewels. money and other
faluabies as were not already in the
dungeon safe, he carried them down.
got cut the iron box Containing the
most precious of his possessions and
ran quickly out OF the door at the end
of the passage, first closing securely
the hidden vault. As he stepped ont
of doors he looked cautiousl-- ahout to
make sure that no one saw him with
this boX-he had first sent the servants
on errands that would take them to
other parts of the building-then he
hurried down the steep path into the
dense thicket which grew on the side
of the embankment at whose feet
nowed the Dazfoeda river
The woods We're so thick and the
underbrush so dense on this side of
the house that only one very familiar
with the place could get through II
But the count, knowing every inch of
the way, made rapid progress to a
place where the bank was very steep
and where there was a heavy oaken
door so well hidden by the bushes that
only one who knew its location exact
ly could find it.
11aSttiy UNLOCKING the door he
stepped into the dark passage. set down
the iron box, closed the door again and
hurried back 10 the castle, being care
fu1 not TO break a branch nor a twig
in his passage to leave a track bv
which an enemy might find his retreat.
He felt safe from surprise because he
had on his arrival sent word to his
men to be on the lookout for the Rus
sian troops and to give the alarm the
moment they came in sight. The coun-
try is so level that an approaching
horseman could be seen two or three
versts off. Unfortunately his men
proved TO be traitors and before all
preparations for fight had been made
the house was surrounded by soldiers
Almost crazed by the thought of
what would be his chiid's fate If he
were captured he caught him in his
arms and rushed to the basement 49,,