The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-05-22

] looking that for Il moment they thought
| 1t some creature Of the forest. Then a
| figure stepped forth, man with un-
kempt hair and beard, ragged, shoe
less, with cheeks shrunken and eyes
glaring IKE those Of hunted beast
my children" he said, "can you not
hide me? If they get me they will take
| me back to the Mines"
Ivan had once before seen an escaped
prisoner from Kara who had been pur-
sued and arrested in n. and had never
forgotten the despair on his face when,
loaded with chains, he was taken away
on his dismal march back to prison
Ivan knew well that this man was a
went out to him. They asked him
what they could do for him, and after
consultation it was arranged that they
should return to the town and bring
him food. This they did. and rs soon as
night came on they took him into the
town, where Ivan hid him in his
fathers barn among the hay.
Early in the morning number of
officials entered the town looking for
an escaped prisoner. But he whom
they sought was safely hidden and
ministered to by Ivan and Nina. After
searching the village in vain the party
left, and the fugitive as well as his
preservers breathed more freely. Two
or three days after the officials depar-
ture Ivan took clothes and shaving
materials to the loft. and the fugitive
relieved himself of his beard. cut his
hair and put on PEASANTS suit. Then
he asked Ivan to bring him pen. ink
and paper, and he wrote a letter, which
he addressed to some one in Moscow.
and asked Ivan to put it in the post for
him.
After this the fugitive occasionally
left the barn and, growing more ven
turesome, at last took up his quarters
at an inn. He invented story that he
had little money, with which he pro-
posed to buy few acres of ground.
and was looking about him for that
purpose. This explanation of his pres
ence in n. was weakened by his man
ner. which, since he was rid of his wild
appearance. marked him for gentle
man. However. the people with whom
he mingled were not very acute, and
even had they known that he was an
escaped political prisoner would have
shielded him so far as was possible.
After awhile he began to receive mail.
which. of course. was addressed to him
under an assumed name.
Meanwhile the lottery scheme by
which Nina was to, be disposed of
dragged because so few tickets had
been sold. But at last they were dis
posed of. and the drawing was an
nOunced to take place at once. Some
curiosity was manifested to know who
had taken them. But the managers Of
the affair would give no information.
On the evening of the drawing Nina
was present, as was customary for the
bride. with despairing look on her
face that excited the commiseratiOn Of
all. Ivan had saved enough money to
pay for ten tickets. But what were
ten chances in thousand? The same
as one in a hundred. He could not
bring himself to attend the dra wing.
so he remained away. During the draw
ing he walked back and forth before
the building in which it took place.
looking up at the place where the girl
he loved was TO be disposed of.
Presently he heard commotion.
which he believed followed the an
nouncement of the name Of the win
ner. A wild hope sprang up in his
breast that one of his chances had
won. He ran up into the hall and
asked who had drawn the prize. He
was told that the name was Nicholas
Axelrod. but who Nicholas AxelrOd
was no one seemed to know. His
heart fell. Wringing his hands, he
was about to turn away when the
the platform where the drawing had
taken place, advanced and read from
q paper he held in his hands:
II 1, Nicholas AXelrod. win the prize, be-
ing married man, give it to Ivan Ivan
off.
Shouts arose, and cries for Ivan
were heard. A man caught him by the
arm as he was leaving and, turning
him around. led him up to the platform
where Nina sat. smile of delight on
her features He kissed her, and the
shouting broke forth anew.
But who was Nicholas Axelrod?
There were cries for him, but he did
not respond. Persons looked about
them, expecting to see him arise and
make his way to the platform to re-
ceive the ovation which it was evident
was awaiting him. But he did not ap-
pear, nor was he ever seen again in n.
The happy couple sought him. but did
not find him. 1t was rumored that he
was Il member of Il noble family: that
he had been pardoned by the car;
that he had been returned to Siberia
None of these rumors was ever
proved. Both Ivan and his wife believe
today that he bought all the unsub-
scribed chances in the lottery. thus
having three out Of four chances Of
winning. and that he had done this to
repay them for succoring him.
Nicholas AxeIrod's real name was
Paul Gerowsky. u Pole, whose family,
related to the kings Of Poland. sub