The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-08-06


! had admitted you, you would never
leave this place alive. This Is the
Schusselburg of Finland-the place of
Imprisonment for those who have con-
spired against the state"
"The prison of political conspirators.
eh?"
ALAS, m'sieur, yes! The place In
which some of the poor creatures are
tortured in order to obtain confessions
and information with as much cruelty
as in the black days of the Inquisition.
These walls are thick, and their cries
are not heard from the oubliettes be-
low the lake."
/ had long ago heard of the horrors
Of Schusselburg. Indeed who has not
heard of them who has travelled in
| Russia? The very mention of the
| modern bastile on Lake Ladoga, where
| no prisoner has ever been known to
| come forth alive, is sufficient to cause
| any Russian to turn pale. And l was
in the Schusselburg of Finland!
| ! turned over the sheet of paper and
wrote the question: did Baron Oberg
send you here?"
In response. she printed the words:
II believe so. was arrested in Hell
singfors. Tell Lydia where am"
do you know Muriel Leithcourt"
inquired by the same means, where
upon she replied that they were at
school together.
did you see me on board the Lola 2"
wrote.
Eyes. But I could not warn you, al
| though / had overheard their inten-
lions. They took me ashore when you
had gone, to Siena. After three days
/ found myself deaf and dumb was
made So"
"Who did it?"
"A doctor, suppose. People who
said they were my friends put me ur-
der chloroform."
| l turned to the woman in the re-
ligious habit, and cried: "A shameful
mutilation has been committed upon
this poor defenseless girl! And l will
make it my duty to discover and pun
ish the perpetrators of it."
| L
pray of you," the woman said serious
ly, placing her hand upon my arm.
"Recollect you are in Finland-where
the Baron Oberg is all-powerful."
Il do not fear the Baron Oberg,"
exclaimed. IF necessary, l will ap-
peal to the car himself. Mademoiselle
is kept here for the reason that she is
in possession of some secret She must
be released-I will take the RESPONSE
bility."
But you must not try to release her
from here. 1t would mean death to
you both. The Castle of Kajana tells
no secrets of those who die within its
walls, or of those cast headlong into
it's waters and forgotten"
Again | turned to Elma, who stood
in anxious wonder Of the subject of
our conversation, and had suddenly
taken the old nuns hand and kissed
it affectionately, perhaps in order to
show me that she trusted her.
Then upon the paper l wrote: SIS
the Baron Oberg your uncle?"
She shook her head in the negative
showing that the dreaded governor
part towards her in which she had
been compelled to concur.
who is Philip Hornby?" inquired
writing rapidly.
my friend-at least, believe So"
Friend! And | had all along be.
lieved him to be an adventurer and an
enemy!
why did you go to Leghorn?"
asked.
For secret purpose. There was a
plot to kill you, only I managed to
thwart them," were the words she
printed with much labor.
Then l owe my life to you,"
wrote. And in return will do my ut
most to rescue you from here, If you
do not fear to place yourself in my
i hands"
And to this she replied: II shall be
thankful, for cannot bear this awful
place longer. / believe they must tor
ture the women here. They will tor
ture me some day. Do your best to
get me out Of here and will tell you
everything. But" she wrote, 81 feai
you can never secure my release.
am confined here on a life sentence
but you are English, and If YOU
have had no trial can complain to oul
ambassador"
No, am Russian subject. l wa:
born in Russia. and went to England
when was a girl"
That altered the case entirely. AS 6
subject of the car in her own country
she was amenable to that disgracefu
blot upon civilization that allows 6
person to be consigned to prison at the
will of high official, without trial OF
without being afforded any opportunity
of appeal. l therefore at once saw 6
difficulty.
Yet she promised to tell me the trutl
If l could but secure her release!
Could l allow this refined defense
less girl to remain an inmate of tina
, | baStile the terrors of which I hat