The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-14

last time, made certain preparations
and emerged with parcel under my
arm. This | placed under the seat Oh
the vehicle in which / would drive 10
Karnoul, arrangements having oeeh
made to send the conveyance back'
Farewells said, amid the CHEERS Oh III!
friends-and every person in the VII
lage was my friend-I took my depaf'
ture.
Katrina, did not call upon. though
she waved her handkerchief from Tue
window. This act l pretended not 10
wee. An hours fast driving and wa
In sight of the guardhouse.
Paul frightened as l entered.
81 was afraid you meant to leave me
here all night for joke" he saio'
trifie nervously. thought.
81 am even now on my way to kar-
noul. l called to bid you good-by.
said simply.
There was a narrow billet OF WOOD
which l had carried to the place long
before for a seat This picked up and
placed upright within bare reach OF
my captive. On the top placed the
loaf of black bread from the parcel.
"Why did you return so soon?"
asked him.
"My business took a shorter time
than expected" he replied, giving me
a strange look.
'"And the road you traversed is
dangerous one" l observed smilingly.
what do you mean? he asked
quickly.
"That you will not be missed"
alexis! Surely you are not going to
leave me here? No one has been here
for fifty years; none will come. shall
de-" Paul moaned
folded my arms over my chest and
laughed.
This loaf Of bread is the artistic
touch to my joke, Paul. 1t is food.
You will be hungry. Don't devour 1t
all in day, for there will be none left
for the dreary days to come when you
will hope for rescue; hope, when in
your heart you will know that there
/ can be no hope.
First, you will pick of corner of
the bread; then, when hunger grips.
a little more. Soon all will be gone,
and you will die. shall never return.
| Good-by, Paul"
/ AS made my way back to the horse
his voice came to me.
Alexis! For PHYS sake, Alexis!"
This, with variations. l heard until
halfway down the hill, when the
sounds became like whispers. and long
ere I reached the road all was silent,
! though l knew he was still calling.
twenty-five years had passed since
all this had happened. l would look
at the guardhouse, then proceed to the
village, posing as traveller until
could hear Of Katrina.
AS I approached the place my fear
Of recognition vanished. None would
know me, l had changed SO greatly
Even my voice was different. would
just peep in before returning to the
waiting Ivan.
AS stepped inside something caught
my eye. l stopped abruptly; my heart
started tapping in my ears.
! Precipitation broke from me. wal
afraid.
Then. as the truth flashed upon me
shrank back and clutched at the wal
for support.
Under the iron waistband to which
had fastened Paul lay pile of bones
while shreds Of clothing hung from
the chains. There was no need to lool
at the buttons. the little personal arti
cles from the pockets; that was un
necessary: I knew them at once fol
Paul's.
shivered.
Paul must have reached out for thu
loaf and in his fright knocked over thu
insecurity placed log, the action caus
ing the bread to roll out of his reach
Yes, that was it.
Naturally, the bread had long agt
disappeared-the rats had seen t,
that.
And the 1ile-zthe strong fl,sz.I hx,
imbedded In the loaf-tlie file wifi
which he was to release himself-la,
on the floor. good two feet out of hi
reach!
What is it? Did you see the ghost?
Ivan asked on my return, starting a
he saw my face.
"Yes-that's 1.-THE ghost" I STAN
mered. Drive back to Karnoul. an
not going to Ragorsk."
| n 81,