Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-07-22

from the awful bondage in that silent
tomb.
Though the woman who had led me
there endeavored to prevent it, l hand
ed her the pencil. and placed the paper
on the table for her to write.
The nun tried to snatch it up, but
held her arm gently and forcibly, say
ing in French:
mo. l wish to see II she is really
insane. You will at least allow me
this satisfaction"
And while we were in alteration,
Elma, with the pencil in her fingers,
tried to write, but by reason of her
hands being bound so closely was I'M
able. At length, however, after sew
eral attempts, she succeeded in print
ing in v capitals the response:
81 know you. You were on she
yacht. l thought they killed you"
The thin-faced old woman saw her
RESPONSE reply that was surely ra-
tional enough-and her brows con-
tracted with displeasure.
why are you here?" / wrote, not
allowing the sister to get sight of my
question.
In response, she wrote painfully and
laboriously:
Il am condemned for a crime l did
not commit. Take me from here, or l
shall kill myself"
"Ah!" exclaimed the old woman.
"You see, poor girl, she believes her
self innocent! They all do"
"But why is she here?" I demanded
fiercely.
81 do not know, m'sieur. 1t is not
my duty to inquire the history of their
crimes. When they are i'll l nurse
them; that is all"
"And who is the commandant of this
fortress?"
Colonel Smirnoff. If he knew that
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.
chi"
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 / 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:
81 believe so. / was arrested in Hell
singfors. Tell Lydia where / am"
do you know Muriel Leithcourt?'
l inquired by the same means, where
upon she replied that they were at
school together.
did you see me on board the Lola?'
| wrote.
Eyes. But l could not warn you, al
though l had overheard their intep
lions. They took me ashore when you
had gone, to Siena. After three days
l found myself deaf and dumb was
made So"
"Who did it?"
"A doctor, I suppose. People who
said they were my friends put me I'm
der ~chloroform."
l turned to the woman in the re
ligious habit, and cried: "a shameful.
mutilation has been committed upor
this poor defenseless girl! And 1 will
make it my duty to discover and pun
ish the perpetrators of it."
"Ah, m'sieur. Do not act rashly,
pray of you," the woman said serious
ly, placing her hand upon my arm
"Recollect you are in Finland-wheri
, the Baron Oberg is all-powerful."
II do not fear the Baron Oberg,"
exclaimed. IF necessary, l will aI
peal to the czar himself. Mademoisell
is kept here for the reason that she i
! in possession of some secret. She mus
be released will take the responsi
. bility."
4 "But you must not try to release he
, from here. 1t would mean death t
you both. The Castle of Kajana tell
4 no secrets of those who die within it
e walls, OF of those cast headlong int
its waters and forgotten"
d Again l turned to Elma, who stoo
in anxious wonder of the subject G
!. our conversation, and had suddenl
taken the old nuns hand and kisse
it a~ffectionately, perhaps in order t
e show me that she trusted her.
Then upon the paper / wrote: Il
the Baron Oberg your uncle?"
She shook her head in the negativ,
showing that the dreaded governc
general of Finland had only acted
part towards her in which she ha
It been compelled to concur.
a "Who is Philip Hornby?" / inquire,
e writing rapidly.
my friend-at least, Isbelieve So"
Friend! And l had all along b
lieved him to bean adventurer and a
h enemy!