The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-16

At last ! entered my home for the
last time, made certain preparations
and emerged with a parcel under my
arm. This l placed under the seat of
the vehicle In which would drive to
Karnoul. arrangements having been
made to send the conveyance back.
Farewells said, amid the cheers Of my
friends-and every person in the vii
lage was my friend-I took my depar.
ture.
Katrina, did not call upon, though |
she waved her handkerchief from the
window. This act I pretended not to i
gee. An hours fast driving and was
in sight Of the guardhouse.
Paul Frightened as l entered.
Il was afraid you meant to leave me
here all night for Joke" he said, .
trile nervousiy, thought.
II am even now on my way to Kar- ;
noul. l called to bid you good-by." l
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 l placed the
loaf Of black bread from the parcel.
"Why did you return SO soon?" l
, asked him.
my business took a shorter time
than expected" he replied, giving me
. strange look.
"And the road you traversed is q
dangerous one," 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
die" 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 on corner Of
the bread; then. when hunger grips,
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, heard until
halfway down the hill, when the
sounds became like whispers, and long
ere l reached the road all was silent,
though 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 q traveller until
could hear of Katrina.
, AS l approached the place my feal
I of recognition vanished. None would
+. know me, had changed SO greatly
|. Even my voice was different. would
J. Just peep in before returning to thu
3 waiting Ivan.
n As / stepped inside something caugh
i my eye. stopped abruptly; my hear
started tapping in my ears.
a Precipitation broke from me. wa,
d afraid.
: Then, as the truth flashed upon me
:. I shrank back and clutched at the wal
for support.
!. Under the iron waistband to whicl
q had fastened Paul lay pile of bones
while shreds of clothing hung from
r the chains. There was no need to Loo
r at the buttons. the little personal art
q cles from the pockets; that was ur
q. necessary; / knew them at once 70
q Pauls.
I shivered.
It Paul must have reached out for tn
10 loaf and in his fright knocked over tn
70 insecurity placed log, the action caui
ID ing the bread to roll out Of his reacl
ID Yes. that was 1t.
" Naturally, the bread had long az
I disappeared-the rats had seen
that.
ID And the file-the strong hlev-I ha
~ Undecided in the loaf-the file wit
which he was to release himself-la
~ on the floor. good two feet out Of b
q reach!
- What is it? Did you see the ghost
:. Ivan asked on my return, starting {
:. he saw my face.
"a "Yes-that's 1.-THE ghost" I star
mered. Drive back to Karnoul. q
No. not going to Ragorsk."
=. 1 dared not ask him Of Katrina.