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

Why did you go to Lsshornr> ]
asked.
For a secret purpose. There vas a
plot to kill you. only / managed to
thwart them" were the words she
printed with much labor.
Then / owe my life to YOU" I
wrote. And in return l will do my ut
most to rescue you from here, If you
do not fear to place yourself in my
hands,"
And to this she replied: 81 shall be
thankful, for l cannot bear this awful
place longer. l believe they must tor
ture the ome 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 fear
you a e ecure my release. /
am confined here on a life sentence"
But you are English, and if you
have had no trial l can complain to our
ambassador"
mo, ! am a Russian subject. l was
born in Russia, and went to England
when / was a GIRL,
That altered the case entirely. AS a
subject of the car in her own country
she was amenable to that ~disgraceful
blot upon civilization that allows a
person to be consigned to prison at the
will of a high official, without trial or
without being afforded any opportunity
of appeal. l therefore at once saw a
difficulty.
Yet she promised to tell me the truth
If / could but secure her release!
Could / allow this refined defense
less girl to remain an inmate of that
bastile, the terrors of which I had
heard men in Russia hint at with
bated breath? They had willfully
MANNED her and deprived her of both
hearing and the power of speech, and
now they intended that she should be
driven mad by that silence and lone
liness that must always end in in
sanity.
Il have decided" I said suddenly,
turning to the woman who had con-
Quoted me there, and having now re-
moved the steel bonds Of the prisoner
with a key she secretly carried, stood
with folded hands in the calm attitude
Of the religieuse.
"You will not act with rashness?"
she implored in quick apprehension.
Remember, your life is at stake, as
well as my own"
"Her enemies intended that 1, too,
should die!" l answered, looking
straight into those deep mysterious
brown eyes which held me as beneath
a spell. "They have drawn he. into
their power because she had no means
of defense, The man is awaiting me
in the boat outside. I intend to take
her with me-"
But, m'sieur, why that is impos-
sible!" cried the old woman in a
hoarse voice. "If you were discovered
by the guards who patrol the lake both
night and day they would shoot you
both"
Il will risk it," I said, and linking
my arm in that of the woman whose
lovely ~countenance had verify become
the sun of my existence, l made a sign,
inviting her to accompany me.
The sister barred the door, urging
me to reconsider my decision, but l
waved her aside.
Elma recognized my intentions in a
moment, and allowed herself to be con-
Quoted down the long intricate CORR
dor, walking stealthily, and as we
crept along On tiptoe l felt the girls
grip upon my arm, a grip that told
me that she placed her faith in me as
her deliverer.
Without a sound we crept forward
until within a few yards from that un-
locked door where the boat awaited us
below, when, of a sudden, the nicer
tain light Of the lantern fell upon
something that shone and a deep voice
cried out of the darkness in Russian:
Halt! or l fire!"
And, startled, we found ourselves
looking down the muzzle of a loaded
carbine.
A huge sentry stood with his back to
the secret exit, his dark eyes shining
beneath his peaked cap, as he held
his weapon to his shoulder within six
feet of us.
Speak" cried the fellow. "Who
are your"
At a glance l took in the peril of the
situation, and without a seconds hest.
tation made a dive for the man be-
meath his weapon. He lowered it, but
it was too late, for l gripped him
around the waist, rendering his gun
useless. 1t vas the work of an in.
slant, for | knew that to close with
him was my only chance.
CTO BE CONTINUED)