The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-12

Tue vehicle in which l would drive to
Aarnoul, arrangements having been
MADE to send the conveyance back.
sareweils said. amid the cheers of my
,riends-and every person in the vii.
ture.
Katrina, did not call upon, though
sne waved her handkerchief from the
WINDOW. This act pretended not to
see. An hours fast driving and l was
In sight of the guardhouse.
Paul frightened as I entered.
i was afraid you meant to leave me
mere all night for a joke" he said, q
Urine nervously. thought.
i am even now on my way to Kar.
noui. l called to bid you good-by," I
said simply.
mere was narrow billet of wood
winch had carried to the place long
before for seat. This picked up and
placed upright within bare reach of
my captive. On the top I 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 a
dangerous one" observed smilingly.
What do you meanr 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 nifty years; none will come. shall
die" Paul moaned.
l 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 it
all in a 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 a 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, l heard until
halfway down the hill, when the
sounds became like whispers. and long
ere l 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 ! approached the place my fear
Of recognition vanished. None would
know me. l had changed so greatly.
Even my voice was different. l would
just peep in before returning to the
waiting Ivan.
As l stepped inside something caught
my eye. l stopped abruptly; my heart
started tapping In my ears.
Precipitation broke from mo. l was
afraid.
Then, as the truth flashed upon me,
shrank back and clutched at the wall
for support.
Under the iron waistband to which
I had fastened Paul lay pile Of bones.
while shreds of clothing hung from
the chains. There was no need to look
at the buttons, the little personal arti.
cles from the pockets; that was un.
necessary; l knew them at once for
Paul's.
shivered.
Paul must have reached out for the
loaf and in his fright knocked over the
insecurity placed log, the action caus.
ing the bread to roll out of his reach.
Yes. that was it.
Naturally, the bread had long ago
disappeared--th rats had seen to
that.
And the file-the strong fle,vI had
imbedded in the loaf-tfie file with
which he was to release himself-lay
on the floor, a good two feet out Of his
reach!
What is it? Did you see the ghost?"
Ivan asked on my return, starting as
he saw my face.
"Yes-thats 1.-THE ghost" I STAN
mered. Drive back to Karnoul. am
not going to Ragorsk."
dared not ask him Of Katrina.