The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-08-06
CHAPTER XII.
The Castle of the Terror.

The big Finn rowed me down the
swollen river.
After nearly mile, the stream
again opened out into broad lake
where, in the distance, saw rising
sheer and high from the water, long
square building of three stories, with
tall round tower at one corner-an
old medieval castle it seemed to be.
From one of the small windows of the
tower. as we came into view of it. a
light was shining upon the water, and
my guide seeing it, grunted in salts
faction. 1t had undoubtedly been
placed there as signal. After waiting
five minutes or SO, he pulled straight
across the lake to the high, dark tower
that descended into the water. The
place was as grim and silent as any I
had ever seen, an impregnable strong
hold Of the days before siege guns
were invented, the fortress of some
feudal prince or count who had prob
ably held the surrounding country in
thraldom. A small wooden ledge and
half dozen steps led up to a low
arched door, which opened noiselessly
and the dark figure of woman stood
peering forth.
My guide uttered some reassuring
word in Finnish in low half-whisper,
and then slowly pushed the boat along
to the ledge, saying:
Your high nobility may disembark
There is at present no danger"
rose, gripped big rusty chain to
steady myself, and climbed into the
narrow doorway in the ponderous wall
where found myself in the darkness
beside the female who had apparently
been expecting our arrival and watch.
ing our signal.
Without a word she led me through
q short passage, and then, striking a
match, lit big old-fashioned lantern
AS the light fell upon her recognized
that she was a member of some re-
ligious order. The thin ascetic coun
tenance was that of a woman of
strong character, and her funereal
habit seemed much too large for her
.stunted, shrunken figure.
"The sister speaks French?" I haz
arded in that language, knowing that
in most converts throughout Europe
Wrench is known.
"Oui, msieur But are you not afraid
to venture here? No strangers are
permitted here, you know. II your
presence was discovered you would
not leave this place alive-so I war;
you. BY admitting you am betrayine
my trust, and that l should not have
done were 1t not compulsory"
Compulsory! How?"
1.-THE order of the chief of police
Even here, we cannot afford to Offend
him."
J So the fellow Boranski had reall,
kept faith with me, and at his orde,
the closed door of the convent hat
been opened.
"Of course not" answered. rus
sian officialdom Is all-powerful in Fin
land nowadays. But where is the
lady?"
"You are still prepared to risk YOU
liberty and life?" she asked in a hoarse
voice, full of grim meaning.
81 am" l said. Lead me to her."
"You are on Russian soil now
m'sieur, not English" she remarked
In her broken English. "If your OBJ
ject we're known, you would never BIZ
spared to return to your own land
Ali" she sighed, you do not know the
mysteries and terrors of Finland.
am a French subject, born in Tours
and brought to Helsingfors when was
fifteen. / have been In Finland forty
FIVE years. Once we were happy here
but since the car appointed Baron
Oberg to be governor general" ant
she shrugged her shoulders without
finishing her sentence.
Baron Oberg-governor general o.
Finland!" / gasped.
Certainly. Did you not know" she
said, dropping into French. ut 1.
four years now that he has held su
preme power to crush and Russif,
these poor Firms. All, m'sieur! this
country, once SO prosperous, Is bio
upon the face of Europe. His method.
are the worst and most unscrupuloui
Of any. employed by Russia. Before hi
came here he was the best hated mar