The Glenwood post., 1925-01-01
chs,e~ v
cssvvisAe - Ussia. Dss~~Aca


Gerald, after q weary elfnb out Of
he town, stood at last, q he a3DStnt.
u hour on the following nosatne. b.
fore the rusty Iron gates u the fort.
rsss. Untidy and neglected though the
whole place seemed, there was still
something sinister about the various
crude prscautions against the escape
Of q prisoner. For q quarter Of q mile,
sn the outside Of the walls, not IN
themselves formidable. svsrything in
the shape Of trees, shrubs or dwellings
had been raxed to the ground, and
very ATTY PAGES around the walls, on
the top Of bnttress, was mounted a
machine gun, from which an Iron lad
der led to the ground. The walls
themselves wore about eight feet high,
u stone covered with white plaster.
The fortress itself was built Of kind
q gray-colorsd brick, a square. solid
building. with curiously unexpected
pointed top. The barred Window
were no more than Sits. The space Of
spen ground by which the main build.
ing was surrounded was inches deep
h dust.
A porter in stained and ill-fltting
uniform admitted Gerald to the build
ing. escorted him across the yard, and
passed him on to a duplicate Of him
self. to whom Gerald once more pre-
sented the card which had obtained
him atimittance. He was LED down a
stone passage, which had apparently
neither been cleaned Aer swept for
months, into . lofty but bare apart
ment at the farther end. Krossneya,
who was sitting before q wooden
table, apparently expecting him, dis
missed the attendant and motioned
Gerald to sit down. He looked at his
visitor IN unfriendly fashion.
why did you not come to me direct
instead Of going to Dasa FraAcksr'
- demanded.
Gerald was not unprspafed fsf the
question.
II knew your reputation - 4 col.
der and . man Of honor" he replied.
II feared that unless this matter was
put to you In the proper light, tact
fslly. m 4 woman can .put II, you woult
have nothing to say to ne"
The governor grunted.
TT was q mistake" he declared sour.
". "The woman II greedy. She will
demand her full share Of the money.
Il u scarcely justics." oG Fi
II am sorry Gerald said. Il acted
~ was advised"
-supposing accede." Krossneys
wsat on. after a short pause. "hew do
yeu propose to get Number Twenty
nine out Of the countryr Ew -.
II was hoping" Gerald admitted.
that you might have bsea able T. help
with om0suggestion-s
The governor stroked hiS beard.
Suggestion" he muttersd, ARE
worth money"
Gerald acquiesced.
Il have not command ef much more
than the amount spoke e." As said.
hut II you can show me how to gst
our friend safely out Of the country,
I will add Z thousand pounds 10 yeuf
SHARE" :,
(which sum-" the governor Unlisted
quickly. "will not be msntionsd to Elsa
9fancks and will belong to me alone. !"
Agreed" Gerald acquiesceA.
"show me your papers," the sov-
-srnor demanded. e
SGsrald produced them without hssi-
tation-his passport. an urEsnt letter
Il accommodation by the one states
man who was in good odor In both
countries. bankers drafts. which need
I'd only his signature to produce a
nsver-endlng flow Of cash. The gov
ernor's eyes glittered a. he turned
them over In his hand. It was horri-
6Ia that a share of these treasures
must 60 to the womanl She was well
enough under his thumb, the slave Of
his command, but with money in her
pocket-they were neither Of them in
their first youth. but, SO far a. looks
went, in his eyes she still had charm
If she were Independent Of him. all
sorts Of things might happen. He
threw down the documents with little
oath. The passport, however, he kept
in his hand. His manner, as he looked
at Gerald, changed. He became almost
servlle.
"You, too, are an arfstocrat, then, T"
he remarked.
II am Of the English aristoeracy,"
Gerald admitted. -"I have another
passport in my pocket, which proclaims
me an American citizen"
The governor nodded. He pushed q
box Of black cigars across to his Wis
itor. The latter. contented himself,
however, with accepting a cigarette.
Then he touched a bell. The attend
ant brought In beer, which was poured
into two glasses. As soon a. they were
alone, Krossneys motioned Gerald to
draw his chair close to the desk.
"Now here is my scheme" he said.
Number Twenty-nine is Of your height
and build. You shall see him for your
self and Judge. Number One Hundred