Prisoners and Captives
By II. S. MCRRIMAN
CHAPTER XI. (Continued.)
After dinner Fusion at last conde
scended to explanation. Chairs had been
drawn around the Are. While he spoke
the American kept his oven fixed upon the
fire, and at tiiuea moved his limb nerv
ously, after the m miner of one who is
more highly strung than muscular.
"Ocntlemrn," he said In hla peculiar,
alow drawl, and an Immediate silence
followed "gentlemen, asked yon lo
come here tonight for a special purpose,
and not from the warmth of my own
heart. What 1 am going to tell yon can
not he quite new to some, while to others
I surmise that It will ! very new. There
is country on the map called the IVirk
Continent, hut during the hist few years
It has come under my notice that Africa
la as light as the heavenly paths com
pared to another land nearer to this old
country. I mean Siberia. Now. 1 am
not going to talk about SiN-ria, because
there are four men in this room who
know more thfin 1 do. In fact, they know
too much. lWore I go I will ox pl.t in
for a spoil who we all are. Four of us
are Hussians. (If these four, one has n
wife living in the SiNrian mines, con
demned by mistake; a second has a father
living in a convict prison, almost on the
edge of an Arctic sea; a third has been
there himself. These three undertake
what may U culled the desperate p.irt of
our scheme. The fourth Uussian is a
gentleman vho has the doubtful privilege
of being allowed to live in Petersburg.
Ills task is difficult and dangerous, but
not d.perate. Two of us are F.nglish
tnen ; one has given up the ease and lux
ury of the life of a moneyed Hrltlsh
sportsman has, in fact, become a sailor
for the deliberate purpose of placing his
skill at our disposal. In addition to that
he has opened his purse in a thoughtless
and generous way. Why he has done
these things I cannot say. In Mr. Tyars'
position I certainly should not have done
so myself. His is the only name I men
tion, lecause I have seen the portraits
of him in the illustrated paiKrs, and
there is no disguising who he is. The
rest of us have names entirely unknown,
or known only to the wrone people. Some
of the Russian names, besides possessing
this unfortunate notoriety, are quite be
yond my powers to pronounce. The sec
ond Englishman Is a naval officer, who,
baring shared considerable danger with
Mr. Tyars on one occasion, may or may
not think fit to throw in his lot with
him again. Ilia decision, while being a
matter of great Interest to us, lies en
tirely in his own hands. He is as free
when he leaves this room as when we en
tered it. Lastly cornea myself "
The little face was very wistful, while
the thin lips moved and changed inces
santly from gayety to a great gravity.
The man's hollow cheeks were singularly
flushed in a patchy, unnatural way.
"I," he continued, with a little laugh.
" well, I'm afraid I stay at home. I
have here a doctor's certificate showing
that I would be utterly useless in any
but a temperate climate. I am con
sumptive." lie produced a paper from his pocket
and held it in his hand upon his knee,
not daring to offer it to any one in par
ticular. There was a painful silence.
No one reached out his hand for the cer
tificate, and no one seemed to be able to
think of something to say. At last the
tout gentleman roue from his chair with
a grunt.
"I, too. stay at home, gentlemen," he
said, breathlessly, "and I have no eertiS
rate." He crossed the hearth rug, and, taking
the paper from Easton's hand, he delib
erately threw it into the fire.
-"There," he grunted, "the mischief take
your certificate."
Then he sat down again, adjusting his
large waistcoat, which had become some
what rucked up, and attempted to smooth
his crumpled shirt, while the paper burn
ed slowly on the glowing coals.
"I only wished," said Easton, after a
pause, "to explain why I stay at home.
It is no good sending second-rate men
out to work like this."
He paused and looked around. There
was something critical in tne atmosphere
of the room, and all the seven men as
sembled hoked at one another in turn
Long and searchingly each looked into
the other's face. If Easton had set down
the rule that second-rate men were of no
avail, he had certainly held close to It.
These were, at all events, first-rate men.
Not talkers, but actors ! no blusterer,
but full of courage; determined, ready
and fearless. The slight barrier raised
bv the speaking of a different tongue, th
thinking of different thoughts, seemed to
have crumbled away, and tbey were as
brothers.
"Our plans," said Easton, "are simple.
We fit out a ship to sail In the spring,
ostensibly to attempt the northeast pas
sage to China. Her real object will be
the rescue of a large number of Russian
political exiles and prisoners. The. three
Russians go to Siberia overland. Theirs
Is the most dangerous task of of all, the
largest, the most important. The fourth
remains in Petersburg, to keep up com
munication, to forward money, food, dis
guises and arms. Mr. Tyars takes com
mand of the steamer, which is now almost
ready for sea, and forces bis way through
the Ice, God willing, to the Yana river.
Easton stopped speaking. As he re
turned to his seat, he glanced Inquiringly
toward Oswin Grace, whose eyes bad fol
lowed bim.
"Of course, gentlemen,"" said Grace,
glancing comprehensively around the
group, "I go with Mr. Tyars."
Thanks," muttered Claud Tyars,
shortly.
CHAPTER XII.
: It was almost a month later that Mat
thew Mark Easton stepped fairly Into
k Mrcla of which Miss Winter was to
a certain extent the leading spirit. This
lady had been five minutes In the bril
liantly lighted rooms of a huge picture
allery before she singled out the little
American. He happened to be talking to
another Insignificant, unobtrusive man,
who tugged nervously at a gray mustache,
while be listened. This was one of the
ablest envoy ever accredited to the Court
I. u. T.ma. hv the United States.
Miss Winter knew most of the face
la tb room, and among others that of
i hi- American minister. Moreover, she
recollected perfectly tha form aud fea
tures of Matthew Mark Easton.
The occasion was a vast assembly of
the fashionable, diplomatic, artistic and
literary worlds for the collection of
money and Ideas toward the solution of a
soda! rnvhleiu. The tickets were a guinea
each ; there were choice refreshments at
a stated and ruinous prli ; soft carjvls,
an exhibition of pictures, ami the same
of dresses. I believe also that several
g-ntlemen read paers on the subject un
der diciiaion, but that was In the small
room at the end where no one ever went.
Clu.id Tvars was there, of course.
Durirg the last mouth or two he had
been gcing out so much that one almost
ex pooled to meet him, just as one ex
pects to meet certain well known face
nt ov.M-y assembly. Miss Winter saw
him .mmediatelv after noticing Matthew
Mark K.ts'on, and lefore long he b'gan
to make his way across the room owar I
her. Wherever they had met during thj
last few weeks. Tyars had invariably
succeeded in exchanging a few words
with Miss Winter, seeking her out with
equal persistence, whether Helen Grace
were with her or not. If, as the lady
opined, he was determined to be
come one of their Intimate friends,
he displayed no indecent haste, no
undue eagerness; and in so doing
he was perhaps following the surest
meth'xl. He had not hitherto showed the
sliplr.est desire to cross the line which
separates acquaintances from friendship.
There was a mutual attraction existing
between tl.tse two capable, practical peo
ple, who met to-night as they usually ild
with that high-toned nonchalance which
almost amounts to indifference. There
was a vacant seat, for a wonder, beside
M;s Winttr, which Tyars promptly ap-
propria u d.
Who," she asked, after a few conven
tionalities had been exchanged, is thar
gentleman talking to the American min
ister, and apparently making him laugh,
which 's I should say, no easy matter !"
lie it- generally making sone one
laugh," replied Tyars. "His name is
Eastoii Matthew Mark Easton. The
sort of name that sticks in the wheel-
work of one's memory. A name one dm-s
not forgvt."
Ami." added Miss Winter, lightly, 'a
face that one does not forget, lie it! tor
ests nie n little.
Tvars laughed at the qualification im
plied by the addition of the last two
words.
"That is always something," he said.
A small mercy. He is one of my great
est friends may I introduce him?"
"Certainly," murmured the lady, with
a little bow ot tne ueaa. ana men sue
changed the subject at once.
Ileien," she said, "Is not here to
night."
Tyars looked befittingly disappointed.
"She does not Always care to leave the
admiral, and be objects to dissipation on
a large scale. Is that not so?" be sug
gested.
"Yes. That is the case to-night.
Hie wondered a little at his intimate
knowledge of Helen's thoughts, but said
nothing. It was probable that he beard
this from Oswin, and bis singular mem
ory had retained it.
"Miss Grace, said Tyars, presently,
"has a strong sense of duty, and is un
conscious of it. An unconscious sense of
duty is one of the best of human mo
tives. At least it seems so to me."
Alibough Agnes Winter was bowing
and smiling to an old lady near at hand,
she had followed him perfectly.
"Well," she answered, "a sense of duty
of any description is not a bad thing
in thes." time. Indeed," she added, turn
ing suddenly toward him, "a motive is
in iiself rather rare. Not many of us
have motives."
Her manner Implied as plainly as if
she '.iad spoken It : "We are not, all of us,
like yeu."
There was something In the expression
of his eyes that recalled suddenly their
first meeting at the precise moment when
he, entering the drawing room, overheard
a remark of hers respecting himself. It
was not an unpleasant expression, but It
led one to feel instinctively that this man
might under some circumstances be what
U tersely called in France, difficult. It
was merely a suggestion, cloaked beneath
his high-class repose of manner, but she
had known many men of his class, some
of whom had made a name In their sev-
ercl callings, and this same suggestion
of stubbornness had come beneath her
oi:ir-k, fleeting notice before, lie looked
gravely around tne room, as il seeking to
penetrate the smiles and vapid atlecta
tion.
"Oh," he said placidly, I am not so
sure, mere are a goou many peopie wno
orlde themselves opon steering a clear
course. The prevailing motive to-night
is perhaps a desire to prove a superiority
over one's neighbors, but It is still a mo
tive."
Miss Winter looked at him critically,
"Remember," she said, warnlngly, "that
this Is my element. The motives of all
these people are my motives their pleas
ures my pleasures their life, my life."
"Apparently so," he replied, amoigu
ously.
"So that," she pursued, "I am Indicted
of the crime of endeavoring to prove my
superiority over my neighbors."
He laughed In an abrupt way.
"No more than myself."
"That Is a mere prevarication," she
persisted, gayly. "Tell me, please, in
what particular this coveted superiority
lies."
"In a desire to appear more aimless
than you are." be retorted, gravely.
"I deny that. I plead not guilty," she
si. Id. "I am a person of many motives,
but the many receive tbelr life from one
source. That one source Is an earnest
endeavor to please myself In all things,
to crowd as much pleasure and as .much
escltement Into a lifetime as it will hold."
"Then," he said, after a pause, "you
are only one of the crowd after all.1
"That Is all, Mr. Tyars. Did you ever
susDect me of being anything else?
"1 believe I did," be replied, with a
more direct gare than la allowed by the
dictates of polite society.
She returned the gaie with serenity,
"Then please get rid of the idea," she
said, significantly.
There was a short pause, but It was
not the silence of people who have noth
ing more to say to each other. It was to
tense, too restless for that.
"Shall I," Inquired Tyars, rising sud
denly, "go and lind Easton? 1 should
like you (o know hint."
'I shall be most happy," she said, with
une of her gracious little bows. As he
iiiived away she called him back almost
as If she were loath to let him go, as it
there were something still left unsaid
between them.
"Tell me," she said In a ga.vly confi
dent tone, "before you go. what is his
specially. 1 always like to know a st ran
ger's chief characteristic, or. if he has
no characteristics, his particular hobby
whether, I mean, he is a botanist or a
jarhtsman, a fisherman or a politician.
It Is so much more convenient, you un
ilet tan. 1. to know beforehand upon what
topic one must eoitival one's Ignorance."
"Miss Winter," he said, deliberately,
"you have not found out my particular
hobby or my chief characteristic yet."
"Not yet." she admitted.
"I think." he said, 'that Easton has
no hobbles. His specialty Is eloquence,
lie could almost persuade a certain stub
born quadruped to part with his hind
legs. He was destined by the xisltive
department of Providence for an orator,
but the negative department, with its
usual discrimination, gave him a weak
chest, and then-fore he is nothing."
"Thank you." she said. "Now I know
something of him. I have to conceal
beneath wretched smiles the fact that I
know absolutely nothing of American
coi-unrrce. American Hlitics or oratory.
I wonder," she added, as an afterthought,
"whether there Is anything he can per
sun do me into doing V"
"11 might," suggested Tyars, "per
suade ycu into the cultivation of a m
tlve."
Then he turned and left her. Matthew
Mark Easton saw him approaching, and
broke off rather suddenly a waning con
versation with his minister.
"Easton " said Tyars, "come here. I
want to Introduce you to Miss Winter."
"Miss Winter," returned the American;
"ominous name. Who . Is she?"
"She Ik a person of considerable 'n-
flnence in the Grace household. 1V you
tinderrtand? It is in Miss Winter's pow
er to dej rive us of Oswin Grace, If she
ares lo exercise that power.
Easton's face expressed somewhat lu
dicrously a passing consternation.
'I Ian those women!" he muttered.
Does she," he inquired, "susieet some-
thtr, ':"
1 think so," was the reply, "and.
nuroovir, she is a clever woman; so
a rem'."
fT enntlnned
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.
Leonardo da Vinci, who palntiM the
very houU of lils subjin-ts, might have
found iniitcrlal for bis brush In tin
trio Heated one lH'ooinler day lt law
yer Norton's otllce "Old Hsin'l I.yle,"
prealdeut of tlie village bnnk. Kturily.
self-tuude, stern; another old man, of
quite different tyin mild, lnude.iunte.
unfortunate; and tlie wife of tlie sec-
ond man, a woman whom? Mndontin like
face and silver liulr seemed to hurbor a
certain radiance.
Old Henry Dawson was settling with
bin creditor people womlerert It tie
could par 50 cents on the dollar. Ev
erybody knew that old Henry w an hard
working and honest, but iwple iTltt-
clzed hi Improvidence, and tlioujrht
they saw lti hl easy bI"K w"J'!t 1,10
explanation of hi son' unfortunate ca
reers.
I5ut no one ever said one word
against "Aunt Milly" Hiiwkoii. a every
body in the church called her. Cheer
ful and ready to help others, no mat
ter what her own troubles were, uti-
selflxh, gentle, a "splendid manager
In her own home in Aunt Mllly no one
saw anything to explain the family
Straits or the misdeed of the Dawson
ooys.
It was generally hoped and U-lieved
In IJruHselvllle that the home, at
least, might be saved from the wreck
for Aunt Mllly, estiecially as the chief
creditor. Old Dnn l I.yle, was a mem
ber of the same church and a lifelong
friend.
And. as a fact, the close-fisted old
bank president had displayed a lenien
cy that left Dick Norton, the lawyer,
familiar with his usual uncompromis
ing "buslnens" attitude, almost na-ech-les
with surprise.
Hut now that the pwirs were signed
and everything finished, a tide of reac
tion set in In the mind of the old man
proud of his own "self-made career
and prone to Judge severely when any
thing resembling Incompetence wa on
trial.
"Well, Henry," he remarked, rising
pompously, "some folks get out of
thing mighty easy. Now I" he
straightened himself "have always
naid dollar for dollar!"
To this little thrust old Henry had
not the iplrlt to reply.
Through the proceeding thus far the
woman had sat silent sometimes re
straining her tear with some difficulty
Hut at this point as Dick Norton told
us afterward "Aunt Mllly flared right
up !"
"Yes, Brother Eyle," she said, rising
alo. and standing erect herself in gen
ti aiirnltv. "everybody knows that
that's so. But, Dan'l," she flied him
with her motherly blue, eyes "I want
to know one thing do you remember
every day to thank Uod that you've
been able to pay dollar for dollar f
There was a pregnant silence. Then
a subdued and humbled Dan'l made re
ply.
"I guess maybe there Is something
to be said on that side, Aunt Mllly,
he said, mildly.
If a ton of coal Is placed on the
ground and left there, and another ton
Is placed under a shed, the latter loses
about 25 per cent of Its heating pow
er, the former about 47 per cent,
iK mmMW
Ufc7xfV i-M'I Nftw b.H'Win ;
- cew- v Y-Ma'' 1
Wllllainssrt ( I'll. ) Grit.
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.
O say. can you see
I.y I tin dawns eari
Wlmt so proiiiliy we tisll'il at Hie twl
light's lust h'leanihik'
Whose l.nm.l utrlpes mid lrlght stats.
lliroiiKli I lie el. mils of the lilu'tit.
At I In- ramports e uslehed rre o gal
lant Iv si i eiimlii !
Atid the r.N-kei s red glare, the tnnlis hurst
In,- lu air.
liave proof thnmk-h the night that our flag
was sllll there ;
U! uv, does lliut star-spangled banner yet
()Vr ,,, (f Uir f,,. tn, bom of
tlie hrave?
l)n that shore dimly seen through tti
ml his
f I tie deep.
Where tlie foe's haughty host In dread si
leni e reposes.
What 1 that which the breeze,
o'er the
lowering steep,
A It rltfiillv blows, now runeeals,
now
discloses?
Now It catches the glesra of the mornings
first twain.
la full glory reflected now shines on tlie
ot renin ;
Tts the star spang led banner; long may
It wave
O'er the land of the fret, and the home tit
the brave !
And where Is that tstnd who so Tauntingly
swore
That tlie havoc ot wsr and the battle s
eonf UMlon
A home and a rwinlry should leave us no
more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul
footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could savo lbs hireling and
lav
Krom the terror of flight, or the gloom or
the gravs ; ....
And the star spangled banner lu triumph
doth wave
O'er the land of the free, sud Hie home of
the brave.
O
I thus lie H ever, when freemen shall
stand
Hot ween their loved homes and the wars
ileMiillltlnll !
mPr with victory anil peine, limy
llie
I lienv 11 l eseueij Ml no
'raise the power that hath iniidfl and
preserved us a list Ion.
Then oornpier we must, when our cause It
Is Just,
Anil this be oor motto "In Old Is our
trust ;"
And the star spangled banner In triumph
shall whvh
O'er the hind of the free, mid the home of
the brave
Francis Kooit Key.
borate
05
Willie Perkins was 8 years old and
Nero was only 4, but wm.-n Nero walked
on all fours he wus nearly as tall as
Willie, and when he lifted his irieat shag
gy uogsiup upon UIS Uinu legs u rouw
... . . , , . -. i i.i
lav hi forepaws on somebody snoui
ders, and that somebody was Willie's
father.
Mr. Perkins called Willie and ero
'the chums," and It wa indeed seldom
that the two were apart, ncept at school
times and meal times, aud when the sand
man had paid Willie a visit; even at
those times they were not far apart.
When Willie weut to swiool Nero trot
ted along by his side, and, liko the good
fellow that he was, when they came to
the door and Willie said, "Now, old boy,
you wait for me right litre In the yard
and be sure not to frighten iwiy of the
children as they come in. Tell mo good
by now and be a good fellow," Nero would
wag his tail very hard, lick the nana mac
had been patting his heal so lovingly all
the time Willie was talking to him, and
then lie down and watch bis master dis
appear through the great door of the
school bouse.
Hy and by Nero wouIJ get tired of ly
ing still and would go for a walk around
the building. The sly fellow! He well
knew that the Janitor's w'fe would have
a little heap of bones bidden off in one
corner of the yard for him, and when
be enjoyed his feast he would look up
to see her watching him from the base
ment door. Then again that great tail
would wag as if he said : "Thank you so
much for those nice, meaty bones." When
winter came on there was a largo box that
ehe janitor's wife aud Willie taught him
BOME LOCAL RESULTS OF CET.I.HRATINQ THE
'''.'7 ;LV-
to go Into when he was isld and wanted
to lie down, mill so his school days wore
not at all dreary ones.
Hut the happiest time for "the chums"
was when illie put his tsioks sway jor
the loiu summer vacation and he and
Nero had the whole day together. Even
when Willie had cut tic kindling It was
Nero who carried it to the house lu a
basket liebl tightly by his sttong teeth.
hile Willie carried a bucketful of coal.
Ity and bv Willie benn to tell Nero
of a groat day that was coming, when all
the bovs would have flrecnckrs and Ito-
man candles and tor'd'Ms, and there
would be Hags Hying and hands playing
and everybody would have s gd time.
Nero always listened to everv word that
his little master said, and now and then
when Willie would give his head an extra
hard pnt by way of emphakls Nero would
hark ami set his tall go.ng h'rder than
ever. lliat tail always wagged when
Nero was pleased. Sometimes Willie's
mother would allow the dog t i conn into
the silting room, but one diy the tall
knocked a handsome vase off of the ta
ble and broke It, ami aftr thai Nero had
to lie down very ipiletly If hi got Into
the house.
Two days Is'fore the Fourth Willie
bought his fireworks; there werw live
packages of firecrackers and live of tor
Ieiloes, four rockets, four Uimii.iu can. lien,
two wheels and a long pic-e of punk.
Nero went with Willie lo the store to buy
them, but he hail to wait ouh ile while
Willie went in, and so as soon as they
reached home Willie opened the package
THEY FORMED IN
and showed Nero everything it lontalned.
"Now, we'll lire oft a few crackers,"
said Willie to Nero, "but we'll have to
save the most of them till tho Fourth,
b'causft us boys are going to have our
crackers an' torpedoes together. Won't
we have a fine time, inarching to the
commons, with our drums Ix'uting and
horns blowing and flags flying ! Hut
there's one trouble about you, Nero, an'
that is, you can't inarch with us, b'cause
the boys decided that nobody ran march
without they have one of our flags, an'
there's Just ten flags an' ten boys, I'm
to give out the flags an' if there was any
boy that was sick you could have his
place, If you could only wave a flog."
Nero dropped his head and ikod very
sad. Willie thought it was because Nero
was so badly disappointed, but perhaps it
was because tho faithful fellow sjiw that
his friend was troubled. As they sat
there, Nero looking so sud and Willie
with his elbows resting on his knees and
his chin buried In lus hands, they heard
some one whistle and, looking up, saw
Tom 10 van coming toward them.
FOURTH.
"Heard the news'" Tom asked.
"No. What Is 111" answered Willie,
forgetting for moment his t-oiible over
Nero.
"Ed IlKhop's K"l" wiib hU folks to
the city for the Fourth, an' you'll have
to liud some one .!. to lake his place in
our prtM-esnhui."
Willie gave Nero a quick look. "lh. I
w U!i you had hainl '."
"Who'll you get?" axk.d I'm, after
waiting a moment for Willi to speak.
"Puni'.o yet; I'll have lo liiink about
It lirst. See here, I've got lots of thing.
Twice iis much us w have lo have."
"I should say you have! Y u're lucky.
All the. other Imij say llo-y had a hard
time to get what they h.nl lo. Ilow'd
you manage It?"
"I earned lh money, getting coal and
kindling." Willie eiplnlncd.
"Well, you ought lo hsve the right to
give out the Hags. We'll all meet her
at 1 sharp," and Tom sauntered on.
When 1 was gone, Willk began to
talk lo Nero again.
"Now, there It is. I have firecrackers
nn' torpedoes enough for yr'i sn' m,
too, an' you helis-d me earn 'm, carry
ing kindling. didu"t you? Oh, why
haven't you some hands lo cany a flag
with :'
Willie was excited now, and up Jump
ed Nero, waving his tail as hard as he
could. Willie looked at him fur a minute
and then turned a double mmiei ..suit, an I
came up shouting, "Hurrah! hurrah! You
shall march with us. I know 1 cau do
it !"
DOI'HLIO OOM'MN.
At lust the Fourth cuuie, nd at 10
o'clock all the boys except Kd were gath
ered in Willie's yard end Willie was talk
lug to them.
"Now, boys," he was saying, ''you left
It to me to put some one lu ICd's place,
an' I have selected some one that you
all know an' like. He has his share of
cracker an' will wave his flng fine. Will
you promise to give him a rousing wel
come when he comes, so'i he won't feel
hurt at being asked to march with us at
the last minute'"
They all promised, and then while they
were asking who it was Willie ran Into
the house. A few moments later ho came
out, and who should come trotting by hla
side but Nero, carrying In his mouth the
handle of a basket that wa filled with
firecrackers and wagging hi tall, to which
was tied a little flag, pole and all I
The boys all gave a great shout when
they saw Nero, and then they formed la
double column and started for tho com
mons, Nero walking by Willie's side, the
proudest dog that ever waved a Fourth ot
Juhy dug.
----S