“PROMISE OF DAWN."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16583, 16 November 1921, Page 11

“PROMISE OF DAWN."

OUR SERIAL,

By

E. R. PUNSHON

(Author o? " 'The Crown lug Gloir," " Tht Woman's Footprint." ’"The Solitary House.” ©to., etc.) CHAPTER XVll.—Continued. ” All that devil Trophim, 5 ’ be van muttering “ long live the Revolution that devil Trouhim will ruin us all. . little mother, dear little dove, forgive me for tho dear Lord’s sako,” “ Lot me to, let us *it down, then,” she answered ; but ti two he would not do. muttering something about “ that devil Trophim, ’’ and urging her to dance more quickly so as to escape his notice. In tho. night outside Michael turned to his companions. ‘Not a. bad shot,” be said with an air of satisfaction, nnd led the way to the< sido doo-r they knew of. one that admitted to a passage leading direct to the ball-room. It had been made originally for the convenience of dancers desiring a. stroll in the gardens and a breath of frcali air, and. fortunately, the door was not fastened- They opened it and entered ami were hurrying up the pa«»ase when little Soslia. crawled out from under a couch beneath which he had been hiding. ‘' Michael Ivanovich, Undo Leonid,” he <alleri. or they would hardly have noticed him, sn fiefoelv intent were they on their errand 4 Sasha!” Michael exclaimed. Lconid paused and looked at the child thoughtfully, as though trying to remember him. “ Oh, yes, Sasha,” ho said, “I know, my brother’s ''boy, . yeaye?. . . they have not. murdered you then, Sasha.” “No. uncle,” answered Sasha., “T bid myself. Sybil Mikhailovna told me to. Sh© said they would not hurt her because she taught lessons to the peasant children. Won’t you please get grandfather and the others out of the cellar nowP ” CHAPTER XVIII. “What cellar, Sasha?” Leonid asked, still with his absent air as of ono not able fully to grasp tho significance of his surroundings. Michael made a gesture of anger and impatience, for he wished only to make his way to the ball-room, there to iescue Sybil, and he understood dimly that to listen to what the child was saying meant a further delay. “ That’s their affair, if they’re in the collars,’ he said irritably, and, hurrying on, was almost on tho point of bursting into the ball-room, when Mr Uskov called! him back. •'No, no,” ho fried, ‘‘wait, bo careful, or we may lose our chance, wo must rescue the others first, they can help us, we must not leave them there.” Michael sighed heavily like a man \ who sees a moment long anticipated j subjected to still further delay, and then turned back. ‘‘Well, now then, a cellar, that’s so absurd,” lie said argumentatively, “ what should *hey be doing in a cellar? . while in there. Ho pointed to the door of tho ballroom. “ AVe’ro wanled there. „ . ” he muttered. “ Very true.” observed Leonid smiling gravely, “that's very true,’*. I saw my litla mother. . ” He paused, still smiling, and looked at. hisi two companions. ‘‘Only listen to me.” Mr Uskov ini- j plored in si hurried. eager voice, r *■ Sasha says Ins grandfather, Boris j Ticker, and Prince Greigh, have all j beer locked; up by these people in one J of the cellars. If wo release them | they will double our strength, - and we | want all the help we can to rescue the ! women. Besides if wo make our attack now, and get the women away, wo shall have to escape at once, and leave my brother and tho others.” ‘‘ Yes, that’s right,” agreed Micliae 1 angrily, “ J know that, you’re wasting time talking so much. \\o must be quick.” “ It’s just as you wish,” observed Leonid with his amiable sirule and in his most 4, ’polite manner. ■ 1 F or my part I will agree to anything.” ‘ Clan you show us which cellar it is, Sasha? ” Michael asked the little hoy. The child nodded, and taking Mich 1 nel’s hand, led the way to the great I entrance hall, and as he went he be- j gan to cry softly. “ ] was frightened,” lie said i *• when I hid under the *ofa. If i j were big i should bo as brave as any- i cne ” » “J. am sure you would, mile one,” ! said Michael kindly. “ When I had my tooth pulled out,” Sasha insisted, “ Sybil Mikhailovna I said 1 was ever so brave. I heard j grandmother scream when—they—came, but Sibil only went white, and when, slio told me to go and hi do uud kissed me, she was cold, just like ice.” Their way as they hurried down the long and winding corridor took them by the little room that had been, used by the Countess as her own special boudoir. It was a small apartment, and it had been fitted up very luxuriously, at considerable expense, only a little before the outbreak of the war. Tbo walls were covered with exquisite tapestry ; tho beautiful furniture and fittings were all of different .shades of rose colour ; the carpet was of ancient Persian manufacture; the books in the inlaid mahogany bookcase wore all bound to match in white lambskin with gold lettering; in an exquisite eighteenth century French cabinet stood an almost priceless collection of Chinese pottery, including some, wonderful specimens of old blye ware, and of Celadon glaze ware that connoisseurs had been known to travel to Russia specially to examine. The door of Ihis lovely and luxurious little apartment was closed as Michael and the others hurried by, but through it came a low moaning sound so piteous and insistent that even Michael, in spite of all his fierce impatience, paused, and Leonid also. “ This was mother's own room,” he said asr though one clear idea had at last penetrated his bewildered mind. Ho pushed tho door open as he I spoke, and revealed such a scenq of j foolish, senseless wreck and destiuclion as might well have stood for a symbol of the condition of Russia herself. Half the tapestry had been torn ! from, the walls, and tho rest had been J out, tho dainty, exquisite furniture was ! overturned and smashed, the books in | their lovely white binding had been j flung about aud kicked and trampled on. and the priceless collect ion of j Chinese pottery had been smashed as a I naughty child in a temper smashes its j toys. But it was not this seen© of j senseless ruin at which tho newcomers looked, but at, the more dreadful spec- j taelc of a man hung by his l'eet from j a hook in the ceiling, as a carcase is j hung u-' for sale in a butcher’s shop.' • “It s Meyer, Karl Meyer,” Mr L's- j kov cried from behind. I “ This is mother’s room , why should j they have done that in mother's own j room?” Leonid asked in a complain- | ing, injured tone. Little Sasha began to cry again ; | Michael stepped forward and cut the rope by which the wretched man was suspended, and lowered him gently to

the ground But it was too late; bl<gvs was trickling from his mouth «*»<* nostrils, and he had besides wounds about the head and body, Michael had scarcely lowered him to the ground when a long shiver passed through his which then Jay very still. Michael, who had knelt down beside him, rose to his feet. Come on 3 ” -he said. "wo can do no j good hero, and there’s no time to ! lose.” ! ‘‘You f©e f ” Mr Uskov remarked as j they hurried on, “ poor Karl Karlovich ! was faithful to *qs or they would not j j have treated him so.” “ Perhaps,” answered Michael, /' hut these madmen would murder their own friends aa readily as anyone else, I think.” “ Michael Ivanovich,” whispered Sasha, “will they do that to us?” ” No, old follow,” answered Michael^ “ wc won’t let them* will we?” ! “Michael Ivanovich.” said Sasha again, “why is all this happening?” “God knows/’ answered Michael bitterly. “It is all nothing hut wrong and foolishness, Sasha, just as when you have a naughty fit and break things in a temper only. 21011 see, we are^ grown up, and so it’s worse With “ "When I am grown up. ” declared Sasha, “ I will never lose my temper. Michael Ivanovich, why hasn’t papa com© with unci© Leonid? Have they killed him, too?” Michael did not answer, for he did not know what to say to the little follow, who sometimes spoke like the child he was, and sometimes like an old man weary with tho heavy experience of a Iona: life. They cam©, into the hall, cut of which ran n. passage where- was an entrance to tho cellars. The hall was empty, though it bore plain traces of the devastating Btorm that had ragatf through the house, and. as they hurried across it Mrs Brown, the gaunt, elderly wife of the Newcastle electrician, appeared. “ Oh, you're come, Mr Welton, and Leonid, too,” she said as though their appearance avm Hie most, ordinary thing in the world, and without a trace of flurry or excitement m her manner. “A nice mess they’ve made of things here, and they’ve locked up your pa, Mr Leonid, aneji the others in one of the cellars. There were four ; set to guard them, bnit I gave them some of my own cberVy brandy l had filled up with laudanum, rue having plenty through being a martyr to tpothache and spoiling good stuff as well, for better cherry brandy I never made, and now they’re all dead asleep and you're naught to do but break down the door. I thought to find the key on one of tho guards, but I couldn’t, and so I was coming up for an axe, and if you’ll give me the little master, Mr Welton*, sir, yofi can sec to it at'once.” Michael quickly handed her the child, and with, .his two companions hurried down the cellar steps. The four guards Mrs Brown had spoken of were all quite unconscious. Using the iron i bars Michael had secured, lie and ] Leonid started* a violent attack on tho j cellar r door. j Soon ‘it began to give way though it was of stout construction enough, and in a. few minutes it was broken down, and the captives were free— Count Uskov, Boris Vicker, Prince Greigh,-and grilled old Georg© Brown, at whotu, When ...they -ail returned to the hall above,,. his wife looked . with sonic severity. “ Weil, George Brown,” she said, “ l never looked to see the day when you would let yourself be shut up in a cellar , by a parcel of gibbering foreigners.” “ One chap ■by hissel’ can t do much against such a raort 6’ men,” answered ] her husband mikllv. “ All right tout- i [self, lass?” : “ There -was of ’em as tried to! cut a op per with nifj/J she answered | grimly, “hut when T took the poker jto him h© oG and'-runned. You gcntle- • i) 1 cuvh'9d.'.'hotter• rto- tnn «. tliohghr; ’ ’ | fthe added to Michael and the others, “ for there’s no telling what this lot won’t be doing to the ladies, poor things, now they’ve got to the drink.” Fortunately none of the captives had received any injury wore© than a bruise or .two, and as the four men left to guard the cellar had each a rifle bay oho fc and a fair supply of ammunition, the little fescue party Was now comparatively well armed. I lie himself* his brother, Peter Uskov, Boris and Princq Greigh, each took one of the rifles with fixed bayonet. Michael and Leonid each ; had one largie.atld on©: small automatic j pistol, and. in- addition Leonid had his j iron bar, and MiyhaeT his loaded riding I whip. Brovdft; who professed total ; ignorance- of all frfleafms, and wished I he had cofitented hifnj self with the sqeqnd iron bar, and with an ugly looking knife he had picked up. It was therefore a formidable little ! group oir desperate 3nen who stood toI getlier in the hall. “We must bear in mind/’. said Michael, “ that our solo object is to rescue the women, and if we can accornpli sh -this Without firing a shot-, fco much the better-’.! “ Yes, yes,” said Leonid, “ no 1 floodshod at all. But I must just kill the man who is dancing with little mother.” Michael stamped with impatience. “ Can’t you see what it means, free shooting among all those women?” “ As you will.” said Leonid, still smiling absently, “ but with all these j loaded gun s it seems pity none should j bo let off.” “If the shooting starts,” said the Count, “ the wrong people will fie killed. Half the dancers are my silly peasants. Why should they be shot? No. no! Vengeance must wait.” “There is always a to-morrow,” said Boris. “ Let us do what Michael Ivanovich says, or we shall have lo think out another plan fpr ourselves.” “My suggestion is this,” said Michael, “that we should divide ourselves into four parties. The Count and Mr Uskov, Boris and Leonid, Prince Greigh and Mr Brown, arid for the fourth—myself; and that we should appear simultaneously—at the main front entrance to the ball-room —the door from the corridor—the small service door—and the entrance from tho lower end of the ball-room at the far side. As the Count knows the lions© better than we do it would be best i for him and Mr Uskov to take that. ! Boris and Leonid must fake the main ! entrance; one should enter and bar j escape through the front windows, and the other stand at the door. Prince I Greigh and Mr Brown will be rosponj .sihlo for the door from the corridor: land T will go through the crooked j corridor that lead R from this, aud | enter the ball-room bv tho service door, i In addition we will lay the responsi- ! bility for the safe escape *of the Coim- | toss upon her husband - and brotlicr-iri-llaw; Prince, Greigh with Brown will ' rescue the Princess - ; Vera's safety can ibe trusted to Leonid and Boris. V o must appear simultaneously, and order I all the men to put up their hands. iWc can then lead them into some ! room, lock them in. 'and make our | escape.” j “ There is only one exit from my 1 wife’s boudoir,” said the Count. “Good. We will imprison all the j men there. Our rallying place will , be the corner of the ball-room by the j Bunk statue. They have fastened Miss Grove to it, and I will release her, and wait for vou others to join us there- When wc are all together we

can make our escape through the window, which i a only two or three feet above the ground, and go on to the stable where, just behind it, T have u tarantaas and horses waiting, and where Mrs Brown and Sasha had better go. on ahead to wait for us. Do you all understand? You can find your ! way to tho scubio, Mrs Brown P It is i not a. very dark night. Some of 11» j are sure to join you there, but if things j g° wrong you must do the best you j cun for yourself and the child, and you < must us© your own judgment liow long j to wait for us.” ■ “Very well, sir/* answered Mxa Brown, and with an ill-tempered and pro testa lit air she thrust her lips vibiontlv against her husband’s cheek. What’s to do, lass?” he asked astonished. “’1 is a. kiss, you great gowk.” she snapped, “ happen 111 ebb© we shan’t sen each other again, arid I .won’t say but that you might hare been a- worse man to me.” “ Lb, lass, don’t you fret, you won't get rid of me so easy like as all that,” he retorted. No one appeared to ha ve any criticism to make of the arrangements Michael had suggeslcd, and no ono appeared to notice that Michael bad assigned to Boris the task of resowing Vera, and had reserved to himself aloilo the release of Sybil, and. indeed, H<© had done so quit© naturally and instinctively, and without any conscious thought. Carrying the child with her, Mrs Brown started out through the night tot the appointed rendezvous, and the little party o-f men, headed by Michael, who seemed ns by natural right to have assumed tho leadership, hurried back through the corridors of the vast old house to the hall-room whence still came the sounds of musio and of boisterous revelry. (To be continued.)