Part 26 (1/2)

”Oh, quit!”

”Well, you'll know better before _your_ time's up, me virtuous sonny”

For several days my assistant fails to appear in the shop on account of illness He has been ”excused” by the doctor, the guard infor heavier for lack of ”Red's”

coratified by his absence His cynical attitude tooonisyrics of boy-love are deeply offensive to ht of the unnatural practice revolts and disgusts me But I find solace in the reflection that ”Red's” insinuations are pure fabrication; no credence is to be given the, could not fall to such depths; he could not be guilty of such unspeakably vicious practices Even the lowest outcast must not be credited with such perversion, such depravity I should really take the matter more cal s are not credible; indeed, I don't believe they are possible And even if they were, no hu would be capable of such iniquity Ito disturb me

CHAPTER XI

THE ROUTE SUB ROSA

March 4, 1893

GIRL AND TWIN:

I ah as a witness in the trial of Nold and Bauer I had hoped for an opportunity--you understand, friends It was a slender thread, but I clung to it desperately, prepared to stake everything on it It proved a broken stra I am back, and I may never leave this place alive

I was bitterly disappointed not to find you in the courtrooht of your faces But you were not there, nor any one else of our New York cole to exist Otherwise perhaps so could be done to establish friendly relations between Rakhmetov and Mr Gebop[34] It would require an outlay beyond the resources of our own circle; others cannot be approached in thisremains but the ”inside” developments,--a terribly slow process

This is all the hope I can hold out to you, dear friends You will think it quite negligible; yet it is the sole ray that has again and again kindled life in moments of utmost darkness I did not realize the physical effects of my stay here (it is five months now) tillon the outside galvanized me for the nonce My head hirl; I could not collect _! The click of the steel, as I was handcuffed to the Deputy, struck my death-knell The unaccustomed noise of the streets, the people and loud voices in the courtroom, the scenes of the trial, all absorbed me in the moment It seemed to me as if I were a spectator, interested, but personally unconcerned, in the surroundings; and these, too, were far away, of a strange world in which I had no part

Only when I found nificance of the lost occasion was borne in uponforce

But why sadden you? There is perhaps a cheerier side, now that Nold and Bauer are here I have not seen them yet, but their very presence, the circumstance that somewhere within these walls there are _coht holds a deep satisfaction for s me closer, in a measure, to the environment of political prisoners in Europe Whatever the misery and torture of their daily existence, the politicals--even in Siberia--breathe the ate and strength there must be for them in the inspiration radiated by a common cause! Conditions here are entirely different Both inmates and officers are at loss to ”class” me They have never known political prisoners That one should sacrifice or risk his life with no apparent personal motives, is beyond their comprehension, almost beyond their belief It is a desert of sordidness that constantly threatens to engulf one I would gladly exchange places with our comrades in Siberia

The forreat ie, of whom I wrote to you before This dove will be flown by Mr Tiureie I believe they served in the saiment He is a kindly man, who hates his despicable work But there is a family at home, a sick wife--you know the old, weak-kneed tale I had a hint froerous for him to be seen at my cell, and so forth It is all quite true; but what he means is, that a little e the matter Leave no traces

I hear the felt-soled step It's the soldier I bidbackward, _pobeg_; Russian for ”escape”

[35] _Sub rosa_ route

[36] Russian for ”guard”

CHAPTER XII

”ZUCHTHAUSBLUETHEN”

I

A dense fog rises from the broad bosom of the Ohio It ensnares the river banks in its mysterious embrace, veils tree and rock with sory frown Within the House of Death is felt the chilling breath, and all is quiet and silent in the iron cages