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> - i . .
THE MYSTE
COUNT I
By FRED \
Copyright, Km, by the American IVes< A?o<'ia
CHAPTER XXXIV.
SEARCHING KOR THE COUNT.
It was a simple enough matter in
reality. These good fellows had tracked
Andre back to onr house. He had entered
by my bedroom window from the
yard, using a ladder, under cover of
the darkness. They had done the same,
climbing in noiselessly in the nick of
time. One of them was wounded in the
arm. the only successful shot of the
four.
As for Andre, he raved and blasphemed.
strtiggling like a maniac. I
was obliged to assist the police in securing
him. and in the scnfiie he aimed
several vicions kicks and blows at me,
together with much vile lauguage. I
carry the marks <>f one of his "hacks"
r to this day. However, he was rang lit.
and I may say in this place, for we
have now finished, personally, with the
consummate scoundrel, that this time
the police did not blunder, hut sent
him away to places from which there
is no retnrn. 1 believe he is now at
Sakhalin or thereabout.
Early the following morning I received
a message from the chancellery
of the gradciiachalnik. which is the
official title of the chief of police. The
messenger requested that I would convey
myself as quickly as possible to the
head office.
I went, this time without much
anxiety of heart, for I knew well
enough that even without the fulfillment
of his farcical condition of identification
by scar, the chief would now
no longer withhold his consent to fa*
* * - 4-1- 1.4 tl,A
Tllfr S release. mr, IJ? 11"** linn mr
student's talc verified. 110 sane man,
gradotiaclmlnik or commoner. could
any lunger pretend to disbelieve in the
blunder which had been committed.
I was not therefore prepared fur another
check: yet. so closely had fate
woven the net around mv poor father's
* ' liberty I was destined to experience a
new disappointment.
The chief received me very civilly
and began by congratulating me upon
Andre's capture and thanking me for
my share in effecting it. 1 had had a
narrow escape, he said : the delinquent
had fired point blank at me?was it not
so?
"Certainly, excellence." I said, "and
kicked me very violently on the shins
besides. Not quite the line of conduct
one would expt ct a father to pursue toward
an obedient and dutiful sou."
The chief grinned slightly.
"I concede the point." he paid.
"There has been a mistake, though,
owing to the circumstances, a pardonable
one. Yon shall have your father
back, tniless destiny should have been
too strong for us?an event I should
deeply deplore."
"What do you mean, excellenceV" I
said. my heart sinking to my boots,
"have yon news?had news?"
"Head this." said the chief, handing
me a telegram from I forget what remote
place in Siberia. "All may be
well with him, but there is some doubt,
as you will see."
I snatched the telegram and read
these words: "Convict Kornilof never
reached here; reported detained Spask;
severe illness; probably died since; no
later advice received."
My head swam, my legs seemed to
collapse: I sank into a chair. Was this
to be the end of all our labor and sufferings
1 My dear father dead in the very
hour of our victory? Oh. it was too
grimly cruel of destiny. I could not believe
it, I could not!
"Come, come, there is no need to
despair." said the chief. "lie is, likely
enough, making a long recovery. They
would not send him forward till he
was strong enough to travel without
risk?the convict guard corps are not
inhuman monsters, as the foreign newspapers
are so ft nd of describing them.
Your father is probably still too weak
to travel, a most fortunate circum
stance, as it happens, for von will now
have hut a few hundreds of miles to
journey, in order to he at liis side, instead
of as many thousands. Come, play
the man. and?if you are wise?take
the first train for Spa.-k. You will
probably find your father there."
"Telegraph first, if you will." 1
said. "1 cannot stand the suspense."
Tie- chief kindly did as I requested.
He sent a message to the little convict
station at Spa.-k, inquiring whether
Kornilof was .-till detaile d there.
1 went for a walk by the Neva's
banks while the message went forward
and until the reply should arrive. I
could not tfo home and talk about it all
with Percy and Hotol'-ky. My heart
was too full. I must !? al< tie?like the
wounded animal, ill this, that prefers
tc t'o and hide itself in older to suffer
UIJ" ibserved.
I tramped the whole h-mtth of the i
embankment twice. ami tln-x- wini have j
seen St. lVtiTnliiiru will know )iu\v far j
that is, before 1 summoned courage t >
call attain at tin- chancellery to bear
what news had arrived at Spask.
I saw the chief in a mist and heard
his voice in a dream.
"I congratulate you." bo said. "I
:ry of
landrinof.
VHISHAW.
tlon.
think it will all he well. Road it tor
yourself."
He did so. The message ran, so far
as 1 fan remember the words: "KorniIcf
left Spask 21st. Reported ill again
Nicclaief."
He was alive, then, a week ago and
able to travel. Thank heaven for that!
To Xit'olaief I should journey as fast as
the next train could carry nie. But
first I must tell mother all that had
happened during the last few days. I
had told her nothing, waiting until I
could impart to her something definite
and hopeful.
Counting up now as I hastened homeward
what I should have to tell her
good and bad and trying to strike a
balance, I found it hard to decide how
she would take it. whether on the whole
for good or ill. Father was practically
free. His enemies were defeated all
down the line. All things shonld be
smiling, if only she could take a hopeful
view of this illness.
My dear mother heard my story with
closed eyes and pale face, holding my
hand as I told her one by one of the
steps by which we had reached success
and of the perils which ve had all
passed through in safety. Then I broke
gently to her the news which had so
dimmed for me the glory of success.
Father had been very ill at Spask for
inanv weeks and was ill again with a
relapse which might he very serions
at Nicolaief. I expected my mother to
burst into tears and bewail the cruel
chance that seemed to (lash happiness
from ns in the very hour of its attainment,
but she did nothiug of the kind.
On the contrary, she embraced me and
bade me godspeed in my journey eastward.
"You have done most wonderfully,
my son." she said, smiling radiantly.
"I thank heaven has been on enr side
throughout. It will still be so. You
will bring father home to me safe and
well. Oh. I know it. I know it, for
sure!"
Mother's pluck and confidence did me
a world of good, and we spoke of plans
and arrangements. Percy should travel
with me to Nicolaief and help nurse father,
if he were still unable to come
home at once. Mother suggested accompanying
n> herself, but this I would not
liear of. She was l'ar too weak and ill.
The suspense and trials of tie past
months had ivdac-d her to a shadow of
her old -elf and her strength to pitiable
weakjie: s.
Lion t.-ky. we agre. d, might now he
paid oil, "and well paid. too." added
mi tlier. for his services emild he measured
by no < rdinary standard.
"Father will know wliaT to say to
him win n !i mines." she said, "and
how t'i praise von. my son. ami dear
Percy?my uwn heart is ton fall to say
what I feel ?ti ll liiiu so, dear, loth
Percy and Uorofsky."
This was tiie iailv moment at which
mother cried a little, and assuredly she
did imt weep imw for any sorrow cr
anxiety.
CHATTER XXXV.
till-: cot'nt kkstokki) to ii1s mom i'.
Armed with the chief's own august
signature, which is the next thing in
Russia to the czar's ukase itself, Percy
and J took the train that night fur
Xiculaief. which is a little convict post
not far from the town of Kostroma.
The railway passes Spask. the place in
which iny father lay sick for the first
three months of his captivity, and I
shuddered as I gazed at the wretched
little huts occupied by the "unfortunate."
as the convicts are called by the
peasantry. How he must have suffered,
unused as he was to roughing it ?ill.
n.Tw.lv ai^tn.?i.d 'ilmnst hi'Mrthrnken
probably by the utterly undeserved ami
mysterious turn of fortune which hu/ii mulls 11h'isi
train t.i j>r?<< i 1" chain* <1 c?>nvirts
\v< if li;?ii 1>*? 1 cut t>f tip- wretched
cattle irnck iir<>vi.1i'ide,
the admiral decided to,go into port.
Outgoing steamers which met the
J ly m pi a gave the news of her arrival
>y the firing of salutes and the blowing
jf whistles, and soon the whole water"rout
and the city generally was
stirred with excitement. Quite a
lumber of boats went out to the Olym:iia
as soon as possible, and a number
>f distinguished citizens called on the
idunral. The newspaper reporters
aero, of course, present and they have
vrilten hundreds of columns of what
ivas said and done. The following
nterview published in the New York
Evening I'ost of Tuesday is interesting.
"They are a splendid lot," the adnirul
said, s|?eaking of his men. "The
,ery pick, the finest in our navy, and
hat means the best in the world. Heore
I got to .Manila the archbishop,
villi whom I afterwards became very
utiniate, said that the American sail>rs
were the scum of the earth, n
iluodibirsty lot of cutthroats, who
voiibl destroy everything in their path.
"Later oil, when I did get there,''
said the admiral, with a knowing
anile, "tile archbishop came on board
iin* day while I had a battalion ai
Irill, the very same battalion that will
tarade in New York. The archbishop
vent on the bridge and watched them
losely. I knew he was admiring
hem, and I said to him : 'Well what
lo you think of our American sailors?"
"They are splendid,'he said, 'I have
inn men 01 niosi uavii-.-, i-m nC?-.
-r anything iike tlie.se. They are 111:1^
lilieeiit. I cannot understand it?such
plendid young fellows. How does it
lappen '?'
" Well.' I replied, we look lor the
test men, we come closer to our men ;
,ve treat them better than other connries
do, and we pay them better.'
"Then I called a man and said to
iim: 'How much do you got a
nonth ?' He saluted, and said, 'Highly
lollars, sir. The archbishop was as
onished. Volt know $80 would pay
i whole ship load of Spaniards. After
hat the archbishop had a very great
espect for us, and became very friend
y. Here I have a picture of General
..una, which was given to me by the
irehbishop."
The admiral then sent an orderly
or the picture of the Filipino general,
vliu "was murdered by order of Aguilaldo,"
as he said. The picture was
hat of a Negro in it sort of military
luilhrm. On the back was an inscripnui
in Spanish to the archbishop ol
Manila, Father Ib-rnarddino Nasalado.
t was signed by Luna.
Admiral Howey then said that Luna
\ as the best man the Filipinos had.
It was a plot," he said, "to assassinate
him. A crack swordsman was
laced as sentry, and when Luna ap eared
he simply stabbed him. Km
hose fellows all." the admiral said,
are a .picer bit. They are simply
iervauts and stable men, and Agninallo
was a junior clerk in the navy
raid. He is a pretty smart fellow. Ii
enow 11iin pretty well. In fact, we
a ere great friends, and are, for the
natter of fact, but In- lias not the
trains. There are people behind him.
nine of them lawyers and able felows.
who make a tool ol Agtlinahlo.
Here, by the way, is a cane whi-h he
resented to nie," and the admiral
rodiieed a thick, black cane carved,
1 - > i- ' I I I I
miii rcsi'inmiiit: in>o
ban anything else.
"I llioiiiihtsaid tin1 admiral, "thai
Ids thin:: in tin* Philippines would lie
iver lony before this, :i> it should have
leeii. 1 ean't imagine how they have
hood out until now. 'it course, there
,vas the rainy season, and I suppose
ittle was done. ( hie ureal irollhle out
here has heen that m iuifl thov h?ve heen in such I
contact with us as to learn that we t
mean to treat them well, where they I
have seen that we mean what we say,
there is no trouble. They stand by us '
all the time. All of them will learn
this in time. They will get from un- t
der the influence of Aguinaldo, or rath- 1
er those people who are behind Aguinaldo,
who, as I said before, is a mere t
tool, (
' J)o you think the Filipinos are fit 1
for self-government ?" i
' Well, no, not just now. They s
probably will be in a little time. They i
are queer people?a very queer mix- I
lure. Many of them arc quite civilized t
and good people; hut 1 do not think |
they are lit for self-government just t
yet. Hut when I say that I must add
at the same time that in my candid t
opinion that they are more ntieu iur n .
than the Cubans, that they are better i
people than the Cubans in every way. c
"I do wish, however, that the whole t
business was settled, and I think that
after a little the Filipinos will take \
kindly to us." f
It was suggested to the admiral that \
the Democratic slate had been settled f
with Admiral Dewey for the presi- t
dency and General Wheeler for the j
vice presidency. I
"Well," said the admiral, "we should 1
make a pretty mess of it. General 1
Wheeler, of course, has had some train- f
iug in the political school; but then he <1
is a West Pointer. I had forgotten !
that. He would want to run everything
as he would a regiment, and, of
course, would make a splendid mess ol t
it. Yon cannot run a government as a
you would a regiment." e
"Well, admiral," suggested the re- f
porter, "it would not he such a change C
from the ship Glympia to the ship of li
stale." v
"Yes," said the admiral, "it would a
be a very great change. I am not a r
politician. I am a sailor; my train- t
ing has been all that way. I am at a
home on board my ship. I know my i
business, or, at least, should know it, Ijt
and I do not want to uiix up iu the at* l
lairs of government. I am perfectly {
satisfied to live and die as a simple a
.-uilor, who tried to do his duty. I am a
not a politician. I cannot make a n
speech even. I wish I could, but I N
have to be content with my lot." '1
Some one said just then to the ad- h
iniral that his son was reported to have r
made a statement to the ell vet that his c
father was a dyed-in-the-wool Itepub (
lican. a
The admiral laughed outright, and,
turning around, pointed to a piece of o
wood lying on the deck some yards u
away, at the same time saying : u3Iy s
son knows as much about what my a
politics are as that piece of stick." '1
The admiral would not say a word h
about the alleged interference of the c
(un man admiral, Piedrichs, at Manila, a
I,IKK ON I'll Kill! Y MOUNTAIN, s
IIKICK TilK MOONSHINKK KKIGXS SUI'ltEME.
u
r
History of Aino* Owens, the Inventor of
Cherry IJounce?Corncraeker Tell* of ^
Ills Iteeent Vi*it to Vork County. ,
Correspondence 01 me lonvme Luquuci,
ClIKKKY Moi'NTAIX, X. C., SeptelU *
her 25.?With slight trepidation, I 11
herewith submit some matter for the *'
eolutnns of TltK EmjI'IUKU. In the *
tirst plaee, the tar heel is not erudite 11
like the native to the manner horn
of tlie Palmetto state, and besides uiy 11
early training was in the martial coin- 11
monwealth of old Kentucky.
Later in life, I resolved, instead of 11
taking the advice of Greely, to go
south. As my lot was cast in Ken- v
lucky where the game laws allowed "
you to ki^l anything hut a ''hoss," I v
naturally sought congenial associates.
I therefore drifted to Cherry .Mountain,
celebrated in song and story as c
the theater of war and moonshine
whisky. The saying goes here that S
corn enough must he raised to make s
whisky, and the surplus, if any, can h
lie turned into bread. While bread is ti
the stall of life, whi?kv is here regard- o
ed as life itself. Cherry Mountain is a w
spur ol the Great Smoky range, and is t'i
feet above the level of old ocean, a
Here ruins Amos Owens, the might- "
iest hlockadcr that ever reigned, ruse si
ur fell. Over SO years ago lie first f<
saw the light near where his present p
castle towers o'er the bristling heights t!
of Cherry Mountain. Here at an early o
age he performed the miracle, not of o
turning water into wine ; hut of eon- w
verting corn and water into whisky, t<
and later, invented the decoction li
known to profane history as Cherry ft
ISutiucc. a
(>n this fauied eminence grows in c
: ' ' lilni-L- . 1 t-l I-IIITI-V. ! li
lilS'jc.M u; in ? g
liic tree attainim; a diameter of nearly o
three feel. In early .June this link V
ripens ami lor ilelicioiis llavor ami si/" e
ii stands without a rival. Here, in li
I'herry season, eoine the sail-eyed ami h
tliirsty pilgrims from many climes, os- s;
leiisihly to revel in inoiiiitaiu air ami u
seeiiery : hut in reality to drink hounee. ri
This drink is a compound of corn si
whisky and cherry juice, ami it ti
"out venoms all the venoms of the ('
Nile. \\ Ikj.-o laKetn sundry )>otaioiis
thereof runneth amuck, anil pro laimeth
himself a hold, had man, from
he head waters of Hitter creek. His
atpretnaey is then challenged by si.nic
>ther bibulous visitor, and the hitherto
lassie and celebrated Donny I'rook
tas long been out classed.
During these carnivals of blood,
hvens stuudeth tranquilly by and
augheth with ungodly glee.
Anent this remarkable man, be enisled
us a Confederate soldier when
he first desolating boom was heard at
'ort Sumter, and till the stars and
jars trailed in the dust, he followed
he varying fortunes of his beloved
)an ner.
On going home, he found Cherry
Mountain had not escaped the ravages
>f war. He went to making whisky,
vliich, while standard proof, was not
>y any means tax-paid.
AI)out. this time the south was in
he toils of re-construction, and the
haotic state of affairs developed the
cuklux klau. Into this went the inrepid
old soldier, and many a redstring
and lawness Negro felt the rod
>f Amos Owens, the avenger. At
ength, he was captured, hut neither
(treats nor bribes could make him
trove recreant to the oath he had
aken. He was taken to Sing Sing,
S'ew York, and for IS months he trod
he wine press. He went into the
;looruy recesses of that institution an
inreconstructed rebel, and he came
>ut a son of Ishmael, as far as the government
was concerned.
Cherry Mountain became a place
vhere the still worm dieth not and the
ire is not quenched, and Uncle Sam
I'itK ?11 liie mSnifine liufniliwl va.
brm Amos. He has served three
erms in the penitentiary, has been in
ail often, and paid fines innumerable.
3ut on being released, he goes to doing
nisiness at the old stand. I stay with
lim, and if any son of South Carolina
eels like coming up, the celebrated
lialogue between the governor ot
s'orth Carolina and the governor of
jouth Carolina will be in order.
Nearly too weeks since, I concluded
o visit the pleasant town of Yorkville
,?d adjacent vicinity. I mounted an
ruptive broncho, got my shot gun and
iddle, and pulled for Will and John
Gordon's pleasant and hospitable
mine. I am not an adept on the
iolin, but am able to furnish good
mateur music on a shot gun. I arived
ship-shape and the boys took me
o the chaiugaug first thing. Rather
. peculiar way to treat a guest of an
nquiriug turn of mind ; but their obi-ct
was to show me some of the svsems
of road-making and road imirovement.
I found Mr. H. ('. Culp
nd Mr. Clarence Meudeuhall using
par. of the coDvict force in macadanizing
six miles of highway from
forkville in the direction of Charlotte,
'hev had a steam crusher capable of
leaking up several hundred tons of
oek a day, and a roller. Some 35
onvicts are on the force, and Messrs.
'nip and Mendeuhall seem to he
dapted to their job.
What pleased ine was the enterprise
f the people. In order to get and
lilize the convict force, these people
ubscribed money, furnished wagons
ud teams, and helped do the work,
'he day I was present, 110 four-hotse
:>ads of stone were delivered at the
rusher, and more, perhaps, hauled
way.
"Those who would be free, them*
elves must strike the blow," is the
tile that applies in any enterprise,
ml I frequently wish we had such
oads in our section.
Friday night witnessed a social gathring
at the home of Gordon Bros.
Unong the ladies present, were Misses
Cute Hobhs, Nannie and Maggie Bariett,
Rosie and Nannie Youtigblood,
! ' * ...?l Mrc
liiuij;, i iwn iitc vuuj uu.?
L I). Dorsett. Everything was aire,
ml nil seemed tu enjoy the occasion.
Next morning, Mr. W. S. Gordon
ml I took in Yorkville. We met the
ien of prominence or at least many of
hem, ami I was favorably impressed
t the refinement, air of busiuess and
eneral prosperity, that seems to perade
this ideal southern city. Gentlelen,
my regards ; and as Amos Owens
i'ould say : "Here's looking at ye."
COHXCUACKKR.
li.-irlt'xton's Neijro Mill.
Charleston correspondence Columbia
tale : The rumor in circulation in the
tale that the Vesta mills of this city
us not met with success, and is about
> be removed to Spartanburg is withut
foundation. Captain Montgomery,
/ho is in the city looking after the af*
nrs of the mill, was seen and asked
bout the truthfulness of the report.
There is not a word of truth in it."
lid lie, "and there is absolutely no
xindation lor such a report. I am
erfectly satisfied with the success of
he tili 11 >o far. More looms are being
pernted every day and a better grade
I cloth is being manufactured tlian
/hen the mill was put in opt ration ati?r
the uew company was organized.
timiiiiiVC a mill is not like running a
inn; the hands have to he trained
ud to do this it takes sometime. We
II it't take Negroes out of the streets,
lit them at looms and expect them to
penile it the lirst day or lirst week,
i'orking in a cotton mill is veiy dill'ernt
Irom working in cotton or rice
elds or on a truck farm. The help
as to go through a regular course of
istcmatic training. We are getting
cw labor every day and everything is
inning along harmoniously and in a
fstematic manner. The Vesta folia
mills will never be moved out of
harleston."