Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-06
copyrighted by the Author. lssaAn Rights Reserved
Fer the Gazette.
- N=%AALN w.
PART ".


CHAPTER Iv.-oN THE ROAD TO SIBERIA d.
Fortunately for Dick Chetwynd's mis-
sion, he was no stranger to st. Peters
burg, and he had had some experience of
official life in Russia during both peace
and war. he knew the value OF English
introductIons, and how most effectively
20 uss Russian gold.
Notwithstanding the supposed contin-
ual strain of the diplomatic relation
ships of the two countries, and the ira
ditIonal hostility Of international inter-
ests, Dick Chetwynd had full confidence
in the courteous and friendly reception
which he would receive at headquarters.
From the czar down to the humblest
Russian official, an En- glisbman properly
accredited and backed by travelled expe-
renee and worldly knowledge may rely
upon courteous treatment.
No official is more polite than a Rus
sian under the influence of q strangers
authoritative Endorsement.
It is true that Chetwynd met with
minor Instructions and delays which
easily gave way TO major tips and con-
siderstlons; but in presence of the great
masters Of authority. with his letters
from the English prime minister, the
Russian embassy in London, and other
documentary powers, he found his path
both smooth and pleasant. Indeed it
WIS with some difficulty that he sue
ceeded in proceeding on his journey with
anything like gracious refusal of the
many social invitations he received as
tributes TO his own personal charm of
manner as well as to his remarkable
official introducuons. Moreover, the
fact that as war correspondent he had
chronicled in one of the leading English
newspapers the triunphs of the Russian
arms on a great campaign, and had
been honored with the personal recog-
milton of his late majesty after a certain
famous battle, made him q persona
grata in the brilliant Russian capital.
Having discovered that Philip Forsyth
was one of the prisoners en- route for ST.
IBERIA under the command Of Capt. Kara
kazov, aud in ali probability only de-
spatched some few weeks previously from
Moscow, he made rapid dispositions for
prosecuting his journey. IN the mean
time he wrote encouraging letters full OF
good assurance of his own safety to his
wife and of hopeful prospects to Philips
mother.
What surprised Chetwynd more than
anything during his investigations st ST.
Petersburg was the utter and complete
disappearance OF the Countess Straven-
sky.
The assistant minister OF foreign 8f-
fairs, a sIngularly welI-informed and
courteous gentleman, who from being
reticent at the beginning o. their inter-
view, became almost loquacious at its
close, assured him that there was no
doubt about the completely of the
Countess Stravensky in the recent plot.
The police were engaged in unraveling
her career. II was believed that ever
since her remarkable marriage with the
Count Stravensky, one OF the govern
ment's most devoted servants, she had
been mixed up in the Russian pTopa-
ganda. If this were SO, the countess had |
conducted her affairs with great skill and |
daring. She had received compli- /
men:ary recognition from the Russian |
court, and indeed had been almost, IN |
certain social directions, an accredited |
agent, ana was certainly regarded as a |
friend 20 the reigning family. She had /
been received at the Russian court, and |
was a distinguished parsonage in the !
highest Russian circles, but within the |
last few mouths the police had discovered |
what they considered to be a clew to her
association with some of the worst enc
mics of Russia, and indeed. they be-
lleved she was an accomplish in the muir
der OF Gen. Petronovitch at Venice.
At present these charges were indef-
mite, and might possibly be difficult of
proof: but they were considered to be
strongly exemplifled by the strange dis
appearance of the countess from Russia.
She had arrived in st. Petersburg some
few days before the failure of the latest
dynamite plot, had observed the usual
polite ceremonies of the court, had been
seen at the opera, aud was q guest at a
semi-offlcial reception on the night be-
fore the nefarious scheme of the Propa-
gandiStS was TO have been oonsummated.
From that moment there was no trace of
her. she had disappeared as completely
as il she had never existed. And the
complete system of espionage that be-
longed to the police had failed
TO come upon the slightest clues
the telegraph had flashed in
quiries aud descriptions in every
direction throughout Europe, but with
out result. They had hoped that the
young Englishman, the prisoner For
syth, would have been able to throw
some light upon her proceedings and
habits. Had he been a Russian subject |
it was possible that more than the ordi-
nary pressure would have been exercised
TO obtain confessions from him; but he
probably spoke the truth when he said
that he did not know what had become of
her, and he did not disguise for a mo-
ment that he had travelled with her from |
Venice to Paris, from Paris TO New
York, from New York to Havre, thence
20 st. Petersburg. Indeed, there would
have been no object in denying this, be-
cause one OF the So called Brotherhood of
the Dawn had confessed IT.
"Under pressure?" asked Chetwynd,
accepting the cigarette which the assist
ant minister had politely offered him.
Probably, - said the official.
'tYou have severe measures in this di- |
rection, know :" said Chetwynd, land
I am deeply grateful for the considera- :
ton which has been shown to my '
friend -
Lyon hare reason 70 be so, think, :
from all understand, - said the off, {
cial. ''we are talking in confidence, G
but may help you to q better under I
standing of my imperial master when I
tell you it was bY order OF the czar that I
Forsyth IS sentence was COMMITTED to i'm '