The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-15
CONTINUED

Nicholas, who was standing close to the
wall, purposely made a noise. Scheim
who are your How dare you enter
here?" he cried, beside himself. AN
swer! l must know you. What is your
name?"
MY name is Nicholas Popoff and till yes
terday / had an Office in the Ministry of the
Interior" said Nicholas quietly.
''Popoffl' cried Schelm, furious. "Did l
not have you turned off? How dare YOU
reappear here? That is open rebellion
You shall pay for that!
A sudden thought flashed through his
mind.
How long have you been standing
here?"
One moment and 1 heard your Excel
lency's words"
Heard them? You confess that. you in
sulent rascal"
While uttering these words Schelm turned
to his table to seize the bell that was stand
ing there near at hand. P0poff did not let
him do it-ke placed himself between his
former chief and the table. Scheim was
pale with fury.
"Insolent felowp' he cried again. "Do
you want to die under the knout"
More calmly, your EXcelency," replied
PopOtf, not without slight admiXture of
scorn. Il came TO render your Excellency
great service"
"A service? You to me?" Halo! Is
any bNd1 tutib.
His voice, however, hardly penetrated the
heavy portiere, and besides. there was no.
body in the adjoining room. The man on
duty had lett POpoh in his place and had
gone away
Il can furnish your Excellency the money
you want" The firm voice of his former
subordinate Gained Schelm and let him re-
cover his senses.
Speak! What do you want of me?"
- our EXcelency has sent me out of the
ministry, when l was supporting my mother
and younger brother out of my modest
pay. want to recover the lost place, be-
cause 1 need 1t absolutely. l propose,
therefore, TO your EXGellency this If
suggest means to secure the sum of money
you want, may L then hope that you will
restore me to my former position"
9 Is that what you want?" asked Schelm
very much pacitied. "We'll see, We'll see
What else have you to say? '
"Your Excellency, l have long been en-
plOyed in the Finance Department know,
therefore. that the Treasurer has secret
funds which are at the disposal of the
Ministry of the Interior. The present
treasurer knows me very we'll"
know all that and very accurately"
said Schelm. But how can get the Min
lister TO authorize my using such large sum
from the secret fund?'
Your EXcellency has only to permit me
to continue. The Treasurer pays out these
funds upon the signature of the head of the
bureau, even If the Minister consents only
by a marginal note. How does he express
his consent? he writes on the margin
nothing but his name, as evidence that he
has read the paper and grants the demand
Now II IS not difficult to initiate such sig
nature"
Wretch cried Schelm; "how can you
dare?"
The silence of Schelm up to this point
had made P0pof think he would listen still
further. Hence, the affected indignation
made no impression upon him, and he went
coolly on:
"YOur Excellency will write the receipt.
and will forge the signature OF the Minis
ter can prove to your EXcellency's salts
faction that l am able to do it. We amuse
ourselves in our leisure hours in the offices
by Initiating various signatures. And, later
your Excellency Will have no difficulty in
proving that you did not forge the writing"
But what are you really aiming at?'
asked Scheln, cautiously. "Y our offers are
very far-reaching."
IL beg leave. therefore, to propose to
your EXcellency the following compact {:
You appoint me your private Secretary,
and send me to the Minister to obtain his
wise"
go on"
Suppose your Excellency should want
100000 rubles, bring you the money; but
the story goes that | have only gotten 80 600
rubles, because the Minister thought that
would suffice for the purpose in question.
In the receipt this purpose has to be men,
toned, l believe"
"Certainly-but go on"
I our EXcellency knows, moreover, that
the secret fund is only examined once in
three years. The last time this was done
was In November. We have, consequently,
more than two years before us. If we sue
coed 10 questions will ever arise as to the
means by which that purpose was accom-
Vnli had nd fnFe iii
enough to make matters easy. Should we
fail you could, in the worst case, accuse me
of having kept back 10000 rubles and of
having forged the signature Appoint me,
therefore, your private secretary and pay
me handsome salary so that l can spend a
good deal of money. Such a change in my
mode of life will coincide with the date
OF the whole affair; besides the experts will
easily recognize my handwriting. Then
comes the accusation, l am tried and Sem
fenced in cOntumaciam, for your Excellency
is kind enough to give me timely warning
and let me escape abroad with some little
means of living"
Schelm had attentively listened to this
exposition and patted his former sub
ordinate on the shoulder.
You are cunning man and | am sorry
did not know you as do now. l cannot
conceive, however, what your personal ad-
vantage can be in this NATTER
! PopOff looked at him firmly and fixediy.
do not want my mother to suffer any
| longer from hunger and misery. | sacrifice
myself for her and l offer your Excellency
| my services, because l know you are wise
and cunning, and l believe in the success
| OF all your enterprises and intrigues. [
propose an immoral thing, because such
| things alone pay; for a moral and good
thing NOD Of the head is thought to be
! ample reward"
Schelm made no reply, but went to his
table, this time unhindered by Nicholas.
| he promptly wrote this certificate:
u Upon this voucher the Treasurer will pay to
| Mr.. POI VI. my private secretary, the sum oil
| 100000 rubes from the secret fund. l need this
amount in order to ascertain lie character etc.,
| Of the conspiracy. La.
The Head Of the Division for Pol. Affairs.
SCHELM Privy Councillor.
Is that satisfactory"
Truly, your EXcellency."
Then you do not go to the Minister; you
forge his signature, keep back 10000 rubles
and bring me the remainder"
Very we'll, your EXcellency."
Popoff wlote the usual exequatur, with
signature of the Minister, and then handed
Mr.. Schelm the paper,
Excellent Now go to the Treasury
| Our compact is concluded"
PopofT seemed to be unwilling to CO.
Your Excellency will have the kindness
| to appoint me your private secretary"
"Welli' said Schelm, and rang the bell,
The old invalid appeared on the TIRES
hold.
Call the head of Bureau No. T."
The soldier disappeared instantly.
" But will the thing succeed. Your
former chief is perhaps no longer at the
| Treasury at this hour"
We need not fear. The Treasurer lives
| in the Ministry, and even when he goes Oui
he always leaves word where he may be
| found; such are the regulations. The man
knows me personally and will make nc
difficulties
The head of the Bureau No. entered the
room. At the sight of Popoff he was great
ly surprised, but his astonishment grew
when he heard Schelm's words
" did Mr.. Popoff wrong, and to make