Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15
On the third day after Jana's departure

On the third day after Jana's departur,
Count Palkin presented himself at tn
palace of the Governor General at Irkutsl
He had come In a coach, and found it diff
cult to mount the stairs. His sharpl
marked features had become still NOR
angular in consequence of his sufferinpl
his eyes glowed with fierce but subdued ez
citement; his face was pale and his Who'll
| form bowed. He had had to spend seyera
days in bed, partly from the chastisemen
he had received and partly from the effec
of his fury. Still sick and trembling b
slowly crept along the passage in the palac
and told the adjutant on duty that h
wished to see the Governor on very i'm
portant business. The Governor admittet
him at once.
"Your Excellency," exclaimed Palkin, a
soon as he stood before him, II have beer
the victim Of an incredible outrage. Coun
Lanin and his wife have formed con
spiracy with number of rebels and caugh
me In trap. An exile, whom L impru
IDENTIFY employed as nv secretary, his be-
trothed and an officer of the police are al
involved in the same plot. The whole affail
looks like rising against the Gear. I there
fore come to ask your Excellency to punish
the guilty. The matter is this"
The Governor had so far patiently lis
tened to Palkin, who had spoken in q
threatening tone and almost lost his breath,
but when he began his narrative he inter
rupted him coolly, saying:
81 know all, Colonel, and hope the Grim
inals will not escape their well-deserved
punishment 1t seems, however, as if you
also were somewhat to blame-but this will
appear in the investigation. The killing OF
Popoff is a crime, the cruelty of which ]
shall never approve of. As to the guilt OF
Count Lanin, I think you must be in
errorl''
"Your Excellency," cried Palkin, turn
ing pale with wrath, will surely not shell
ter that rebell''
The Governor looked sternly at him.
81 have no intention to shelter anv one.
II it depended on me, should let justice be
administered, and the guilty ones be pur-
sued TO their most secret hiding places. But
from this day have nothing more to say
here. A revisor has just arrived from Pc
tersburg with most ample powers. At pres
ent he is engaged In my bureau. You can
have your name sent in to him-I believe
he is alone just now"
The Governor msved aside haughtiIy,
pointing to the door that led into his private
office.
"You insolent aristocrat, murmured Pal
kin; I'VE shall see if cannot drive you
away from herel So the revisor has already
come. I must see what he says.
With groan of pain he entered the room.
The revisor was sitting in an armchair, ex-
amining a pile of numbered documents.
When the door opened thus Unexpectedly
he looked up.
"schelml' cried Palkin, drawing back
step.
The former head of division rose.
dRar0n Snhel o n heru If Won vor, r1aoeo
senator and revisor, who, at your urgent re-
quest, has come as far as Siberia? Hal hal
Captain Palkin! You desire perhaps to
challenge me? At present my power ex-
tends all over you, since the gendarmes are
subject to my revision. I may degrade you
or send you to the mines to do forced labor,
and give you my word I shall make good
use Of my rights and privileges"
Palkin, who at first had been frightened
by this sudden encounter with Schelm, soon
overcame his confusion. He possessed, as
he had shown more than once, as much real
couroge as cunning. He drew nearer, and,
not minding his pain for the moment, he
took a chair to impose on Schelm.
"Nor' he exclaimed boldly, "you will
make no use of such rights and rivilegesP'
Schelm's character remained true to itself;
Palkin's cold selfpossession made him
furious.
"Who will prevent me? You, Colonel,
who have at this moment nothing more to
say here, for herewith divest you of your
rank and whatever power may have been
given you. Away with you. You are under
arrest. By what right do you dare sit down
N my presence?"
"Caution. my dear Mr.. Schelm, +" replied
Palkin, ironically. "You can, OF course,
destroy me if you should in q moment of
madness forget yourself so far. Consider; I
hall perish with you, not alone"
"What does that mean? 1 have been
warned to be considerate with the gendarmes,
)ne word more and shall send for the DO |
ice."
You wish to force me, then, to surrender |
certain receipt for loo, 900 roubles7"
No sooner had Palkin spoken these words
han Schelm fell upon him like tiger upon
is prev.
"Ah," he cried, "yOu Satan. you have
hat receipt"
"would I have begun the battle with
ut it?"
Palkin acted upon the information he had
btained during the terrible night at the
illage. Convinced that he would be able
, manage Schelm by simple threats, he
ad permitted himself barefaced lie, and
lis boldness met with unexpected success.
chelm dropped into his chair, almost over
helmed.
'In spite of your double-refned intrigues,
I. Schelm, or rather Won Schelmberg,"
nd Palkin, "you must confess that for
ace you are helpless. Why did you throw
OWN the gauntlet when am quite willing
proceed in union with you?"
'Traitor! Why did you not hand me that
aper with the others?'
"How can you ask? Was 1 to trust Won
much farther than you were willing to
'ust me? 1 wanted to keep one weapon for
case of need. You must see that 1 was
Use in acting thus. Calm yourself, there
re, honored M. Reviser, and listen to mel
on received me very badly at the very
omcnt when I was about to offer you The
cans of making Lanin and his wife for
yer harmlessp'
You do not tell the truth. You have
rotected themr'
"I had to keep them close at hsnd TO pro-
uce them whenever you might call for
leml But what are they to me, if we can
ecome reconciled? You wanted to avenye
ourself on Lanin for an unknown insult
ut L assure you that your insult shrinks
Ito nothing when compared with wha. has
appened to me.''
Palkin spoke with such passionate fire
at Schelm recognized the voice of truth,
I'd the two men shook hands.
''Do you know, Palkin," said Schelm, !.
we must make an end of it with these
'ople. no longer hate them, but some
mes fear them. Now, am a Senator, q
an of Importance in the empire, the hus- !
md of the rich daughter of a German 7
mixer, and with great future before me.
ut for this one affair would be sappy. :
ut still tremble lest something should '
IN up. This is what made me ask for the s
sition as reviser-to get rid of them for. Q