Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-09-06
THE STOLEN PASSPORTS.
An Incident Of Military Life ON
the Russian Frontien

L was just slttlng down 1of D Qule'
evening by the stove, VIII 4 an orderly
threw the door open and rushed into the
room.
Captain Sasha, a Dispatch" he cried,
handing me one Of those little official
blue envelopes which l knew so we'll.
tore it open and read the confer ts:
ITO Captain Sasha, Commander Of Frontier
Station on the Vistula: Detain Ivan Brosky
and Vladimir Program. They will reach you
shortly. GENERAL JoRKA."
"a bad night for travellers to be on
the road" | could not help thinking,
for the rain was falling in torrents.
| was commander of the Russian from
tier station at Dana, which lies on the
great highroad between Russia and the
Austrian city Of Cracow, and only q half
mile distant was the river Vistula,
which divides the dominions of the EN-
peror Francis Joseph from the dominions
of the Gar.
1t was my duty to examine the pass
ports of all travellers coming either way,
and to scrutinize their luggage, to see
that no Russian products were struggled
into Austria, or vice versa.
For the last few days there had been
little to do. Warm weather--unusual
at this time of the year-had set in, and
the roads we're in bad condition for
travelling.
The dispatch had just received had
been brought on horseback from tho
nearest telegraph station, nearly five
miles distant, and from the signature
the bottom | knew it must be a mat
ter of some Importance, for General
Jorka was the Minister Of Police, and
his very name was a terror to e%vildoers.
l instructed my men to watch the
roads with extra care.
The evening wore on slowly, and at
midnight no II had arrived. came
TO the conclusion that the expected
travellers had either been apprehended
before they reached the frontier or had
postponed their journey on account OF
bad weather, SO | determined to go to
bed and enjoy a good nights rest.
The wind and rain kept me awake a
long while, AMI just as | was alb out
dropping off into slumber the sound Of
sleigh bells woke me up again, and in a
moment or two a sharp tap at the door
summoned me downstairs. dressed
and went down.
Two travellers were waiting to see me;
two big, powerful fellows, wrapped up
in furs and great coats, which they kept
closely buttoned, for the fire had gone
out / judged at once that these we're
the men | wanted, for, though their
furs and clothes gave evidence OF
wealth and refinement, their faces
hardly seemed to accord.
But a surprise was in store for me.
When they handed over their passports
l found, to my CONSERVATION, that they
bore the names of Alexis Zamose and
Sergius MelikofT, and were properly
stamped and signed.
To hide my confusion | made some in
quiries, and they very frankly in formed
me that they were merchants OF st.
Petersburg who were going to Cracow
\ business.
Had they net any person on the
road? inquired.
"Yes," said the smooth.faced man,
they had passed two men early in the
evening, but their horses seemed to be
lame and they were moving very slow.
ly."
1hesitated a moment and then ordered
an examination to be made of theil
baggage, a proceeding to which they
made no objection. Every thing in
their v~alises, however, was all right,
and their linen and toilet cases were
stamped with their initials.
felt that | had no authority to de.
tain them, and yet | hated to see them
go, for | had a prescntiment that all wa.
not right. To add to my suspicious the
man with the beard was nervous and
agitated, a fact which he did his utmos'
to conceal.
l knew too we'll, however, what woult
be the result of a blunder committee
through excess of authority, so 1 deter
mined to he on the safe side, and after
delay, which / stretched out as far a.
possible, / told them they we're free t,
proceed.
l escorted them to the door, where
low, one-seated sleigh awaited them
drawn by a pair Of horses, which l say
at u glance had been hard driven.
At the last moment had half mad,
up my mind to detain them, but with
hasty salute they stepped into the sleigl
and drove rapidly eastward, where dawl
was already dappling the sky.
There was no use Of going back t
bed. 80 ! went in and stirred up the fire
and sat down to smoke a cigar and wal
Tor daylight
Now that 1t was too late, l felt sorry
had let the men go, for the more
thought over 1t, the more certain | fel
that there was something wrong abou
them. 1t had stopped raining and begu
to blow up cold, and l saw that it woul
probably be o busy day.
had already finished breakfast, whe
q trampiing Of horses and q tinkling {
bells drew me to the door, ard to m
surprise saw bearing rapidly down upo
the station a small detachment of noun
cd Cossacks, surrounding q sleigh wit
" men in 1t, who l made sure we're Ii
parties l was looking for, an opinio
which seemed to be verified when the
drew up, for the men were rather roupl
looking fellows, and wore heavy cloal
d coarse material. and great astrachs