St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-10-25
THE STOLEN PASSPORTS,
An Incident Of Military Lib ON
tho Russian Frontier.

49, SSSSsss0 OOWAe AOH = QUAO
evening BY the stove, when an orderl,
threw the door open and rushed into tn
room.
Captain Sasha. dispatch!" he cried
handing mo ono Of those little ollcia
blue envelopes which knew % we'll
/ tore II open and read the contents:
TO Captain 6eshA. Commander Of Frontier
Station on the vistul2: Detain Ivan Brosk,
ana Vladimir Program. They will reach yol
shortly. GENERAL JoRKA."
"A bad night for travellers to be OF
the road" could not help thinking
for tho rain was falling in torrents
was commander OF the Russian iron.
tier station 1t Dana, which lies on the
great highroad between Russia and the
Austrian city OF Craeow. and only half
mile distant was the river Vistala,
which divides tho dominions Of the EN-.
peror Francis Joseph from the dominions
OF the Car.
1t was my duty to examine tho pas,.
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 nero in bad condition for
travelling.
The dispatch had Just received had
been brought On horseback from the
nearest telegraph station, nearly Ave
miles distant and from the signature
at tho bottom knew It must be . mat
ter Of some importance. for General
Jorka was the. Minister OF Police, and
HE ve-y name was . terror to evil doors.
instructed my men to watch the
roads with extra care.
The evening wore on slowly, and 1t
midnight NO one 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, 80 I determined to 70 to
bed and enjoy good nights rest
Tho wind and rain kept me awake .
long while. AMI just - was about
dropping Of into slumber the sound Of
sleigh bells woke me up again, and In . |
moment or two sharp tap at tho door |
summoned me downstairs. I 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 were
tho men I wanted. for. though their
furs and clothes gave evidence Of
wealth and refinement their faces
hardly seemed to accord.
But 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
Scrgius NelikofR. and were properly
stamped and signed.
To hide my confusion made some In
4uiries. and they very frankly informed
mo that they were merchants OF st.
Petersburg who were going to Crscow
IN business. II
HAD they met any person on the {
.oadY' inquired.
eyes" said the smooth-faced man,
they had passed two men early in the I
evening. but their horses seemed to be I
anne and they were moving very slow q
y" /
Ihesitated . moment and then ordered .
N examination to b made OF their Q
baggage, . proceeding to which they
made NO objection. Every thing in U
heir yalises, however. vas all right q
nd their linen and toilet cases were
tamped with their initials &
felt that I had NO authority to de- q
lin them, and yet I hated to see them
o, for had . prescntimeAt that all was q
OF right. To add to my saspicions the a
ian with the beard was nervous and p
fact which no did his utmost .
, conceal.
knew too we'll. however, what would 1.
, the result of . blunder committed b
trough excess Of authority, 50 deter b
lined to he on the safe side. and after . b
.lay, which / stretched out - far Is
,ssible. I told them they were free to Y,
,occcd. o.
/ escorted them to the door, whore . &C
", one-seated sleigh awaited them. st
avn BY . pair OF horses, which saw j
= glance had been hard driven. CO
At the last moment had half made ~
, nv mind to detain them. but with
.sty salute they stepped into the sleigh eli
ID drove rapidly eastward. whore dawn til
y already dappling the sky. tn
There was no use Of going back to
d. % went in and stirred up the dre. tn
d sat down 70 smoke cigar and wait dil
: daylight go
Now that It was too late. felt sorry dc
let the men 60 tor the more ] ~