The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-15
THE ACE OF CLUBS!
Romance of Russia and Siberia BY Prince Josef Luboms
Author of I" Satur-HadI Story of TuIstan" Eta
COPYRIGHT 1890. BY META DE EER2

Count. But one cannot be too cautious In
having to deal with man like Schelm.
With these words he stepped into the per-
fectly empty bureau, lit the lamp and got
the copying-press; then he put Schelm's re-
ceipt under the press, copied it into the
book and tore out the sheet which he had
taken from the blank part of the book and
carefully put it in his pocket.
Thus" he said, 81 shall secure feeble
but still very weighty weapon for my de-
fense."
Then he went to the Treasury, received
the money and returned in order to fulfill
this part also of his compact with Schelm.
AS he, however, passed the invalid who
slept on his bench he looked almost uncon-
sclouSly at the staircase, and noticed how
the head Of his bureau. with letter in his
hand, was hurrying away.
My chief at this hour running down a
staircase that is not his! What can that
mean? Evidently he has just left Schelm's
bureau and the two must have discussed
me!'
a sad foreboding overpowered him. In
stlnctively he felt great danger hanging
over him, His first stem was to rush down
stairs and TO follow his chief. lie saw him
race down the street and take a cab.
PopOff, hiding behind the other hacks,
heard him say. TO the police At full
galopw
That was enough for Nicholas. He hur-
ried back to the Ministry. approached
baOAO III hiO pdoSd6Cs un MuACu paper anu
envelopes were always kept lying for those
who came to ask for an audience. He Sc
lected five large envelopes, put one-ifth of
the sum of money lie Eeld in his hand into
each one and directed a sixth to " Mr..
Schelm, private and confidential" Then
he fastened to Schelm's ante-chamber,
where there were always two officials and
servant on duty.
Popoff said to himself:
Evidently Schelm has asked the police
70 h.Nra a III
not have it done here-I shall, therefore,
have time to wait the return of my chief"
He sat down on bench and waited.
Half an hour later the official appeared
PopOf stepped up to him, handed him the
Blk envelopes and said:
Here is the money which was to hand
TO his EXcellency; also a confidential letter.
His EXcellency ordered me to wait for you
here and to hand you the money. You
were to be so kind as to carry it to him at
once In his private room. The amount is
1OO,OO0 ruDles; his EXcellency Will have the
kindness to count it over in your presence.
L myself have important business to attend
and must leave"
VERY well, Mr.. Secretary, I'll fulfill your
commission at onceI'
POpof left the building slowly, but as
soon as he reached the first corner he began
to run as fast as his feet would carry him.
In tile meantime Schelm was impatently
walking up aud down in his room, when
lue culeI OF bureau was announced.
our EXcelency'S demand will be car
ried out tomorrow" was the report, land
here is 10000 rubles which your Excel
lency's private secretary has Just handed
me TO give to you, together with this letter."
"A hundred thousand rubles. And let
ter? Quick %
The letter ran thus:
send you the money untouched l have con-
WINGED myself that you wished me to disappear
and have handed the whole sum to my chief OF
bureau IN the presence OF witnesses l possess
a copy OF your receipt signed by you. but l SHALL
use thiS weapon only when am attacked. You
wanted me TO disappear. Be calm do disap-
pear. But shall know how 10 defend myself
when l should be attacked.
Schelm trembled from rage and terror
combined. He shouted at his subordinate:
Pursue him! Arrest himl Kill himw
The official stood there staring at him and
not knowing what it all meant.
Whom? POpOff? Is tile amount not
correct?
Scnelm recovered himself.
NO! no! 1t is all right l did not mean
to say that What was it l meant to say?"
His eyes were wandering around lie
looked ike mailman.
"Oh! the ras alp he cried at last.
'Petrotf, make haste, 90 to the police and
tell them had made mistake. Tell them
to stop all proceedings. Why do you stand
here?"
The poor bewildered man left the room
and Schelm fell almost fainting into an
armchair.
To be continued merit Sunday.