Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-09-10
THE RED CHEST.


An FExpsrience Is thu Inc Of a
s Rnssia Dsteutivel
Ii 1851 was briefly IN the service
Of the Imperial Criminal Detective
Police Bureau, in St Petersburg, which
is distinctly different from the civil
secret service, dealing almost wholly
with political offenders, with whose in
famously barbarous employment
would have nothing to do. s.s- F. Il "a
A series of extraordinary robberies
had been effected from the luggage van
OF number of trains on the St Peters
burg 4 Odessa railway.
n l was, therefore, not surprised at be-
Ing one day summoned by General
Triposki, the chief of the department.
who said to me, after some preliminary
words: .au, $3.50.
go to see Herr Moyenstein, the lug
gage superintendent, and see what you
can make OF these robberies. You can
even conceal yourself in the van of the
next through train. if you see IT.
III you succeed in solving the mys-
terry and bringing the perpetrator or
perpetrators to justice, I guarantee you
speedy promotion, and the company
will, doubtless, I'LL your pouch with
roubles
If not, ahem!"-General Triposki
stroked his huge mustache, and glanced
down complacently over the perfect
polish of his military top boots, with q
peculiar CLINT in his hard, gray eyes
well, that will be. less fortunate for
you; in fact ! don't know but that I
should be displeased-perhaps serious
~ displeased. $500 *sS ssszs 58ss %s'
To incur the displeasure OF Russian
bureaucrat is equivalent to an uncere-
monious kick into disgrace or obscurity
for the unfortunate delinquent
made my salute and proceeded to
the railway station and stated my bust
ness to the official mentioned.
Herr Moyenstein was German of .
very excitable temperament, and found
him in the midst of pressing business
incidental to the near departure of the
Odessa express ssss
'Ah, you have come to investigator
he managed to exclaim, semi-confiden-
tally, TO me. General Triposki is very
good, to be sure; but what is there to
investigated? IL So
The through luggage van is locked
and sealed from the moment of start
ing, and with nothing but the heaped
luggage within, and yet the robberies
continue
AT the end of the route what is
found? All locked and sealed as be-
fore, and yet confusion and dismay in
the interior-trunks, chests, boxes,
hampers bursted and rifed of their
choicest valuables, but not a sign of the
thief, with the company booked for
damages as before.
"A mystery? should say so. 1t beats
eventhe organized robberies and MUIR
ders that have so mystified and appalled,
the environs of Odessa itself for the last
two years, with not trace of their
source. Perhaps not quite 50 bad as
that, but almost There, there! am
too busy to give you any more pointers
Just now, my friend"
He was hurrying away from me when
laid my hand on his arm.
"Pointers?'' l said imperatively.
''You have given me none not known
before You will al once, if you please,
devote yourself exclusively to my edit
cation"
''Sirr'
Every good! / suppose 1 had bet
ter return to General Triposki and
say -"
No. no! excuse my hastiness, my
dear sir. Wait; then l am wholly at
your disposal"
He hurriedly placed his Office in the
hands of his chief clerk and submits
siyely escorted me to the long platform
where the train was in readiness for
starting, and the porters were busily
loading the luggage van
Herr Moyenstein still further ex-
planned the interior to me, which I
found just as he had at first stated, so
Tar as security was concerned, and also
offered some theories as to the manner
Of the depredations. but they were too
far-fetched for serious consideration.
As we stepped out of the van, nv
companion was instantly surrounded By
passengers, who were waiting for their
luggage certificates, and who were anx-
ious to know if they were to run the
risk of = repetition of the mysterious
robberies. .-....
Having rid himself of these question
ers as best he might. the superintend-
ent was next approached by about the
most regally handsome woman I had
ever Set eyes on
Tall, dark, magnidcently dressed, and
attended by two servants in livery, she
looked like an Oriental queen as she su-
Pereiliously signed to my companion
and indicated her luggage, which some
porters had just trnndled in from the
drosky and cab stand -
O.. She spoke few naughty words,
though in + ngularly sweet, me1odious
voice, expressive of the hope that her
luggage might this time pass through
snnaolested, and then, after obsequious
assurances on the part Of Herr Moyen-
stein, and receiving an immediate Ger
tifieatA for the articles from his oWn