The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-24
THE STOLEN PASSPORTS.
An Incident Of Military Life on
the Russian Frontier.

An Incident Of Military Life on
the Russian Frontier.
was just sitting down for q quiet
evening by the stove, when an orderly
threw the door open and rushed into the
room.
Captain Sasha, Dispatch" he cried,
handing me one of those little official
blue envelopes which 1 knew so we'll.
tore it open and read the contents:
ITO Captain Sasha, Commander of Frontier
Station on the Vistha: Detain Ivan Brosky
and Vladimir Program. They will reach you
shortly. GENERAL JORKA.'
IA bad night for travellers to be on
the road" l 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 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
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 the
nearest telegraph station, nearly five
miles distant, and from the signature
at the bottom knew it must be mat
ter of some Importance, for General
Jorka was the Minister of Police, and
HE very name was terror to evil doors.
instructed my men to watch the
loads with extra care.
The evening wore on slowly, and at
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, so I determined to go'to
bed and enjoy good nights rest
The wind and rain kept me awake a
long while, and just as I was alb out
dropping off into slumber the sound of
sleigh bells woke me up again, and in a
moment or two 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. 1 judged at once that these were
the men 1 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
Sergius Melikoff, and were properly
stamped and signed.
To hide my confusion made some in
quiries, and they very frankly Informed
me that they were merchants of st.
Petersburg who we're going to Cracow
on business.
Had they met 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."
Ihesitated moment and then ordered
an examination to be made of their
baggage, a proceeding to which they
made no objection. Every thing in
their valises, however. was all right,
and their linen and toilet cases were
stamped with their initials.
l felt that l had no authority to de-
tain them, and yet hated to see them
go, for had presentimentt that all was
not right. To add to my suspicious the
man with the beard was nervous and
agitated, fact which he did his utmost
to conceal.
knew too we'll, however, what would
be the result of a blunder committed
through excess of authority, so 1 deter
mined to be on the safe side, and after q
delay, which l stretched out as far as
possible, told them they were free to
proceed.
l escorted them to the door, whore a
low. one-seated sleigh awaited them,
drawn by pair of horses, which / saw
at glance had been hard driven.
At the last moment had half made
up my mind to detain them, but with q
hasty salute they stepped into the sleigh
and drove rapidly eastward, whore dawn
= as already dappling the sky.
There was no use of going back to
bed, so went in and stirred up the fire.
and sat down to smoke cigar and wait
for daylight
Now that it was too late, felt sorry
had let the men go. for the more
thought over it, the more certain felt
that there was something wrong about
them. 1t had stopped raining and begun
to blow up cold. and saw that it would
probably be busy day.
had already finished breakfast when
. trampling Of horses and tinkling Of