The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-17
THE RED CHEST.
An Experience in the Life Of a
Russian Detective.

In 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 I
would have nothing to do.
A series of extraordinary robberies
had been effected from the luggage van
of a number of trains on the st. Peters
burg e. Odessa railway.
| 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:
$50 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 fit.
eff you succeed in solving the mys-
terry and bringing the perpetrator or
perpetrators to justice, l guarantee you
speedy promotion, and the company
will, doubtless, fill your pouch with
roubles.
''If not, Acknowledgement Triposki
stroked his huge mustache, and glanced
down complacently over the perfect
polish of his military top boots, with a
peculiar CLINT in his hard, gray eyes
swell, that will be less fortunate for
you; in fact, don't know but that l
should be displeased-perhaps serious
ly displeased."
To incur the displeasure of Russian
bureaucrat is equivalent to an uncere-
monious kick into disgrace or obscurity
for the unfor tunate 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.
'Ah, you have come to investigated"
he managed to exclaim, semi-confiden-
TALLY, to me. General Triposki is very
good, to be sure; but what is there to
investigate?
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.
Sat 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 rified of their
choicest valuables, but not sign of the
thief, with the company booked for
damages as before.
"a mystery? 1 should say so. 1t beats
even the 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 so bad as
that, but almost. There, there! 1 am
too busy to give you any more pointers
just now, my friend"
He was hnrrying away from me when
laid my hand on his arm
''Pointers?" l said imperatiyely.
*'You have given ma none not known
before. You will at once, if you pie ase,
devote yourself exclusively'to my edit
cation"
''Sir!''
Every good! I suppose 1 had bet
ter return to Geuera. Triposki and
say -"
mo, no! excuse my hastiness, my
dear sir. Wait; then / am wholly at
your disposal"
He hurriedly placed his Office in the
hands of his chief clerk and submis-
sively 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 l
found just as he had at first stated, so
far 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, my
companion was instantly surrounded bv
passengers, who were waiting for their
luggage certificates, and who were anx-
tous 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-
most regally handsome woman l had
ever set eyes on.
Tall, dark, magnificently dressed, and
attended by two servants in livery, she
looked like an Oriental queen as she SUI
perciliously signed to nay companion
and indicated her luggage, which some
pOrters had just trundled in from the
drosky and cab stand.
She spoke few naughty words,
though in singularly sweet, melodious
voice, expressive of the hope that her
luggage might this time pass through
unmolested, and then, after obsequious
assurances on the part of Herr Moyen
stein, and receiving an Immediate GER
tifcate for the articles from his own
hand, she sailed away.
Her luggage consisted of two i'm
mense wooden chests or strapped boxes
one larger than its fellow ard painted
red, the other travel-worn and of no
particular color-such as are much used
by the upper travelling class in Russia
A certain popularity in the red chest
had attracted my attention while the
porters were affixing the necessary
labels, and had also been struck by
something furtive or sinister in the
faces of the liveried servants.
''You seemed to recognize the lady,"
observed, taking the superintendent
TO the side.
Il should say So" he replied. at
was the Countess Rustanovitch, OF the
old castle and impoverished estate OF
the same name near Odessa A good
traveller. the Countess, either in her own