Connecticut western news., 1892-03-24
..- CANAAN, CONN, THURSDAY 1892

session alongside the one he has not. of course the mystery of Count Yasilvitch's 8 death cannot be solved.
 "Now, let me show how completely this Paritz has been beaten" and asnils stole over the whiskered face of the Rus sian while he refilled his wineglass and drank it of. Il am by no means de- tective myself, but we pick mp queer things in our everyday wanderings Wherever l went during my tour ex- amined every coin that fell into my hands. for l was qnite familiar with Count Yasilvitch's collection. and be- heved l would be able to recognize any parts of it at sight. l might even admit that gradually grew to be a hunter of lost coins. and of the punched kopeck in particular.
 "But l came home unsuccessful. One morning in the markets of St. Peters burg received ill change Il lot of small coin which. being in hurry at the time. l carried home without an examination. In my library fell to looking at the little pieces. and what was my astonish- ment when found in my hand n punched kopeck. There was no doubt that 1 had the identical coin which had baf1ed the acumen of the Russian police for fifteen years, and for which the wonder ful Paritz could almost afford to trade his head. Yes: l had found in St. Pc tersburg the punched kopeck which the sleuth of the eInplre may have chased around the world, and in order to wind up my story with the proper climax gentlemen, here it is!'
 At the same time Colonel SiLnovar who had just finished the narrative. drew from his waistcoat pocket small coin, which he placed carefully and with the proper emphasis of gesture on the table under the lamp.
 His auditors. two Frenchmen and two Russians, leaned forward with gaze riv eted on the coin.
 "Now. would like to see Paritz match the punched kopeck and thus vindicate the fame of the Russian police." con tinued Colonel Simovar, looking mp ut his auditors with d smile of triumph If he does not may hold him up as the laughing stock of the world and prove that the TiHrd section is not in. fallible."
 The last words had barely left Simo- vars lips ere a very dark hand rose over the edge of the table, and the next sec. ond. to the utter Aonsternation of fonr men, another kopeck, punched exactly like the first, lay on the cloth. Colonel Silnovar fell back and stared first at the second kopeck and then at the guest who had placed it where it was
 "Paritz, gentlemen, has chased the kopeck around the world" said the guest without the semblance of smile on his swarthy face. He takes great pleasure in vindicatiny the Russian police by matching Colonel Simovar's kopeck I am Paritz."
 Colonel Slmovar broke into a derisiye laugh.
 You are my friend and guest. Cap tain Basilvltch." said he to the so called Paritz. II recollect that we met in Constantinople and again in Milan and Athens Come, come. gentlemen. Cap tain Basilvitch is man of honor. We will drink to his little joke"
 The face of Paritz did not relax.
 Rising to his feet he drew forth a small diary, the leaves of which he turned with provoking coolness.
 At length he began to read of Colonel Simovar's minutest doings in France and among the Pyrenees. From this he jumped to the tourist in America, and was following him step by step back to the czar's dominions. when Simovar threw up his hand.
 1t is enough!" he said with quivering lip. "There is but. one devil. and his name is Paritzr'
 The police spy bowed. Il take the punched kopecks, gentlemen. and the murderer of Count Yasilvitch as we'll. and gathering up the two coins with one hand, he touched Simovar on the shoulder with the other.
 There was not the least resistance on the colonels part. and he went with Paritz and the punched kopecks to the station.
 The little wine supper thus startlingly broken mp by the indefatigable spy of the czar was never resumed, and the two Frenchmen left St. Petersburg the next day fully convinced of the power and the efficiency of the Russian em- pire.
 Colonel Simovar paid the severest pen alty of the law for his secret crime. and from the day of the finding of the punched kopeck the name of Paritz has been invested with a new dread and terror-T c. Harbauch in New York Mercury.