Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-02-24


knocking about for two or three days, to
visit the American legation and solicit
advice as how to proceed to get his
patent We set out to "do" st. Peters
burg in company, and it was the cause
Of our coming to grief The spy who
had been following me appeared to be
more alert than before, but fearing that
Mr.. Bidwell would do something rash l
did not mention the fact of our being
logged. He did not catch on until the
lfternoon of the second day. We were
then knocking about on foot and were in
The national aquarium when he suddenly
said:
"B'goshl but I'm going to know why
that cat faced chap is following us about!
I've caught sight of him hanging around
US dozen times in the last two days,
and now I'll just ask him what's on his
mind"
Don't do anything of the sortl" re-
Piled. eff he's police spy he can only
nothing out Of the way. If you raise a
row we'll both be arrested offhand."
I'm not going to raise a row unless
the tarnal cuss gets too sassy. Maybe
he's spy, and maybe he's heard of my
galvanized wire clothesline and wants to
buy me out 1t can't do no hurt to ask
him what's on his mind"
l attempted further argument, but the
Connecticut man was as Independent as
if strolling about New Haven. He walked
straight up to the spy, tapped him on the
shoulder and said
Look here, Mister Man, have you any
business to transact with us?''
He spoke in English, and the Russian
could not understand word of it. He
evidently got the drift of things, how
ever, and seemed greatly surprised and
annoyed at being addressed in that off
hand fashion.
eff you want to inquire about galva-
nized wire clotheslines, then crack
ahead" continued Mr.. Bidwell, "but if
you are playing any little game let me
warn you to look out for your eye. If
you follow us another rod I'll make you
see a million starsr'
We went out, turned into Warsaw
place and entered a wine shop. Bidwell
presently went to the door to see if the
spy was around and almost bumped into
him.
Now, then, you mean looking son of
gun, but this is a little too steep!' ex-
claimed the Yankee. 81 gave you fair
warning, and now
He seized the fellow by the shoulders
and slammed him about in a terrific
manner, but it wasn't more than min
ute before five or six policemen were at
hand, and both of us were under arrest
and being hurried away. We were first
taken to a police station about four
blocks distant. There we were searched,
stripped of every article, that our cloth
ing might be overhauled, and held for
about an hour. We were not questioned
at all, and if the official in charge under
stood anything we said he did not be-
tray the fact. Bidwell was so provoked
by the situation that he fired whole
broadside of Connecticut oratory into
the official, ending up by threatening a
suit for $1,000 damages, bat he might
as well have saved his breath. We were
by and by taken to headquarters under
a strong escort, and there ushered into
the presence of the chief of police. We
were taken in singly. My turn came
first. The chief consulted memoran-
DUN and began:
You arrived in st. Petersburg on the
9th inst. You claimed TO be an Amer
lean tourist You received letter from
Paris on the 10th and one from Hamburg
on the 18th. You have spoken disre-
spectfully of the police to the proprietor
of the Park hotel. You were very dis
respectful toward the officer who was
ordered to follow you about. AS soon
as your friend arrived you became more
defiant You have insulted me through
one of my officers Do you wish to leave
St. Petersburg by the evening train?'
replied that did not and asked that
some one connected with the American
legation be sent for. After questioning
me for quarter of an hour he repeated
his inquiry about my leaving the city by
the evening train. | answered him that
| was an American, travelling under a
regular passport and willing to undergo
any sort of investigation, and that did
not propose to leave st. Petersburg fol-
perhaps a month.
VERY well; you shall remain for q
month"; he replied as he touched a bel
ON his table.
So | did. was at once taken to the
city prison and placed i'll cell. After
the first twenty-four hours was allowed
the freedom of the corridor and could
purchase whatever ! wanted in the line
of eatables. There were six other prison
p !a[IJ4. 2,