Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-02-02

We Were a.4uHtd u see tacn other no
more until W. reached -. Petersburg. and
then only AT :; di,i~nc, a. We were hurried
from the tram WHICH hruIght Is from the
port into ti" separate carriages IN which
We were ratified ola u prison.
In that noIneIj Gordon waved his hand
To me and smiled el.couragingly, but j
knew that the poor fellow, despite his san
GJIine temperament, could find but little
9round To- base hope upon.
About an hour after my arrival l was
taken down to an Office. where the minister
Of police sat at the head of "A writing table.
The only other persons present were Ru
d,rsdorf and the old gentleman. Their man
ner was ohscquiously deferential toward
their chief, sharp and severe toward me.
With n slight inclination of the head he
told me Ia take chair, and fixing his dark,
penetrating eyes upon me said
"Mademoiselle, do you deny that Taras,
Prince Borgensky. is your friend'"
NO" l replied proudly; "he is the dear
est friend | have in the world" These
words brought tears into my eyes, so that
l saw everything as in amist, but brushed
them away impetuously and met the min
ister's eyes firmly, and with the resolve to
keep my emotion down.
'Then how comes it." the minister asked,
that you have aided in bringing him
heres"
II have done no such thing. The man
you have here Is not Taras, but George
Gordon. If you are the minister Of police,
you will know that when you see him."
Assuming that this is George Gordon,
why did you aid in bringing him here2"
ITO save Taras from being murdered by
your agent, Rudersdorf."
us this the first time you have endea-
vored to save your friend!"
NO; have baked Kavanagh in two il
not three attempts to carry him away"
And you hoped to save Taras fourth
time by substituting George Gordon. to
mislead our agentsi"
YES"
"You thought to throw off the pursuit
by making us believe that we had captured
Tarasy"
"Yes"
''Then why are you so anxious now to
make us believe that we have not got
Taras?"
because Kavanagh made me believe
that the moment you discovered the mis-
take Rudersdorf would be banished in dis
grace, while public cutlery would compel
you to abandon any further effort to re-
move Taras from England"
"You are candid, at any rate" said the
minister, after exchanging a swift glance
with Rudersdorf
Il want you to know the whole truth"
I'm that case, will you be good enough
to give me the particulars of the attempts
made by Mr.. Kavanagh to kidnap Taras3'
l narrated the events as simply as
could. When came to an end, the minis
ter wrote few lines, handed the paper to
Rudersdorf, and rising took up his hat.
What are you going to do with mei" ]
asked.
During the inquiries which must neces-
sarily be made to ascertain the truth OF
your statement you will be detained You
will he provided with every available com
fort. and in consideration of the straight
forward manner in which you have given
Information, If there is any reasonable con-
cession l eau make''-
George GordOn-I want to see him"
said l, for felt the need of a companion.
The chief looked grave; then, after giving
some instructions to Rudersdorf, he said
to me:
"YOu shall see him tomorrow morning, ~
and with slight bow left the Office
was taken back to the cell, and as the
door closed with clang, and looked
round the four bare whitewashed walls
with their one barred window high up
showing but a few inches Of leaden sky,
asked myself where was the comfort that
had been promised me.
In the evening the warder brought me 8
bundle of thick serge clothes and greasy
sheepskin coat. telling me that l should
have to wear them for my journey and that
must get up when | was called. This
was the first intimation / had received that
we were to be removed from St. Peters
burg. The minister had spoken only of 8
detention. He had said that should SCI
Gordon the next morning, but was it only
to say ''goodbyf"
Before it was light the warder entered
my cell. and seeing a candle on the shell
which served as a table told me must b.
dressed in 10 minutes. In 10 minutes l Iva.
dressed in my ill fitting clothes, looking
more like white bear than human crea
ture in the great sheepskin coat which
touched the ground at my feet and wa.
furnished with a hood and collar band
which left nothing visible of my face ex
cept my nose and eyes. A pair Of enormou!
boots lined with sheepskin and great fin
gerless gloves Of the same kind added still
more to the uncouthness Of my appear
ance. The warder brought me a mug o.
hot tea and some dried fish and bread, anG
while l ate my breakfast made up tn,
clothes had worn into bundle for me t.
take with me.
Twas taken down into the yard, where
to my great joy. found Gordon arrayed IN
a suit similar to my own, by which l con
cluded that he was to go away also
think he was no less pleased to see me. HI
| gave me both hands. and we stood there
hand in hand, too grateful to speak at first
you are going with mel" we said. al
last and simultaneously.