Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-01-26
liArITit Xxx.
Trtsf1

a.. ~ l.t -.
CHAPTER NNX
A7HiF.
IT, ~. Wa already rualius up.
l'ar! H., ,!aIk &c furnace doors and the
srrlp.u; If eh"vels a. We passed the engine
room. The Ulcer who had received Us led
tie way 20 tL"3"cK cabin. "A couple Of men
following CLOSE AZ oar heels
Tn c-h,n wlI veil IT, IN elderly. sharp
V'-7' 'i.a'l. n II c.u9c fitting official cos
tu.Hr. VS. seated NJ thetahle in the middle,
u IL "H;'i'.-; materials and "a pie Of docu-
meat, before him. He rnec. removing his
cay As We catered. The officer placed chairs
for lis near the table, and begging us to be
seated unhuttoned lis overcoat. AS he
threw it open observed that he wore n
belt with a pistol holster attached to IL.
the flaps Uubuttoned.
! sat down. faint with emotion, now that
my part WAS played, but Gordon remained
standing, his brows bent. his countenance
overcast with pain, believing that Tsras
had been taken prisoner Again the officer.
speaking in Russian, begged him to take a
seat. Gort!"n turned TO me. dropped my
head. ashamed to meet his eyes Il don't
know what he says, but suppose he wants
me To st down" said he. viii You tell
him. n.ademoiselle. that we have come TO
see Taras, and that's all We WANT"
! madcno reply. but remained silent with
downca>t eyes.
1 Il be- YOUR pardon. be said with earnest
solicitudc, Il forgot that you-that this
blow must naturally fall heavily upon you
You are ills"
shook my head
NJ, -
chair, and Gordon refusing 1t with a curt
No. thanks!" he shrugged his shoulders,
and seating himself at the head of the table
took up paper and began to read from It
la Russian. Gordon stopped him in the
! first sentences.
IF you are reading that paper for my
benefit" said he, allow me to tell you that
you are wasting your time don't under.
stand a word of Russian"
The old gentleman, who had seated him.
self on the left hand OF the officer, leaned
forward. and speaking for the first time
said in fairly good English and with trace
of sarcasm in his bland smile:
surely the prince has not been expa-
triated SO long US to forget his native
tongue?"
Pm not prince. and my native tongue
/
"Ah understand" the old gentleman
responded with the same ironical bland
ness. You wish to plead mistaken iden-
tity"
] II don't know what you mean have
come on board to see Taras-Prince Bor-
gensky-at his request"
| Pardon me, was at the head of the
stairs when Count Rudersdorf invited the
prince-addressing you. Of course. in the
third person-to come on board"
AT the name Of Rudersdorf lifted my
head in surprise to look at the officer. Was
this the relentless enemy, the bloodhound"
that Kavanagh had gone to such lengths to
outwit-this polite. middle aged. not I'M
merciful. certainly not ferocious looking
man?
what on earth does this mean," asked
Gordon. turning to me. Then, getting no
response, he addressed the officer: will
you answer me one question, pleasei Is
Taras on board this vesseli"
If you are not Taras. he certainly is not, "
was the direct reply.
Then / am not Taras. There Is no ne
cessity to stay here any longer"
He turned as if to go. In that instant
Rudersdorf touched a gong and slipped his
|
neOusly the two burly fellows who had fol-
lowed us to the cabin stepped in and sta.
toned themselves before the door, each
armed with revolver. Gordon stopped
abruptly.
Pardon me-" said the elderly gentleman
as II nothing had occurred to break the
thread Of the discussion, there Is a neces.
sity to stay. We have warran: for the ar
rest Of Prince Borgensky. which Count
Rudersdorf will proceed to read to you II
| you choose to hear 1t. and until you can
give satisfactory proof that you are not
"aras Borgensky you must consider your
self q prisoner. OF course" he continued
with shrug and a smile. II need not point
out to you that resistance Is perfectly use
Less and may be fatal"
MY name is George Gordon. l can give
you my card"
The old man held up his hand derisively
| a. he said:
I'VE are quite aware that you have
| adopted that name. and also that you have
lately been living at Grandson Chambers,
Adelphi terrace. The count has been
watching you closely for some time. Here
Is an accurate description of your person,
| II you would like to see it. Wehave taken
the utmost pains to assure ourselves Of
your identity before taking this important
step. you may be sure"
Hang It'll II you will not believe my
word. what proof can give you"
| 1.-The simplest In tho world-showing
your papers"
| "Paperss"
With a smile, as II at Gorden's affected
ignorance. the old gentleman drew from his
| pocket a we'll worn document and showing
it said:
THE papers which every one is compelled
by police regulations to carry"
I'm England, SIR" said Gordon fercely.
that humiliation is only put upon those
who merit it by their crimes"
do you wish me to believe that an Eng.
lishman is not obliged to produce papers Of
Identification at the request of the policei'
Not unless he Is ticket of leave man.
The old gentleman, in complete astonish-
ment, communicated this information to
Rudersdorf, who shook his head with an
incredulous smile.
This young lady will tell you that I am
not Taras," said Gordon.
I'VE cannot expect any young lady to In
criminate her friend We are very we'll 40
quainted with Mile. Aura Soltikoff. She
has saved you thrice from apprehension, but
she will not succeed a fourth-at any rate,
not by such simple means as you suggest. -
will the evidence Of another friend con.
vince your"
Undoubtedly, II the friend Is reliable"
"You seem to be pretty we'll informed
upon some points" said Gordon after a few
moments reflection. Perhaps you know
| q gentleman named Kavanaghf"
| Perfectly we'll"
"You will accept his evidencei"
! without hesitation"
Every WE'LL" said Gordon trfumphantly.
II will send for him"
Perfectly useless" said the old gentle.
man despondently-'per-fect-ly. Perhaps
you are not aware that Mr.. Kavanagh. like
myself, Is the paid servant Of the car"
"A paid servant Of the czar!" Gordon ex-
claimed. overwhelmed with establishment
| And the most trusted agent Of his excel
lency, the minister Of police"
A glimmering of the truth d ~ned upon
Gordon, and his sterner nature taking the
ascendant he turned fercely upon me and
said:
Are you. too. a servant Of theczar-a 20.
lice spy"
bowed my head before his wrath The
old gentleman answered for me:
Unfortunately Mile. Soltikoff IL our
most determined adversary, as you should
know who owe SO much to her."
Gordon regarded him and then me in
utter bewilderment Rudersdorf took up
the order Of arrest. again saying a few
words in Russian.
If you have no other evidence to offer,
Count Rudersdorf will proceed to read the
warrant. Time presses"
Its farce. l tell you. reading the thing
to me- You have no power to arrest me-"
The fact that you are prisoner proves