Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-14
Copyright, 1897, by the woolfall Publishing Co.
CHAPTER w.
OFF FOR SIBERIA.


into the carriage, and when Maurice
attempted to speak he harshly enjoined
silence.
The boys felt but little alarm or un-
easiness. They were familiar with the
strict system of espionage that prevails
in Russia and naturally supposed that
something was wrong with their pass
ports.
That It was a very remarkable pro-
ceeding for the police to stop train on
the outskirts of Moscow never occurred
to them.
Thus, in happy ignorance of their
fate, worried only on 1van's account,
who they feared was ignorant Of what
had happened, they rode on into the
city, turning in and out through dark,
gloomy streets, until a somber stone
building was reached, feebly lighted by
a bunch Of gas jets over the portal.
They were hurried across the side
walk, through a gloomy hall, and ush-
cred into small apartment, where two
severe looking men were writing at IT,
bles. A couple of windows, crossed by
heavy iron bars, seemed to open on the
street.
In the center of the room was square
pen surrounded by railing, and as tie
boys entered this two gendarmes fol-
lowed them in and began to search
their clothing.
No part Of their persons was neglect
ed. Their handkerchiefs, pocketbooks,
cardcases and watches were removed
and placed on large table, where their
travelling bags were already lying.
The gendarmes retired to bench on.
the other side of the room, the officials
at the table ceased writing, and pres
emily the officer who had boarded the
train entered by private door and sat
down at large desk facing the boys.
He took their passports from his
pocket. and glancing over them spoke
few words in Russian to the two assist
ants, who at once began to write.
A Agendarme stood by his side, banding
him the various articles from time TO
time, which be subjected to q minute
examination. The money and watches
were laid to one side, and theG he open
ed the cardcases.
Maurice, who saw all that was going
on, was amazed to see that they were
empty. Cards, letters and various men,
oranda that they had possessed were
missing.
But still greater surprise was in
store for him.
The officer opened the travelling bags
and turned the contents upon the desk.
He placed aside the various toilet i'm
plements, clothes, brushes, collars and
other articles of apparel, until there re-
mained before him a collection of
strange objects that neither Maurice
nor Phil had ever seen before.
These comprised bunch of what re-
sembled handbills printed in strange
characters, half dozen letters sealed
and addressed and two or three books
bound in yellow paper covers, the titles
of which Maurice was unable to read.
Forgetting all prudence, he sprang to
his feet. "This is mistake" " he ex-
Blaimed. "Those are not our things.
Send for my uncle, Vladimir Saradoff.
He can explain this''-
Before he could say more two gen.
darmes jerked him back on his chair, a
forcible manner of enjoining silence
which Maurice was not slow to under
stand
The officer inspected these strange OBJ.
jects with a grave countenance. He
continued debating to the assistants.
who wrote as rapidly as their hands
could travel over the paper.
1t was evident that the situation had
now assumed serious phase. The boys
still believed that an error had beer
made somewhere. Not a glimmer of
the truth entered their minds. Unable
to speak a word of Russian, they were
IN bad plight. How could they ac-
quaint Vladimir Saradoff with their
predicamen,? Maurice had fairly re-
solved to make another effort to speak
when the officer signaled to the gen.
darmes, and the boys were led into an
other apartment furnished with rude
bed, two chairs and small table. The
heavy door was locked, and they were
alone.
"This is dreadful" exclaimed Phil,
throwing himself on the bed. Il wish
we had never seen Russia.
keep up your spirits" replied
Maurice. "All will come right. My un-
Gle will discover where we are before
the night is over"
Unable to sleep, the boys discussed
their strange situation for an hour or
more, expecting every moment to learn
that Vladimir Saradotf had arrived.
This was their belief when at last
the prison door was opened to admit the
officer who had conducted the eXamina-
tion. But no such glad tidings awaited
them.
The Russian seated himself Oh a
chair and sharply surveyed his prison
ers before he spoke.
Then he drew card from his pocket
which Maurice recognized as the one
given to him by the man he had saved
from death.
81 speak your language. he said in
badly accented English. II may be able