The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-06-11

if you will have the goodness to ac-
company u.s."
The man indicates a large stone
building opposite.
1t cost me a supreme effort not to
groan aloud. and my voice shakes as
it stammers:
Il have not my papers here. Would
it not suffice If l present myself with
them tomorrow
Alas! as | put the question l know
the futility Of it. Like an unfortun.
ate fish with a hook through his Gill.
every struggle but confirms M fate.
Il regret to say hat it would not"
replies the officer. Under the cir
cumstances we are bound to place you
under arrest until your papers are
forthcoming. If you will instruct us
where they are to be found. they will
be procured for you without the loss
OF m Your effects have been sent
onward to some hotel and your pa
pers"-
Il have no effects-here,n | inter-
rupt desperately, whilst before nv
eyes all objects begin to dance to
the ~throbbing Of my brain. ..How
could l presuppose such a contingency
as that-that | should be stopped in
the street and my papers demanded!"
! am talking nonsense, but l must
say something; | see how the men ex-
change significant chances.
And you left them behind?" queries
the gendarme. with a dubious eleva-
ton OF the eyebrows. IA strange
mistake to make since every Russian
knows that it may save both DELAY
and unpleasantness if he carries with
him the proofs of his identity when
travelling. 1 must say that it is an
extraordinary oversight on your part,
and n that you must answer for to
the Prefect'.
We'll, it is nc use parleying about
it." roughly ~interposes the other
officer: The man must come with
us. That is the sum total.' And be
lays his hand on my arm.
Il will 60" l say, with a gasp, and
grim despair digs it's cruel talons deep
into my. erewhile, so Joyous heart.
lstill hold Maruscha's letter crushed
in my fingers, forgetful of it in this
momen of perp!exity. l am remind
ed of it by its dexterous withdrawal.
Permit me-" observes the polite
officer.
He raises it to his eyes and slowly
reads the address aloud: .'Waldemar
hicolaivitch Alikanotf.' He bows to-
ward me as if a third party were in
the act Of presenting me to him. "A
good name. A good, Russian name"
Il have not read that letter; it is
from my betrothed," | say. choking
down my indignation. will YOU
permit me to read it? Surely it can
make no difference so that you retain
it i'll your possession"
My duty is to place it in the hands
OF the project unopened. " is the re-
spouse. If there is nothing treason
able IN it he will return it to you"
The cold sweat breaks out on nv
brow. 'Oh, Maruscha Maruscha!
God in mis- mercy grant that thou hast
not compromised thyself" | inwardly
groan.
Meanwhile, with a gendarme On
each side of me-, | have crossed the
square and am entering the police
offices. We traverse a succession Of
dirty rooms, furnished with little else
ave desks and s%pittoons.
At length we enter a small ante
room and stop at a door at which the
o1:cer who seems always to take the
initiative. knocks.
1t IS torn open instantly, and an
irate head is thrust out surmounted
by a military cap. A fierce head with
coarse black hair standing off it wide
eyes, ~dllated nostrils. and a bristlino =.
mustaChe that stands out like the
Whiskers of a tom cat.
TO BE CONTINUED.