San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-10-24
CHAPTER w.
OFF For SIBERIA.

OFF FOR SIBERIA.
A gendarme had accompanied them
into the carriage, and when Maurice
attempted to speak he harshly enjoined
silence.
The boys felt but little alarm or I'M
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 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 Ivan'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 somber stone
building was reached, feebly lighted by
a bunch of gas jets over the portal.
They were hurried across the side
walk, through gloomy hall, and psh-
cred into small apartment, where two
severe looking men were writing at ia
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 the
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 a 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 CHANGING over them spoke a
| few words in Russian to the two assist
ants, who at once began to write.
A gendarme stood by his side, handing
him the various articles from time to
time, which he subjected to minute
1uO AlOhNy uht "asSNNe
were laid to one side, and then 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 mem
oranda that they had possessed were
missing.
But a 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 inn
plements, clothes, brushes, collars and
other articles of apparel, until there re-
manned 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-
claimed. >"Those are not our things.
Send for my uncle, Vladimir Saradof.
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 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 a serious phase. The boys
still believed that an error had been
made somewhere Not a glimmer OF
the truth entered their minds. Unable
to speak word of Russian, they were
in bad plight How could they ao-
quaint Vladimir Saradoff with their
] predicament? Maurice had fairly re-
solved to make another effort to speak
] when the officer signaled to the gem
darmes. and the bows were led into an