The Portland daily press., 1898-05-02
WILLIAM LIE QuEuX.


His confidence surprised me, and I i'm
nediately asked him how he had ascer-
tanned my patronymic, to which he re-
piled, not without hesitation:
81 am fully aware OF your high nobility
object in visiting Skerstymone. You are
seeking Sonia Korolenkio."
eyes" 1 replied, in the best Russian
could remember. do you know her
whereabouts? If you take me to her you
shall have handsome reward. F"
| He smiled mysteriously, and glanced
so wistfullyaat my vodta that l at once or
dered for him a second glass of the spirit
SO beloved of this Muscovite palate.
"Is your high nobility we'll acquainted
with Sonia
I replied in the affirmative, Offering
him a cigarette from my case. At last
1 have found one who had met the dark
eyed girl of whom I was in search.
| "You know her," I said. "Where is
she?''
| "In hiding"
| Far from hereP"
Well, not very" he answered. 81 could
take you to her this very night-if you
make it worth my WHILE
"Why not in daylight inquired.
because the frontier guards are here
in swarms.
Then. in reply to my questions, he ad-
mitted that he was one of those who OBJ
|
| bandEgoods and persons without passports
across the frontier into and out of Ger
many. Along the whole of the Russio-
| German frontier there are bands of peas
antry who live by smuggling emigrants,
Jews malefactors, and others who have
no permit to leave the country, across into
| Germany by certain by paths that remain
| unguarded, Notwithstanding the constant
vigilance of the military.
"And what is Sonia doing at PRESENT.
I inquired, after he had frankly related
to me his position in low tone SO that
we might not be overheard by any caves
dropper or police spy.
"She has always been LEADER" he an
swered. laughing gaily. "She is so still. -
ga leader of smugglers' exclaimed
surprised that the pretty girl who had
been admired in every capital in Europe
should adopt s1ch hazardous reckless
life.
"Well, yes, if you chose to call it so,
he said, rather rssentfully, l thought
1--WE merely assist our countrymen to es
cape the police, and they pay toll for oul
aid, he added. 'fShe heard you were in
quiring for her at Skerstymone, and has
sent me as messenger to take you to her.
She fears to come herself"
I looked steadily at the man, and saw
for the first time that, although a moujik
he was nevertheless a sturdy adventurer
ship:
"And you wish me to pay toll like the
Others" 1 exclaimed with smile.
eff we act as guide we are surely en-
titled to something. There are many
risks" he answered, putting at his Cigar
connoiseur.
Chow much?'
"The high nobility is rich'' he replied
"He was once at the English Embassy in
Petersburg. Let us say two hundred
roubles.''
1.-TWO hundred to be paid only in
Sonia's presence 1 acquiesced eagerly.
Truth to tell would have paid five hun
dred or even thousand for safe conduct
to her.
tits bargain" he answered draining
his glass. ''Meet me tonight at ter
O'Clock at this place. 1 hope you are
good walker for we must travel by the
secret paths. The post-road would NEAR
arrest for me; it might also go rather
hard with you to be found in my com
, pany."
I can walk well, I answered. "To
night at ten.''
Then ordered more vodka and after
drinking success to our midnight jour
ney, he arose and left me, bending a goot
deal as he shuffled along tn. street in hi
old freize overcoat many sizes too large
for him.
In any other circumstances I .shouls
have looked upon this devil-may care
, shock headed adventurer with graves
suspicion, for his face was of distinctl,
criminal physiognomy, and his speech
was that of one utterly inscriptions
Yet when J. remem bered the allegation
that Sonia, the woman who lured tn,
: young Prince Alexis GaZarin to his death
was an associate of the most desperate
thieves in Europe, the fact that she hat
| sent him as messenger seemed by M
means remarkable. From what he hat
told me it was apparent that this girl
, whose beauty had brought her renowI
and held her victims fascinated, had re
, turned to her own country and becOm
leader of dsperate band Of nomads VIII,
. drove a thriving trade by guiding fugi
/ tiyes from justice out OF the Cars do
, minions, and imploring from Germany
dutiable articles of every description.
Ssnta's offence against the law did not
however trouble me much. l only desirel
to ascertain from her the truth regarding
. my wife, the Grand Duchess and in orde
to meet her was prepared for any risk.
Thus placed myself in the hands o
this Misunderstanding rascal whose nam
r did not know and who had come to m
, entirely without credentials. My natura
| caution warned me that from every poin
of view my midnight expedition wa
fraught with considerable danger, ye
| thoughts of my sad eyed wife whom l s.
dearly love aroused within rue determi
nation to ascertain some key to tn
accompany the unkempt stranger in fac
| OF any peril.
Ito be continued.)
THE LONG-HAIRED YOUTH.