Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-12-29
CHAPTER vi.
An Old Acquaintance.

1t was after l had been a week or
two in st. Petersburg that | first be
came conscious that was an object OF
interest 10 strangers In what was TO
me a most ~unaccoUntable way. On one
occasion, for example. l was about to
be introduced to an ~aide-de-camp of the
Car, when the General-I forget his
name now-started slightly, and looked
at me with a marked curiosity. | was
certain that l had never met him be-
fore, and yet, so confused was he, that
my friend had to repeat my name be
fore he recovered himself sufficiently
to shake hands with me.
On another occasion ON the street, l
saw a passer-by stare at me for a few
seconds, as If there was something ex-
~t-aordinary in my appearance, and
then nudge his companion, who, in like
manner stared and nodded to his
friend, as il recognizing that the re-
mark made had been true. L thought
there must be something amiss with
ny dress, or that my face had been dis
figured by blood or a marx of some
kind: but when / took the opportunity
Of examining myself at a mirror in a
restaurant, / could not find anything
wrong with my dress or appearance.
This may have made me sensitive.
but afterwards / began to fancy that
people were noticing me wherever l
went; and though I tried TO persuade
myself that / was mistaken, the I'M
preston that 1t was so remained with
me-.
One morning, as was turning into a
thoroughfare near Prince K~ropenskfs
house, / Tet. an old acquaintance, a
young Russian whom l had known !
London, named Raoul Clermont Vesil-
,ov, the son Of a Russian and a French
woman. This meeting was Ii OF the
turning points of my life.
We greeted each other warmly. for
two or three years before we had been
familiar, If not intimate. acquaintance
es. We had been accustomed to meet
| three or four times a week, at a Lon
don restaurant, where eight or ten
young fellows, with more leisure than
sense. had established a sort of in
formal club. We liked to talk without
restraint and hear n another talk,
| while we smoked cigarettes and VII
lainously bad cigars, and drank lager
beer or cheap French wines. Frightful
theories were preached at these gath
erlngs. which the English members OF
our little community only played with,
but which seemed to find serious ac-
ceptance witE our foreign friends.
We had barely had time to exchange
n few words, when a man in work
mans dressed passed, at which Raoul
| directed a fixed look that had some
| thing of anxiety in it. The man
lounged down the street, as If he had
nothing particular to do, and finally
! stopped TO gaze In at a shop ndo
I I'm afraid / can't stop now" said
Raoul, hurriedly; "can you come and
see me to-nightT"
with pleasure said 1; what is
| your address,
My friend did not answer at once.
| but continued to glance sideways at
! the workman. who was still interested
in the articles displayed in the shop
| window.
Il can't give you my address ut pres
| ent," Rauol said. In a confused sort OF
way. I'll am compelled to change
my quarters very often, almost from
day to day. We are not In England
you know. But If you will tell me
where you are staying. / will send yor
word In the course of the day where
we can meet this evening"
This was as good as u confession or
Raoul's part that he was under the sur
VIGILANCE OF the police; but, as |. hnc
no reason TO fear the police, | did no
see why / should not enjoy a chat witt
my old acquaintance.
L told him / was staying at Primes
Kropenski's town house, and began Il
'describe The situation of it,, when ht
interrupted me with:
"lMy messenger will find the hous,
easily enough. Bnt / must be OFF now
You wall not fail to.ceme III send yel
!. the address,
"Certainly ] will come. Why should
you doubt itY' 49,
To this Raoul Yessloy. made no an
swer, but, after a hasty glance in tit
direction Of the Workman at the slor
window he walked off abruptly, with
u as ,muca as a word. or a nod o
adieu.
or course, all this could bear but on,
meaning. 1 guessed that Raoul hat
recogniZel In the man in workman
dress one OF the numerous police spie'
with which st. Petersburg is infested
ard that he was anxious to get clea
of before the man made up his mins
TO dencunce him. / was confirmed II
this Expression when | observed thar
when he left me, the pretended work
nan made after him at once. favorin'
me with a sharp glance in passing
1t did not much surprise me to fin'
that Raoul had made hiinsels ohnox
ious to the Russian authorities. -
knew that he entertained the wildes
revolutionary IDEAS. SO. j know, d
many Englishmen. But the Difference
is this. The Engl!shmen may like play
ing with fire. but he never forgets tina
II is fire. and when II comes 10 putin,
his theories into practice, he find
Some very good reason for sitting still
Hut with the Frenchman, rhe Italian
or the Russian. II Is very different. IL
not only likes playing with fire. but h
loves to see a good blaze: and rattle
than let II die out for want OF fuel. h
, will throw mis- furniture. and hi
friends furniture, and all that he In
In the world, into the buriing pile
W