Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-03-16

confidence was far from sharing
But think our best plan will be to
tell the captain of the Alexandra to
carry you to Peterhof instead of to St
Petersburg. The Gear does not usually
reside in the palace at Peterhof, but III
a chateau in the park. 1t will be much
easier, should think, to get out Of a
house of that size than it would be to
leave the Cars palace in st. Peters
burg. And another advantage Of that
plan would be that it would make it
possible for you to avoid meeting the
Czarina. 1t would never do for you to
allow her to approach you"
II can see that" answered, with a
sigh. Indeed, it was only now that
began to understand how hazardous
the enterprise had undertaken really
VS.; but 1 told myself had gone too
| far to draw back.
The palace and park of Peterhof lay,
l knew. seven OF eight miles west of
! the capital, on the shore of the bay.
1t seemed to me that Won Mitschlla's
advice was good, and determined to
follow it. 1t was arranged that DR..
Petrovski should be asked to be at Pc
| terhof ready to meet me.
On the following morning was TAX
en- ashore and conducted to a house,
| where I found Peter Oristovitch, the
| steward Of the imperial yacht AleXan-
Ira. He was a small, dark man. wear
ing short. black beard. His keen,
black eyes read my face critically, but
he seemed to be satisfied with what he
saw there, for he suddenly smiled and
held out his hand, saying, simply:
Il will be true to you, and risk my
life to save you from arrest. And
promise you that if you carry out my
orders implicitly you will succeed
The mans calm, resolute demeanor
pleased me. He was one of the few
Russians Of pure Slav blood who held
prominent places III the councils of the
rebels.
"Beltoff has signed articles, and
passed the medical examination as one
of the under-stewards this morning"
said my new acquaintance. Il propose
that we go OH board at once. You will
so in his place, in his name, and he will
be Struggled on board in the course of
the day.
There was no great danger in the
plan Oristovitch suggested. procured
small handbag and some necessary
articles of dress. taking care that the
bag and all bought should be such as
a man in the position of an under-stew-
ard might be supLt sed to possess.
The papers put into my hand were In
order, and the head steward took me
on board the great yacht without any
trouble.
Prepared as 1 was for large vessel.
the size of the Alexandra took me by
surprise. She seemed to me more like
an ocean-liner than a yacht.
1 was installed in a pantry of good
size for place of that description, and
situated near the dining saloon, so that
anything needed at table might be
fetched at once. The dining saloon it
self, gorgeous apartment, of Which l
caught glimpse through the sliding
doors. extended nearly to the stern.
The state rooms occupied by the Sow
ereign when he was on board We're sit
uated at the forward end of the sa-
LOOM and separated from it by wood
Ell WALL and a passage that ran from
the center of the ship right to the port
side. Out Of this, to the right, opened
| the doors which led to the apartments
set apart for the private use of the
| Gar.
| That night put on sort of undress
uniform suitable to my post, and slept
in hammock slung in the pantry. In
spite of my strange surroundings, and
in spite of what was before me. slept
Soundly.