The Washington weekly post., 1899-07-25

hluti Aue eye OF the IheSStAise4s - must
remote"
Il am more tran willing to risk all that
II you will undertake the journey. You
speak lightly OF my scheme, but that Is
merely because yoH do not understand the
situation. Everything you have hereto
fore done has been OF temporary advan-
tage to the paper, but Y you carry mis- of
] expect the benefit 10 the Bugle will De
lasting. II viii give me a standing with
certain officials that have never before
succeeded IN getting. In the first place, II
VIII make them afraid Of ne, and that OF
Itself is a powerful lever when we are
trying 70 get information which they are
anxious 10 give to some other paper"
Very well, Mr. Hardwick: / will try,
but ! warn you 20 expect nothing but fall
Ure. In everything else have endeavored
20 DO have felt confident OF success from
the beginning. In this instance / am as
sure ] shall fail"
AS / told you. Miss Baxter. the project
Is so difficult that your failure. II YOU do
fan, will merely prove II 10 have been i'm
possible, because ! am sure that IL any
one on earth could carry IL cut you are
that person. and, furthermore, l am very
much obliged to you for consenting TO at
tempt sucn mission
And thus il was that Jennie Baxter
found herself in due time in the great
capital OF the North, with a room in the
Hotel de TEurope overlooking the Nevski
Prospect. In ordinary circumstances she
would have enjoyed a visit 10 ST. Peters,
burg, but she was afraid 10 venture out.
being under the apprehension that at any
moment she might meet Lord Donal
Stirling face TO face and that he would
recognize her. Therefore she remained
discreetly in her room, watching the
strange street scenes from her window.
She found herself scrutinizing every one
who had the appearance OF being an Eng
lishman, and she had to confess to lit
tie qualm Of disappointment when the
person in question turned out not to D.
Lord Donal; in fact, during her short stay
I'm ST. Petersburg she saw nothing OF the
young man.
Jennie went, on the evening of her ar
rival, 10 the office OF the sleeping car
company. so as to secure place in one
Of the carriages that left az O'Clock on
the evening OF the 21st. Her initial diff
Guilty met her when she learned there
were several sleeping cars on that train
and she was puzzled TO know which to
select She stood there. hesltating. with
the plans CO the carriages on the table
before her
You have ample choice" said the clerk.
Seats are not usually booked so long in
advance, and only two places have been
taken in the train so far"
'I should like 10 be in a carriage con-
tanning some English people said the
girl, not knowing what excuse to give for
her hesitation.
'Then let me recommend this car, for
one berth has been taken by the British
Embassy-room c, near the center. mark
ed with a cross
"Ah, well, l will take this compartment
next to it-room d, isn't it?' said Jennie.
"Oh, / am sorry to say that also has
been taken! Those are the two compart-
ments which are bespoken. ] will see un-
der what name it has been booked. Prob
ably its occupant is English also. But
can give you room on the other side of
the one reserved by the embassy. 1t is
two-berth room, Nos. and s."
That will do quite as Well" said Jer-
ME.
The clerk looked up the order book and
then said:
1T is not recorded here by whom room
D was booked. As a usual thing" he
continued, lowering his voice almost TO a
whisper, and looking furtively over his
shoulder. when no name is marked down
that means the Russian police. So, YOU
see, by taking the third room you will
not only be under the shadow of the Brit
ish Embassy. but also under the protec-
ton OF Russia. Do you wish one berth
only or the whole room? 1t is a two-berth
compartment"
Il desire the whole room, If you please"
She paid the price and departed, won
dering if the other room had really been
taken by the police and whether the au-
thorlties were so anxious for the safety
Of the special messenger that they con-
sidered il necessary TO protect him to the
frontier. IT, in addition to the natural
precautions Of the messenger. there was
added the watchfulness of one or two
suspicious Russian policemen, then would
her mission become indeed impossible.
On the other hand, the ill-paid policemen
might be amenable TO the influence OF
money and as she was Well supplied with
the coin of the realm, their presence
might be a help rather than a hindrance
All in all, she had little liking for the task
she had undertaken. and the more she
thought of il the less it commended itself
10 her. Nevertheless, having pledged her
word TO the editor, if failure came it
would be through no fault of hers.
Jennie went early tc the station on the
right of the 2lst. and entered the sleep
car as soon as she was allowed 10 do
The conductor seemed somewhat fius-
tered at her anxiety 10 get to her room,
and he examined her ticket with great
care Then, telling her TO follow him, lie
took her to room b, in which were Sit
uated berths and g. upper and lower
The berths We're not made up, and the
room showed one seat. made to accom-
modate two persons. The conductor went
out on the platform again, and Jennie,
finding herself alone in the carriage
walked up and down the narrow passage
way at the side TO get better idea of
her surroundings.
Room G, next TO her own, was the one
taken by the British Embassy. Room ID,
still farther on, was the one that ap-
peared 10 hsrve been retained by the pO-
lice She stood for a few moments by
the broad plate glass window that lined
the passage and looked out at the crowd
ed platform. For a time she watched the
conductor who seemed to be gazing 0nX-
iOusly toward the direction from which
passengers streaned, as if looking for
some one in particular. Presently a biz
man, & huge Oyerccat belted around
him, with stern bearded face-lockiaS,
the girl thought. typically Russian-strode
up 10 the conductor and spoke earnestly
TO him. Then the two turned 10 the
steps Of the car, and Jennie fed 10 her
narrow little room, closing the door all
but about an inch. An instant later the
two men came in, speaking together IN
French. The larger had a gruff voice and
smoke the language in a way that showed
il was not native 20 him
When did you learn that he had
changed his room?" asked the man win
the gruff voice.
only this afternoon" replied the con-
ductor.
"Did you bore holes between that and
the adjoining compartment
Yes. your exceIieEcy; but AZof did not
tell me whether you wanted the holes at
the top or the bottom"
Room Room Room Room