Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-01-19

You followed me down to the beach.
skulking behind the sand hills; and
YOU have been trying to make the bar
maid tell you what had said to her.
I repeat that, II you don't give up at
once will thrash you until you can't
stand"
But the little man was not without
pluck. He refused to be. bullied, and l
saw that I would have some trouble
before got rid of him. To appeal to
the solitary policeman at Brierwick t.
determine whether the detective had.
as he claimed to have, a legal right to
follow me, as long as he did not inter-
fere with me, was obviously absurd.
TO be sure, might induce the man to
follow me to some lonely spot and I'D
minister the thrashing he richly de-
! served. But the idea of doing this-of
beating a man who. very likely, would
not try to- defend himself-was revolt
ing; and, besides, the consequences
might be even more detrimental to the
success Of my plans than the espionage
I feared. If l were laid by the heels
in a country gaol might say "good-
bye" to all IDEAS of ransoming Prince
KropenslSi.
| Alter tLluklllse d LEW uOAASAeS =
turned upon the spy and said to him:
Look here, what's your name?'
"Davis, sir, is my NAME"
"Davis, then. AS you have already
ascertained, suppose, l cannot yet
say whether shall return to town by
the last train tonight, or stay here for
some time. If l find that l can get
away tonight, you may follow me to
London or not, just as you choose. SO
long as you don't Interfere with :!e.
But if my friend arrives mean. II
l don't leave for London tonight, you
had better not remain here with any
idea of playing the spy upon me. For
your own sake say, you'd better not.
Your employers whoever they are are
not at all likely to pay you enough to
recolnpensc you for the suffering such
a. line of conduct would entail on you.
That's all l have to say on the sub
ject.'
You said something about my en-
ployers," said Davis. after a pause
do you know who they are?"
"No; and don't care"
81 am retained by the Russian gov
clmment," said the spy, proudly.
every likely"
I "NIy instructions are to watch you,
and follow you, even in the event OF
your leaving England, reporting upon
| the persons you meet, and so on"
"You are frank at all events"
said.
81 am" said the spy. "But not with
out q reason. 1 have further instruc-
lions that it is possible you may be
taken by some strangers to a certain
place; and in that case am to tell you
that the Government of the Car
would be prepared to pay at a very
high rate for any information
"Indeed"'
eyes. For information that would
be really reliable, am told may go
so far as to offer f1,OOO.'
burst into a laugh.
"Aly good SIR" l said, II know lit
/ tie more of the ways of the Govern
ment of the Car than you imagine. L
| know, ut all events that the sum you
| have named is ridiculously small
one.''
"Well, under circumstances, we
might, perhaps, be inclined to go as
high as $4,000"
"And YOU expect me to risk my life,
as we'll as betray my companions, for
that? Upon my word, you are scarce
ly complimentary .
what would you say to $4,000?
Come now?"
Il say that 10000 would be nearer
the mark"
.'ren thousand pounds? You must
be madv'
Not at all. And to show you that I
mean what say, may tell you that l
am morally convinced that the Rus
sian Official who gave you your in
structions, gave you authority to offer
me as much as $1,000
This seemed to take Davis breath
away.
lie pretended that 100000 was quite
out of the question, and l stuck to- my
point in such a way as to convince
him that meant business. The end OF
it was that he gave in, and promised,
on behalf of his employers, that L
should have 100000 for such Informal
ton as would enable the Russian gov
eminent to find the place to which it
was expected would be taken. From
his guarded manner Of speaking 1 felt
certain that Davis had told the true
| tGISCl Ol llc 1uAlCly VI CAAS AsS'S->>-1
Government to obtain the information
for which they were willing to pay sc
dear. He supposed that nothing was
intended but an arrest of some Of the
Nihilist conspirators.
'sWe'll think about it, said L.. "Yor
can't expect an answer off hand Ii
fact, there are others-you understand
that must work with, if the thing il
; done. And that reminds me-they viii
want something beyond my bare Wort
show the amount of money THAT is tt
be shared. Just give me a note to 81,
that you are ready to give me flo,0Ot
: for the information desired; that viii
do"
II needn't sign it, suppose?' III
asked, hesitating, with tire pen in hi
hand.
"Oh. dear, no! Say 'On behalf Of TIN
} Russian Government and put your in
+! itials. That will be enough for me. !"
The paper was signed and, afte
glancing at it, I put it in my pocket.
"Now, understand" said l. Il mus
J have perfect freedom of action in til