Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-03-02

enemy, or by the police. who, feared.
,ycl.lI denounce me TO the captain!
Could / no make up some tale OF that
kind that would hang together ana
serve my turn Or. would IL do 10
refuse to answer all questions, and 10
plead that | was a British subject, ana
that nothing. after all-no breach OF
he laws of RUssia-could be proved
against me? That my conduct might
have been suspicious. but that IL hau
stopped short Of being criminal: Would
that plan succeed!
| debated the question with myseiI
all the time that the order for my de
tention was being made out, all the
time that ! was being driven from we
police station in which | was TO pass
the night. IL doomed up before me
when we came in sight Of IL, dark,
gloomy, huge and massive as a noun
tain.
| was thankful that | was put into n
cell at once, and / understood that my
examination was to be deferred unuI
morning.
/ spent nearly the whole night in
preparing my defense. but in spite or
ilh IAtkNi EdNLENL tlAOANC a. a.
and incredulous, even in my own eyes.
The worst of it was that i had not an
atom OF proof in support or the Hes L
had thought OF telling. 1 could not
even tell the name OF the friend WHO
wrote the mysterious letter, or where
he was TO be found. | was driven 10
think that it would be better 10 confess
that | had had some dealings with the
Nihilists. but had repented Of 1t, n
was only anxious 10 leave the country
and return to England-that had no.
ticed that I was an object OF suspicion
TO the police. and was afraid TO apply
for a passport. Very lame, indeed, u
| could think Of nothing better.
Then | remembered De Noileff. Ii
was he. no doubt. who had caused my
arrest. All that / said must be consist
ent with what he knew of me. And in
irving 10 remember what had been said
at the interview / had had with the
chief of the secret police, fell asleep.
1t was late when | awoke, and as 1
lay watching a sunbeam b a a
struggled through the barred window,
| found myself able to recall, with toll
cradle completeness what had passed
between me and De Noileff. And then
a thought came into my mind that
made My heart thump against my rihs
and my breath come thick and fast.
What if l could carry out an idea that
crossed my biain while the chief OF po-
lice had been talking TO me-what If L
could play a double game-pretend 10
be acting throughout in b interests or
the Russian Governments
Could | do it? Was il not too auda-
cious-too dangerous? Had | the nerve
for such a piece OF deceptiong l had
not been used TO Discrimination; may
say as much as that for myself. Gould
think one thing and say another
without allowing the smallest change
CT expression TO betray me. Could |
invent facts on the spur OF the moment
and produce the ''lie with a circum-
stance" 10 order? My mind revolted
from the very idea. and more than
doubted my ability TO play the part OF
a successful rascal. But then-lrene:
| What was TO become OF her il her faith
er remained in prison! Could l picture
her giving her hand-the hand which |
once had dared to kiss-to the cousin
of whom Won Mitschka had spoken To
me! Could ! bear to think of her, and
the gentle lady, her mother, living in a
garrett in st. Petersburg. compelled 10
subsist on charity or on Irene's slender
wages? Would l not risk something
for success?
| had not found an answer to these
questions when l was summoned 10
appear before an official whose func-
-. 80 fhAGn
Of an examining magistrate in France.
i was led through interminable cor
| ridors and several rooms. and at length
found myself confronted with a tall,
imposing parsonage with white hair.
s~pectacles and the largest moustache l
ever saw on a human being.
Without giving him time to begin his
interrogations. / said to him, in as ear
nest a manner as l could assume
"Sir, / assure you that there has been
! a mistake. The official who ordered my
arrest Numbered horribly. and has
greatly injured the u OF His Males
~. OF course. / do not expect you TO
take my word for this. All | ask Is
that | may be brought face TO face with
! VI. de Noileff as soon as possible"
.De NciIeffg' he exclaimed. as II In
surprise that | was familiar with the
i name of that official: why, it was he
who ordered your arrest
Excuse me. sir" said l, with the mt.
most assurance. that is impossible,
He must have given instructions which
some stupid lieutenant or inferior 9th.
Ger has misunderstood. Great harm
has been done. but may be repaired If
you will only order ME to be taken be-
fore NJ. de Noileff at once"
The magistrate, or officer. pulled his
right-hand moustache. then his left
hand one, then glanced. as If for adj
vice. TO a superannuated clerk. who sat
at a side table with an immense quill
pen suspended in the air. He was the
very image of an honest, upright, in
corruptihle. well meaning. intensely
stupid public servant. oh" | thought
to myself. what woald / not give If
the chief Of the secret police We're a
man Of this stamp
Seeing that the official was hesitat-
ing. l struck in again. taking care to
speak in the most respectful manner:
ssIT ~. .tn.n, xx.tst. &L