The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-23

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portuny of securing the real letter and leaving this
In its place you will have accomplished the greatest
service you have yet done for the paper"
Oh!" cried Jennie rising. 81 couldn't do that, Mr..
Hardwick couldn't think of doing it. 1t is moth
ing short Of highway robbery"
Il know it looks like that" pleaded Mr. Hard
wick 'but listen to me. If going to open the
letter and its contents then you might charge
me with inStigating theft The fact is, the letter
will not be delayed; it will reach the hands Of the
high and mighty parsonage in England quite intact.
The only difference that you will be it's bearer
stead of the messenger they send for it."
You expect to open the letter, then In some
reptitious way-some way that will not be noticed
afterward? Oh L couldn't do it, Mr. Hardwick!'
My dear girl, you jumping at conclusions 1
shall amaze you when tell you that know already
practically what the contents of that letter are"
'Then what is the of going to all this ex-
pense and trouble trying to steal it?"
Don't say steal it., Miss Baxter. I'll tell you
what my motive is There is an official in England
who has gone out of his way to throw obstacles in
mine. This is needless and irritating for generally
L manage to get the in quest of; but in
several instances, owing to his opposition have
only not got the news but other papers have Now,
since the general rakng we have had over this
Austrian business quite aside from the that
published the exact truth. this stupid old official duff
Ter has taken it upon himself to be exceedingly
sneerng and obnoxious to me, and 1 confess want
to take him down peg. He hasn't any idea that 1
know much about this business as 1 do-in fact,
he thinks it is absolute secret-yet If 1 liked, 1
could tomorrow nullify all the arrangements by
simply publishing what is already in my possession,
which action on my part would create furore in
this country. and less furore in Russia For the
sake of amity between nations, which I accused
Of disregarding, 1 hold my hand
Now, if you get possession of that envelope I
want you to telegraph to while you are en- route
to London, and 1 will meet you at the terminus
Then shall take the document direct to this Official
even before the regular messenger has time reach
him. l shall say to the official: There is the docu-
ment from the high parsonage in Russia to the high
parsonage in England. If you the document.
1 will give it to you but it be understood that
you are to be little less friendly to certain news
papers and little friendly to mine in future
"And suppose he refuses your terms?"
HE won't refuse them; but if he does shall hand
him the envelope just the same"
"Well, honestly. Mr.. Hardwick, 1 don't think your
scheme worth the amount of money it will cost, and.
BESIDES the chance of my getting hold of the doc
ument which will doubtless be locked safely within
dispatch box and constantly under the eye of the
messenger, is most remote
81 am more than willing to risk all that If you
will undertake the journey. You speak lightly of
my scheme, but that is merely because you do not
understand the situation Everything you have
heretofore done has been of temporary advantage to
the paper, but if you carry this off I expect the
benefit to the Bugle will be lasting 1t will give me
standing with certain officials that have never
before succeeded in getting. In the first place it
will make them afraid of me- and that Of itself is
a powerful lever when trying to get informa-
ton which they are anxious to give to some other
paper"
Every WELL Mr.. Hardwick; will try but 1 warn
to expect nothing but failure In everything else
1 have endeavored to do 1 have felt confident of
from the beginning. In this instance 1 am
sure l shall fail"
CAS- told you, Miss Baxter the project is so diff
fcult that your failure if you do fall will merely
it to have been impossible, because l am sure
that if any one earth could carry it you are
that person. andbifurthermore. l am very much
obliged to you for consenting attempt such mis-
sion" 1ja
And thus it was that Jennie Baxter found her
self in due timein the great capital of the north
with ia the Hotel de PEurope overlooking the
Nevski Prospect In ordinary circumstances she
would have enjoyed a visit to ST. Petersburg but
she afraid to venture out, being under the ap-
prehension that at any moment she might meet Lord
Donal Stirling face to face and that he would
recognize her. Therefore she remained discreetIy in
her room, watching the strange street scenes from
nef WINDOW. SHE IOunQ nefSeif ScrutlnlZinP
one who had the appearance of being EngIishnan
and she had to confess to a little qualm of disap-
pOintment when the person in question turned out
not be Lord DonaI; in fact during her short stay
at st. Petersburg she saw nothing the young man.
Jennie went on the evening of her arrival to the
offices of the sleeping company, as to secure
place in of the carriages that left at 6 o'clock
the evening of the Dist. Her initial difficulty met
her when she learned there were several sleeping
cars that train, and she puzzled to know
which to select. She stood there, hesitatng with
the plans of the carriages 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"
Il should like to be in a carriage containing some
English people" said the girl, not knowing what
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 marked with cross"
"Ah, WE'LL will take this compartment next to
it-room D, isn't t?" said Jennie.
''Oh, 1 sorry to say that also has been taken!
Those the two compartments which are be-