Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-12-15

HOSt SlIItS 'ii' IOlloh ltlS- N'h NNNlN
where For Gods sake hc careful.
All. me. but who could have put them
on the scent.
"Src here. Hans" | said as put my
hand on his shoulder. you are evident
ly on the inside OF this affair. and |
wish YOU would tell me what in the
devil it all means. Has your gang
planned to rob Il bank, steal Il steam
boat or upset the Russian govcrnnAnt?
| don't like to go it blind this way"
He looked at me open mouthed for
half minute, and then IL broad grin
stole over his face. He thought | was
playing off on him to test his prudence
and loyalty.
You will carry it through all right"
of his head. and he went away looking
very well pleased.
At the end of another n hours | got
a further insight into the mystery. |
had StrOllCd into another hotel three or
four blocks away to examine the regis
ter, as globe trOttcr invariably does
for no reason he can explain. when n
my twin brother as far as outward ap-
pcaranccS went. He was OF my height
and weight. had the same colOrcd eyes.
hair and muStachc, and | believe our
own mothers would have wondered
which was which. lie stared at me-
and stared back, and ! wandered
back to my own hotel. J. wing that
10 ronl fran, I nnIn,, iI a arrived
An hour later the Pole came to me in Il
great funk. He had confused the two
Of us. as we'll he might. and given his
little affair away to Il stranger. He
started out to say something. but |
stopped him with:
Il have seen your chief and know
how the mistake came about. Nothing
you said to me will go farther What
you are up to l don't know and don't
want to know. but don't mix me up in
1t. Good day"
He mumhlcd blessings on my head
and disappeared to be seen no more,
nor did the twin brother call on me or
send me any word. My waiter was
also Knocked out when he discovered
few words Quieted him. The Russian
spies must have had Il bad time of it
trying to settle on the right man. but
they finally decided in my favor. The
Englishman was free from survcil-
lance. while | was logged closer than
before.
At the end of week and while they
still 1nT,rin,r mo nnI | rpth-
er enjoying it. there was Il fire aboard
Of ship in the harbOr. 1t was about .
o'clock at night. and Il great crowd
gathered on the wharfS to watch the
cOntiagrati0n. | made one of the num-
Der, and in my anxiety to secure Il good
view | mounted the bows of smart
looking brig lying at n wharf. was
hardly over the rail before two men
followed and seized me and hustled me
down into the cabin. They were the
Russians who had been spying on me.
OF course | made every form Of protest.
but was run into Il staterOom and
locked up. and within an hour the brig
was out of the harbOr. 1t seemed as il
she had simply been waiting my arriv-
al on board. We had been under way
a couple of hours when my door was
opened. and | was ordered to step out.
l found the captain OF the brig. the two
spies and Il Russian government official
awaiting me.
| have told you that the EnglSllman
and looked to be twins. but had not
had time to look for little details As |
sat down opposite the Russian official
he began comparing my description and
appearance with Il written description.
and at the end of five minutes he rose
up and Numbered at the two spies:
"DOlts. Idiots! Blunderers. You
have arrested the wrong man! This is
not the Englishman!'
There was n row to beat the band for
the next ten minutes. The spies pro-
tested that l answered the description
given them and had carried off the
character in all ways. and the official
shouted at them:
HAS he a mole OH his chin? Does
his left eyelid droOp little? Is there
a scar on his right hand thumb? Oh
you blunderers and incompetents. but
you will be rewarded for thiS!'
eff not too much trouble" l said to
the official as he got through stormng,
will you kindly explain why an Amer
ican citizen has been made prisoner in
this fashion? OF what am guilty! If
guilty OF anything, by what authority
do you take the law in your own
hands!"
l was told that 1t was a mistake, but
got no other satisfaction. The brig
was put about. but as the wind fell we
did not make the harbor until after
daylight. Then l was dumped on the
wharf without apology. walked
straight to the American consul and
told him the story, and his reply was:
"Why. man, you had best thank your
stars instead of looking for an apology.
When the Russian officials get hold of
the wrong man by mistake. he is gem
orally sent to Siberia to cover up the
blunder."
Later on | found that the English
man and his party left Stockholm the
same evening, but where they went
and what sort of conspiracy they had
on hand | never aScertamed.
copyright. 1900, by C. b. Lewisl
Her Love Songs.
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