The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-10-30

4 nrrve seen your chief and know
how the mistake came about. Nothing
you said to me will go farther. What
you are up to don't know and don't
want to know, but don't mix me up in
it. Good day."
He mumbled 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
that a mistake had been made, but a
few words quieted him. The Russian
spies must have had bad time of it
trying to settle on the right man, but
they finally decided in my favor. The
Englishman was free from surveil-
: lance. while l was logged closer than
before.
At the end of week and while they
were still logging me, and l was rath-
er enjoying it, there was fire aboard
of ship in the harbor. 1t was about 8
o'clock at night, and a great crowd
gathered on the wharfs to watch the
confagration. l made one of the num-
OCAt anu LII NY dAAAClJ " oCGoAC q SOO0
view / mounted the bows of smart
looking brig lying at 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 stateroom and
locked up, and within an hour the brig
was out Of the harbor. 1t seemed as If
she had simply been waiting my arriv-
al on board. We had been under way
q couple of hours when my door was
opened, and / was ordered to step out.
found the captain of the brig. the two
spies and Russian government official
awaiting me.
l have told you that the Englishman
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 written description,
and at the end of five minutes he rose
up and Numbered at the two spies:
"DoItsl Idiots! Blunderersl You
have arrested the wrong mani This is
not the Englishmanw
There was 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 on his chin2 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"
IF not too much trouble" l said to
the official as he got through storming,
will you kindly explain why an Amer
lean 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
handsT
l was told that 1t was 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 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 gen
orally sent to Siberia to cover up the
blunder."
L. ll,l
man and his party left Stockholm the
same evening, but where they went
and what sort of conspiracy they had
on hand never ascertained.
copyright 1900. by c. B. Lewis.l