Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-12-11

one Of the two men followed me. NO
| doubt IL was noted down whom ! ad-
dressed. when | took my meals. how
many cigars I smoked and all other III
tie details After the first day OF this
spy business the same stolid faced
waiter slipped into my room with pale
face and whlsperingly exclaimed:
Those spies are following you every
where. For Gods sake be careful.
All. me, but who could have put them
on the scent"
"See here, Hans" said as put my
hand on his shoulder, you are evident
" on the inside OF this affair, and l
wish you would tell me what In the
devu IL all means. Has your gang
I planned TO rob bank, steal a steam
boat or upset the Russian government
I don't like to 20 II blind this way"
He looked at me open mouthed for
half a minute. and then broad grin
stole over his face. He thought ] was
playing OF on him to test his prudence
and loyalty.
"You will carry II through all right"
he finally said with many heavy mods
OF his head. and he went away looking
very well pleased.
At the end OF another "A hours got
a further insight into the mystery. l
had strolled into another hotel three or
four blocks away TO examine the regis
ter. as a globe trotter invariably does
for no reason he can explain. when a
traveller entered who might have been
my twin brother as far as outward ap-
pearances went. He was OF my height
and weight had the same colored eyes.
hair and mustache. ana believe our
own mothers would have wondered
which was which. He stared az me.
and I stared back. and wandered
back 10 my own hotel. knowing that
| the real man from London had arrived.
\ An hour later the Pole came 10 me In
| great funk He had confused the two
OF Us. as well be might. and given his
/ little affair away % a stranger. lie
started out 10 say something. but
stopped him with:
Il have seen your chief and know
how the mistake came about Nothing
you said 90 me will 60 farther. What
you are up TO doa't know and don't
want 20 know. but don't mix me up In
u. Good day"
He mumbled blessings on my head
and disappeared 20 be- seen no more.
nor dld the twin brother call on me or
send me any word. My walter was
also knocked out when he discovered
that a mistake had been made. but q
few words quIeted him. The Russian
spies must have bad a bad time OF II
trying % settle on the right man. but
they finally decided In my favor. The
/ Engllshman was free from suryeil-
lance. while was dogged closer than
before.
At the end Of week and while they
were still dOgging me. and ! was rath-
er enjoying IL. there was tre aboard
Of a ship In the harbor. IL was about
o'clock at night. and a great crowd
gathered on the whar(s TO watch the
confiagratlon. I made one OF the num-
Der. and In my anxiety 10 secure a good
view | mounted the bows OF q 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 a 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
n 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.
| | have told you that the Engllshman
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 thundered at the two spies:
"Doltsl Idiots! Blunderers! You
have arrested the wrong man! This Is
not the Engllshman"
There was n row to beat the band for
the next ten minutes The spies pro-
tested that | answered the description
given them and had carried OF the
character In all ways, and the official
shouted at them:
HAS he n mole on his chin1 Does
his left eyelid droop a littlei Is there
a scar on his right hand thumbl oh.
you blunderers and incompetents. but
you will be rewarded for this
"If not too much trouble" | said 20
the official as he got through stormlng.
"will you kindly explain why an Amer
lean citizen has been made prisoner In
this fashion, OF what am guiltyi IL
guilty Of anything. by what authority
do you take the law In your own
handsy'
was told that II was a mistake. but
got no other satisfaction. The brig
was put about but a. the wind fell We
did not make the harbOr until after
daylight Then I was dumped on the
wharf without apology. walked
straight 20 th. 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 bold OF
the wrong man by mistake. he Is gen.
orally sent TO Siberia to cover up the
blunder."
Later on I 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 ascertained.