The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-12-14

the girl. putting her hard into that OF
Michael Strogof. and together they iefi
the police station.
Michael Strogoff and the young IL
vonian had taken passage on beard
the Caucasus Their cmbarkation was
made without any difficulty. As Is
known. the podorojna. drawn up Ia the
name Of Nicholas Kospanoff. authorized
this merchant 10 be accompanied ON his
journey to Siberia. They appeared
tEerefDee, 20 be a brother and sister
travelling under the protection OF the
imperial police. Both. seated together
nj the stern. gazed nj the receding
town so disturbed by the governors
order Michael had as yet said moth
ing to the girl. He had not even ques-
toned her. He waited until she should
speak to him whenever that was nee
cssary. She had been anxious To leave
that town, I'm which but for the pre- l.
dental Intervention OF this unexpected
protector she would have remained i'm
prlsoned. She said nothing, but her
looks spoke her thanks.
The Caucasus had been steaming on
for about two hours when the young
Liyonian, addressing herself TO Michael
Strogoff. said:
"Are you going to IrlSutslS, brotherT'
Eyes, sister," answered the young
man. "We are both going the same
way. Consequently wherever ! go you
shall co.
Tomorrow, brother. you shall know
why | left the shores of the Baltic To
go beyond the Ural mountains"
IL ask you nothing, sister"
"You shall know ALL" replied the girl.
with a faint smile. "a sister should
hide nothing from her brother. But
cannot today. Fatigue and sorrow have
broken me down"
"Will you go and rest In your cabin?"
asked Michael.
"Yes--yes, and tomorrow
"Come, then
He hesitated TO finish his sentence as
If he had wished to end II by the name
of his companion. of which he was still
ignorant.
NADIA" said she. holding out her
hand.
"Come, Nadia" answered Michael.
land make what use you like of your
brother Nicholas Korpanoff.' And he
led the girl to the cabin engaged for
her off the saloon.
Michael Strogoff returned on deck,
and, eager for any news which might
bear on his journey, he mingled in the
groups of passengers, though without
taking any part In the conversation.
Should he by any chance be questioned
and obliged to reply he would announce
himself as the merchant Nicholas Kor-
panoff, going back to the frontier in the
Caucasus, for he did not wish II to be
suspected that special permission au
thorlzed him TO travel to Siberia.
The young Livonlan did not come to
dinner. She was asleep In her cabin.
and Michael did not like to awaken
her
Between II and 2, the moon being
new, IL was almost dark. Nearly all
the passengers were then asleep on the
deck, ana the silence was disturbed
only by the noise of the paddles strik-
ing the water at regular intervals.
Anxiety kept Michael Strogoff awake.
He walked up and down, but always
in the stern OF the steamer. Once.
however. he happened to pass the en-
CINE room. He then found himself in
the part reserved for second and third
class passengers.
He stopped. Voices appeared to come
from group Of passengers enveloped
In cloaks and wraps. so that IL was Inn
possible 10 recognize them In the dark.
But it sometimes happened that when
the steamers chimney sent forth a
plume of ruddy flames among the vol
umes of smoke the sparks seemed to
fall among the group as though thou
sands OF spangles had been suddenly
Illuminated. Michael was about to
step up the ladder when a few words
reached his ear, distinctly uttered In
that strange tongue which he had heard
during the night Mt the fair.
Instinctively he stopped TO listen.
Protected by the shadow OF the fore
castle, he could not be perceived him
self. AS to seeing the passengers who
were talking. that was impossible, He
was obliged TO confine himself to listen
ing.
The first words exchanged were OF
no importance-to him at least-but
they allowed him to recognize the
voices Of the man and woman whom lie
had heard ut Mini Novgorod. This. OF
course, made him redouble his atten.
ton. 1t was. indeed, not ut all i'm
possible that the gypsies, scrap of
whose conversation he had overheard.
now banished with all their fellows,
should be on board the Caucasus.
And IL was well for him that he lis
tened, for he distinctly heard this ques-
ton and answer made In the Tartar
idiom:
at Is said that n courier has set out
from Moscow for Irkutsk."
1T Is so said. Sangarre, but either
this courier win arrive too late, or he
will not arrive az ALL"
Michael Strogoff started involuntarily
mt this reply which concerned him so