The citizen., 1901-06-21
A Present From
The Prince.
A STRANGE STORY OF AN
OPAL BRACELET.

Il was crossing to Liverpool on the
Umbria and happened to strike Nm nm No.
Quaintance with the young Pole who
shared my stateroom. He was a Meas
ant young fellow, and in the course of =
day or two we became great friends. Un
told me that his name was Ladislas M
dokoff and that he had been studvinr
medicine at Philadelphia He further
more confided that he was on his way TO
London to visit friend of his youth.
'ln return told him how was going
to England to spend a few months with
my married sister, the Countess of Darn
ford, with whom my wife was already
staying, having crossed before me. since
I had been detained a few weeks in Now
York on business.
"Nadokoff then told me how he. too.
had sister who was married TO Rms
sian nobleman who was a sort of sheriff
in his own county and commander of 4
posse of Cossacks. So, on the strength of
our aristocratic connections, our conf.
dcnces grew so that we used to talk oUito
freely of political matters.
'Nadokoff's politics was bit fixed
At the time | thought this was because
he was quite young and had not learned
that political views should be used as
means to a profitable end.
but his politics had been acquired IN
some other place than America. He
limited of old scores, dating back hun
dreds of years, which were to be wipcd
ont by younger and more vigorous gonor-
ations. Notwithstanding his family CON
neetions he hated the Russians. Down
with everything and hang the cxpcnse'
was his motto, and he talked lot about
the iron handed tyranny of the Russian
government, while l sat around and
swapped sympathetic seditons.
Il noticed that often as we were walk
ing together gentleman with a bald
head and large white mustache used TO
pass along and lean on the rail or look
at the sky when he came within earshot
Of us.
Then | used to change the conversa-
tion to railroads or pork, which are far
safer subjects than Russian politics. for
somehow | mistrusted this elderly gentle
man. who spoke English like a German.
drank his tea with lemon and, while he
gave himself out as a commercial trav-
elcr, walked as though he were waiting
for the clink of the spurs at his heels and
the rattle of his sword at his side.
He was registered on the passenger
list as Mr.. William Smith, which was
strange, considering that his handkerchief
was embroidered with the initials j. X
It takes a Russian to spell Smith with
X.
AS we approached Queenstown Nado-
Eof, who had been looking i'll and wor-
mcd throughout the voyage, seemed to
grow more i'll at ease.
AT bedtime the night before we
reached Queenstown he did not turn up
IN the stateroom. l waited till long after
lights out Then | grew anxious about
him and passed the word for the steward.
who went to look for him.
lie had disappeared.
The ship was searched high and low
by the watch, who were warned by the
captain to hold their tongues about the
matter, but no trace of him could bc
found.
Els just been and gone and slipped
overheard said our stateroom steward
Strange to say, as we We're hunting
round the decks Mr. Smith, who | knew
had retired to his stateroom an hour or
more before, joined us in our search.
Still stranger, as | was returning to
my berth | saw Mr.. Smith disappearing
down the passage, although his berth
was situated on the other side of the ship.
When | looked over at Nadokofr's
empty berth, | noticed that his portman-
teau had been moved since | had left the
caDln. When | came to open my own
portmanteau, | found it locked. Then
remembered that earlier in the evening,
us Nadokoff was going along to the state
room from the smoking cuddy on deck,
mad given him my key and asked him to
get me few cigars, which were slowed
away in the pocket of my flannel jacket.
lie had evidently jumped overheard
with my key. but l was too troubled
anout him to worry about that, besides
"Hleh | knew that my wife had a dupli-
cate key on her bunch.
At Liverpool half crown to the Gus
toms officer passed my portmanteau ali
right and ! did not open it till | reached
my hrother-in-law's house in Park lane,
Where, nv wife was staying. Ny wife
1ad the key on her ring and stood by as
unlocked the bag.
lou dear old boyp she cried as the
Das cPened and showed a large jewel
case which lay on top of my clothes.
1ou have been wasting your money
usaIn on me at Tiffany's, | know. It's
100 wicked of your
felt bit uncomfortable, for the fact
was had been too busy in New York to
remember my usual visit to Tiffany's,
besides which | had never set eyes on the
JeWel case before.
/ am afraid it is not for you, dear
said as | opened the case. My wife
SaSped as the lid flew up and showed a
bracelet formed of heart shaped mass
VI opals framed in most wonderful set
tlng of diamonds.
Oh, how lovelyr she sighed. But.
anyway, | hate opals. They are unlucky.
Dut who is it for. dear? she added.
told her | did not know. Then !
saw tucked in under the bracelet a small
note. opened it.
Dear Fuend-I can bear my life no longer, SO
1,'.lsht shall jump overheard. My last request
a." sure you will faithfully execute. Take this
.'aVeiet to the Countess Zalinska and tell her II
par'lng gift from her old lover, Prince Lads
Nadokoh She lives in Park lane, quite close
'our sisters house. Farewell, dear friend.
Thine Nei aHu ICES "o1 49,, ),