The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-03-20


where. For Gods sake be careful.
on the SCENT,
'.See here. Hans" | said as put my
hand on his shoulder. you are evident
ly on the inside of this affair, and l
wish you would tell me what In the
devil it all means. Has your gang
planned to rob Il bank, steal steam
boat or upset the Russian government?
/ don't like to 60 it blind this way"
He looked at me open mouthed for
half minute, and then a broad grin
stole over his face. He thought l was
playing off on him to test his prudence
and loyalty.
you will carry it 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. |
had strOllCd into another hotel three or
four blocks away TO examine the regis
ter, as globe trotter invariably does
for no reason he can explain, when q
traveller entered who might have been
my twin brother as far rs outward APP
pearanceS went. He was of my height
and weight, had the same colored eyes.
hair and mustache, and | believe our
own mothers would have wondered
which was which. He stared at me,
and | stared back, and | wandered
back to my own hotel, knowing that
the real man from London had arrived
An hour later the Pole came to me in a
great funk. He had confused the two
of us, as well he might, and given his
little affair away to a stranger. He
started out to say something, but
stopped him with:
II have 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
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
also knocked out when he discovered
that mistake had been made, but n
few words quoted him. The Russian
spies must have had a 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 n week and while they
Cf |
er enjoying it, there was fire aboard
Of Il ship in the harbor. 1t was about o
o'clock at night, and a great crowd
gathered on the wharfs to watch the
confagration. | made one of the num-
Der, and in my anxiety to secure good
view | mounted the bows Of a 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 l 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-
a couple of hours when my door was
opened. and l was ordered to step out
l found the captain of the brig. the two
spies and Russian government official
awaiting me-
l have told you that the Englshman'
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 n 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 Englshmanw
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 off the
character in all ways, and the official
shouted at them:
Has he q mole on his chin? Does
his left eyelid droop a little? Is there
scar on his right hand thumb? oh,
you blunderers and incompetents, but
you will be rewarded for this!'
IF not too much trouble" / 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
hands?"
| was told that it 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 | was dumped on the
wharf without apology. l 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."
Later on | found that the English
man and his party left Stockholm the
same evening, but where they went
end what sort of conspiracy they had