The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

conicauy.
You have doubtless papers which
will establish your identityy' !,
Here are letters which accredit us
in Russia from the English and French
chaneellor's Office"
Ivan Ogareff took the letters which
Blount held out to him and read them
attentively. Then said he:
You ask the authorization to follow
our military operations in SiberiaY'
'We ask to be free; that is ALL" an
swered the English correspondent dry
".
"You are so, gentlemen" answered.
Ogareff, land shall be curious to read
your articles in The Daily Telegraph"
Sir" replied Harry Blount, with the
most imperturbable GOODNESS, cit is six
pence number, including postage"
And thereupon Blount returned to his
companion, who appeared to approveI
completely Of his replies.
Ivan Ogareff, without frowning,I
mounted his horse and, going to the
head of his escort, soon disappeared in
a cloud of dust.
"Wel, NJ. JoIivet, what do you think
Of Colonel Ivan Ogareff, general in
chief Of the Tartar troops?' asked
Blount.
Il think, my dear friend" replied
Alcide, smiling, that the housch-begui
made very graceful gesture when he
gave the order for our heads to be cut
Off"
Whatever was the motive which led
Ogareff to act thus in regard to the
two correspondents, they were free and
could rove at their pleasure over the
scene of war. Their intention was not
to leave it. The sort of antipathy
which formerly they had entertained
for each other had given place to sin
cere friendship. Circumstances having
brought them together, they no lor~er
thought of sep; g. The petty ques-
tons of rivalry were forever extin-
guished. Harry Blount could never
forget what he owed his companion,
who, on the other hand, never tried to
remind him of it. This friendship, too,
assisted the reporting operations and
was thus to the advantage of their
readers.
And now" asked Blount, what
shall we do with our liberty"
'"Take advantage of it, of course"
replied AIcide. land go quietly to Tomsk
to see whateis going on there"
until the time-very near, 1 hope
when we may rejoin some Russian reg
iment."
"As you say. my dear Blount, it won't
do to TartariZe ourselves too much.
The best side is that Of the most civil
LIKED army, and it is evident that the
people of central Asia will have every
thing to lose and absolutely nothing to
gain from this invasion, while the Rus
slams will soon repulse them. It is
only matter of time"
The arrival of Ivan Ogareff, which
had given Jolivet and Blount their lib
erty, was to Michael Strogoff, on the
contrary, a serious danger. Should
chance bring the cars courier into
Ogareffs presence the latter could not
fail to recognize in him the traveller
whom he had SO brutality treated at the
Ichim posthouse. and, although Mi
chaeI had not replied to the insult as
he would have done under any other
circumstances. attention would be
drawn to him, and at once the accom-
plishment of his plans would be rem
dered more difficult.
This was the unpleasant side Of the
business. A favorable result Of his
arrival, however, was the order which
was given to raise the camp that very
day and remove the headquarters to
Tomsk.
This was the accomplishment Of MI
chaePs most fervent desire. His inten-
ton, as has been said, was to reach
Tomsk concealed among the other pris-
onersthat is to say, without any risk
of falling into the hands Of the scouts
who swarmed about the approaches to
this important town. However, in con-
sequence Of the arrival Of Ivan Ogareh
and in the fear of being recognized by
him, he questioned whether it would
not be better to give up his first plan
and attempt to escape during the jour-
ney.
Michael would no doubt have kept to
the latter plan had he not. learned that
Feofar-Khan and Ivan Ogareff had al
ready set out for the town at the head
Of some thousands of horsemen.
II will wait, then" said he to him
self; "at least unless some exceptional
opportunity for escape occurs. The adj
verse chances are numerous on this
side Of Tomsk, while beyond the favor
able increase, since shall in a few
hours have passed the most advanced
Tartar posts to the east. Still three
days of patience, and may God aid me-"
TO BE CONTINUED .s .sE
LIBERALS GETTING BETTER.