Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-23
THE COURIER OF THE CZAR.
AZ JULES VERNE.

| station. Two wires were going eaS'
and west, and q third was stretched to
ward Kalyvan.
One would suppose that under the
circumstances that station would have
been abandoned. but as 1t was Michael
Strogoff could find there a refuge, wait
for the night If need be to travel again
across the steppe which was searched
by the Tartar pickets.
Michael Strogoff hurried toward the
door Of that house and opened 1t hasti-
ly. A single person was In the room
where the dispatches were written. He
wus an employee, calm. cool. indifer-
ent to all that was going on outside.
Faithful to his post. he waited behind
his window for the public to claim bis
| services.
Michael Strogoff went to him and
with voice broken by fatigue asked:
"What do you know?
Nothing" answered the employee.
smiling.
"Are the Russians and Tartars fight
ing?"
People say So"
"But who are the victors?"
81 don't know"
So much GOODNESS In the midst OF
these terrible occurrences, so much In.
difference even, was hardly possible.
"And is not the wire cut?" asked MI
chael Strogof.
ut Is cut between Kalyvan and Kras-
noiarsk, but it works yet between Kaly'
van and the Russian frontier"
For the government"
"For the government when they think
it proper. for the public when they pay.
1t is 10 copecks a word. I wait your
orders. SIR"
Michael Strogoff was going to answer
that strange operator that he had no
dispatch to send; that he wanted only
little bread and water, when sudden.
" the door of the house was abruptly
opened.
Michael St-ogoff thought the Office in
vaded by the Tartars and was about to
jump through the window when he no
ticed that two men only entered the
room and that they were far from be-
ing Tartar soldiers.
One of them held dispatch written
in pencil, and, outrunning the other. he
was at the window Of the stoical en-
ployee. In those two men Michael
Strogoff was astonished to discover two
persons he had thought never to see
again. They were the correspondents
Harry Blount aud Alcide Jolivet, no
more travelling companions. but rivals.
enemies. now that they were operating
on the battlefield.
They had left Ichim few hours only
after the departure Of Michael Strogoff.
ard II they arrived before him at kaly-
ven in following the same route 1t was
because Michael Strogof had lost three
days on the borders Of the Irish. And
now. after having witnessed the battle
between the Russians and the Tartars
in front Of the city. leaving the city
when the struggle was still going on In
the streets. they had to run to the sta
tion to send away their dispatches to
Europe. each seeking to rob the other
Of priority in describing the stirring
events.
Michael Strogoff kept at a distance In
the shadow. and without being seen he
could see all and hear all. He was
probably about to learn important news
and know If he ought to enter Kalyvan
or not.
Harry Blount. more alert than his
colleague, had possession of the win
dow and handed In his dispatch. while
Alc:de Jolivet. contrary to his habits.
stopped impatiently. Ten copeck;' a
word" said the operator. taking the
dispatch.
Harry Blount placed pile Of rubles
on the counter. his confrere looking ut
him somewhat stupefed.
"Well." said the employee. and with
undlsturbed sang froid he commenced
to telegraph the following dispatch:
Daily Telegraph London:
From Kalyvan. Government Of Omsk. Siberia,
Aug enhancement Of Russian troops with Tar
| tars.
That reading being made aloud. MI.
chael Strogoff could hear all the Eng
lish correspondent addressed to his pa
per.
Russian troops repulsed with great losses. Tar
| tars enter Kalyvan this day.
These words ended the dispatch.
who tried to pass his dispatch address.
ed 10 his cousin of the Montmartre Fau-
bourg.
But that did not suit the English re-
porter, who thought of remaining at
the window as long as he should have
! news to transmit, as fast Us fresh
events might occur, so he did not give
place to his confrere.
You are through" cried Alcide Joli-
vet
81 am not through" simply answered
Harry Blount.
And he went on writing words which
he passed to the operator, who read
very quietly:
In the beginning God created heaven and earth.
They were verses from the Bible Har.
ry Blount was telegraphing to gain
time and not give place to his rival.
That would probably cost few thou
sand rubles to his paper, but his paper
would have the first information.
France might walt.
Think Of the anger Of Alcide Jolivet,
who under any other circumstances
would have appreciated the joke. He
even insisted that the operator should
take his dispatches in preference to
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