Morris tribune., 1902-02-01
THE COURIER
/ or THE CAR
BY Jules Verne

l. v
room for thought. All was in vain.
1t then occurred to him that perhap
the girl had not heard Of the order
though this was improbable enough, 70
such a thundercIap could not hav,
burst without being heard by all Eyl
IDENTIFY interested in knowing the small
4 est news from Siberia, how could sh,
be ignorant Of the measures taken b.
the. governor measures which concern
ed her SO directly? But if she was ig
norant Of it she would come in an houl
to the quay, and there some mereiless
4 agent would brutally refuse her a pas
sage. Atany cost he must see her be
forehand and do what he could to en-
able her to avoid such a repulse.
But all his endeayors were in vain
and he at length almost despaired OF
4 finding her again
It was now IL O. clock, and Michael
] though under any other circumstances
it would have been useless, thought Of
| presenting his podorojna at the office
of the head Of police. The proclama-
ton evidently did not concern him,
since the emergency had been foreseeE
for him, but he wished to make sure
that nothing would hinder. his depar-
ture from tie town.
Michael then returned to the other
side of the Volga, to the quarter in
which was the Office Of the head of po-
lice.
Every one was in hurry, for the
means of transport would be much
sought after among this crowd of ban
ished people, and those who did not set
about it soon ran great risk of not
being able to leave the town in the
prescribed time, which would expose
them to some brutal treatment from.
the governors agents.
Owing to the strength OF mis- eiboWas
Michael Strogof was able to cross the,
court. But to get into the Office and
up to the clerks little window was
much more difficult business. How
ever, a word into an inspectors ear and
a few judiciously given rubles were
powerful enough to gain him passage.
The man, after taking him into the
waiting room, went to call the proper
clerk. #.
Michael Strogoff would not be long
in making everything right with the
police and being free in his movements.
While waiting he looked about him,
and what did he see? There, fallen
rather than seated on a bench, was a
girl, a prey to silent despair, although
her face could scarcely be seen, the
profile alone being visible against the
wall
Michael Strogoff could not be mistak
en-. He Instantly recognized the young
Livonian.
Not knowing the governors orders,
she had come to the police Office to get
herepass signed. They had refused to
sign it. No doubt she was authorized
to go to Irkutsk, but the order was per-
emptory; it annulled all previous au-
and the routes to Siberia
were closed to her. Michael, delighted
at having found her again, approached
the girl.
She looked up for a moment, and her
face Frightened on recognizing her trav
cling companion. She instinctiVely
rose, and, like a drowning man who
clutches at a spar, she was about to |
ask his help. At that moment the |
agent touched Michael on the shoulder.
1.-THE head of police will see you," he
said
"Goodw returned Michael, and with
out saying word to her for whom he
had been searching all day, without re
assuring her by even gesture which
might compromise either her or him
self, he followed the man through the
crowd.
The young Liyonian, seeing the only
being to whom she could look for help
disappear, fell back again on her bench.
Three minutes had not passed before
Michael Strogof reappeared, accompa-
lied by the agent In his hand he held
lis podorojna, which threw open the
'oads to Siberia for him. He again APP
the young Livonian, and,
holding out his hand, SISTER" said he
She understood. She rose as if some
sudden inspiration prevented her from
lesitating moment.
Sister" repeated Michael Strogoff.
we are authorized to continue our
Quincy to Irkutsk. Will you come 2"
st will follow you, brother replied
he girl, putting her hand into that Of
Iichael Strogoff, and together they left
he police station.
Michael Strogoff and the young Lii
oman had taken passage on board /
he Caucasus. Their embarkation was
made. without any difficulty. AS Isl {
noWn, the podorojna, drawn up In the /
anne of Nicholas Korpanof, authorized {
bis merchan to be accompanied on his
ogTaey to Siberia. They appeared, j
herefore, to be a brother and sister Z
raFeling under the protection Of the t
nperial police Both, seated together 8
t the stern, gazed at the receding
own so disturbed by the governors +
rder. Michael had as yet said moth !
lg to the girl. He had not even ques- i
oned her. He waited until she should +
peak to him whenever that was nee +
ssary. She had been anxious to leave .
Which, S1NYI+ III