The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-11
ODE Mystery Of C1raSlOv
BY Ashley Towne
A Tale Growing Out of the Adventures
of Three Americans Connected With the
Building of the Great Trans Siberian Ry.
Copyright. 1901. by Charles B. EtherlnEton.

Lieutenant DerInSky is uOI present.
Whom will you name as the lieutenant Of
the palace guard?" TX.
"None will be necessary" answered
Neslerov. "Itzig will be at his post. AS
it is nearly morning, no more will be
necessary. Dismiss the guard, take them
to the banquet hall and give them sup
per- =. ....
Soon after that Olga found occasion to
cross the hall to the offices Of police.
People were passing to and fro. and no
one could think 1t strange that the prin-
cess went where she pleased. She found
at the end of the suit of rooms devoted
to police affairs small apartment, the
door Of which was closed. Turning, to
see that Neslerov was not in the hall
she did not care for the guests-she en-
tered. Sitting there in lonely state was
man. He was not particularly agreeable
looking and seemed to be of a stupid
order.
Are you not being Toasted with the
| others?" asked the princess.
''No; they forget poor 1tzig,' was the
reply.
What IS your duty here?'
ITO guard. the door to the passage yon-
| der. Stupid! No one could enter. The
key never leaves the pocket of the super
intendent of police"
Jansky had been constant in his at
| tendance at the bottle and already showed
| the effect of his heavy rotations.
you shall not be overlooked" said
Olga. II will send you some refresh
ments."
She first went to her room and returned
! to the banquet hall. She ordered one
| of the servants to open fresh bottle
| Of wine, which was done. Then a tray
was prepared and she ordered it taken to
Itzig Quickly, without seconds delay,
| small vial in her hand was emptied
| into the wine.
"Take this Also" she said.
| When she returned to the throng, the
guests were leaving. They came in
| throngs to bid her adieu, and she saw
| the last one leave. Jansky, Neslerov
and the servants were left.
Il am exhausted" said Neslerov. 81
feel completely worn out. And you,
cousin, must be weary Also
Il am she answered. Il shall not be
| long getting to Sleep
Nor l. l hope you enjoyed your
! ball"
j Very much. I thank you for the kind
| attention. And now good night
Good night"
| 81 am going but I shall first make a
| round of Inspection said Jansky There
being no guard this morning, it will do
no harm. 1t will not be daylight for two
hours
They parted and Olga went to her room,
but not to sleep. Therese was asleep in
chair, waiting fer her mistress.
"Therese!" said Olga.
ooh, pardon me! l was asleep!' said
| Therese, starting up.
| Hush! l do not wish any one to hear
u.s. l have work for us both to do"
| II am ready Command me, princess.
Il know, faithful Therese, but this is
work that will require all your nerve.
! Listen. The ball is over and the guests
| have gone Chance has favored us to-
night. 1t has enabled me to plot and
plan for what we are to do. Neslerov
, dismissed the guard, and there Will be IN
short time. no one AWAKE IN the palace.
! The superintendent of police carries the
key to hte dungeons, and he is now half
| drunk. The door to the dungeons is
guarded by a stupid fool named Itzig. I
| found him at his post, and sent him
bottle of wine and a tray of food. Into
! the wine I poured that vial OF toothache
medicine I obtained from you. 1t is
! enough to make any one sleep for hours.
Where Jansky sleeps l do not know; but
! we must find him. We must Wait-it is
| too soon-but in half an hour it will be
safe to descend Jansky said 1T would not
be daylight for two hours. That will
give us an hour and half to work
| And that work."
ITO release the American and Vladimir
Paulpoff to get him to safety. He must
not !be harmed, for we want his test1-
| mony.''
"Good!" said Therese, with SILVER.
at is grand-but dangerous"
| Olga opened a travelling bag and took
| therefrom "a silver-mounted revolver.
Il do not wish to KILL" she said; "but
if we are discovered there will be trouble
and 1 must succeed. Come now, for the
| honor of the Neslerovs and the house OF
Graslov!''
The princess opened her door and
peered into the corridor. The lights
we're still burning as brightly as during
the ball. but no one was in sight. ~
| "Come-all is silent as the grave she
| said Even if we meet some one, it will
not cause suspicion
She led the way, and Therese, shivering
with terror followed. The great stair
way and hall were deserted, but from the
| little guardroom at the end of the police
| quarters there came the sound of curses.
Stupid blockhead!" said the voice of
| Jansky Drunk! Who brought him
this bottle of wine?'
With a quick motion Olga whisked The
reese into the same room where she had
crouched to listen to Jansky and Uns-
gethop. There came the sound of I'M
steady footsteps Jansky, with the unt1n-
| tshed bottle Of Itzigs wine in his hand,
went drunkenly to his office.
'Ill finish this-then go ii bed,' he
mrttered.
"I'll finish this-then 60 to bed" he
was net ten minutes before his own eyes
closed in that terrible sleep from which
he could not arouse himself until the eff
feet of the drug passed off.
Gomez said Olga.
Neryously and quickly she rif1ed the
sleeping mans pockets and found a bunch
of keys. Swiftly, then, these two rushed
to Itzig's room and shutting the door,
barred it on the inside
'Now we can work without molesta-
ton said Olga.
She tried several keys in the lock Of an
iron door that formed part of the rear
wall. but without success. Finally she
found one that turned the rusty bolt, and
the door swung open. This door led into
a small passage, in which there were vari-
Gus articles-lanterns, whips, chains and
weapons. Olga quickly chose a lantern
which showed it had been recently used
and lighted it. At the end of the passage
was an iron grating forming door, and
! this, too, she unlocked with Jansky's
keys. .. r.e.t.
Beyond this was flight of stone steps
leading downward, and then all was
darkness. Olga, holding the lantern above
The stones were cold and damp and slip
, perry as she neared the bottom. The
dark atmosphere sent chill through her
but the brave girl did not falter Therese
came creeping after her, shivering will
!, fear. They did not count the number o.
steps, but knew there were many. At las
: they stood on cold stone floor.
Now, which way?" she asked, holding
the lantern to flash it's light as far as pos