Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-10-16
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THE MYSTERY /
L OF GRASLOV /
By Ashley Towne
--------=
Copyright, 1901, bU
Charles B. EtheringtOH
CHAPTER III.
Continued from last week.

caliber that makes man successful
when he bends all his energies, regard
less of all scruples, to the attainment
of his goal.
Inspector Jansky, having received a
message from Prince Neslerov, hasten
ed to obey, for he knew the power of
Neslerov. and if there should chance to
be promotion in his path at any time
Neslerov, as a wealthy noble of Gras-
Low, could further his possibilities.
Inspector Jansky entered the palace
of the prince with n humility that
would have charmed the poor devils
whom his eagerness had sent to Sibe-
ria.
''Sit down." said the prince, and the
inspector sat down with n suddenness
that proved his desire to please his
sponsor II sent for you
you did. your eXcellency. | received
your message and made all haste to
obey"
Il trust it did not Inconvenience you
to great extent" said the prince who
was quite familiar with the peculiari-
ties of the inspectors nature.
Not at all, your eXcellency-that is,
not so much but what it gave me pleas
ure to obey. | am always busy, as you
know"
''Yes, you are assiduous. Well, | have
news for you. But first l should be
pleased to receive from you an answer
to a question. What do you wish for
the most?"
Jansky heSitated. His servile mind
saw far into the future, as n rule, but
1t could not fathom the meaning of
this strange question. What did it
matter to the prince what he wanted
most unless the prince was disposed to
grant it?
81 should like promotion, your ex-
cellency. OF course, | make no claim.
You have befriended me. You have |
made me what | am. have in my
humble way endeavored to so acquit
myself that you would not be displeas-
ed. would not ask you for more
But, since you ask my dearest wish, it |
is promotion"
1T is a possibility" the prince re-
piled.
lighted a cigar, leaving the inspector |
on nettles, wondering if the possibility !
We're to materialiZe into fact.
''As | said before, it is n possibility" !
said Neserov and relapsed into silence.
Il suppose it is always a possibility
to one so powerful as your eXcellency,"
said Jansky, who had fine talent for
fiattery.
AT this particular moment it is more !
easily accomplished than at any other |
time"
IF your eXcellency will eXplain-if !
anything is expected of me, | would |
Duty, only duty" broke in the prince
"But | will explain. You are already
aware that when you were made in
spector of police in Perm the field of !
police activity extended but little far
ther east. The Cossack guards and the
Tartar cavalry composed the police |
over the border. But this new railway |
is revolutionizing all that. In each |
government through which this line of /
travel passes or is to pass n depart |
ment of police is to be established. |
There will be new cities develop. There |
will be railway stations. The popula- :
tion of Siberia will increase and, though !
complex enough at all times, will now /
present a far greater variety than ever |
before. The entrance of foreigners, of |
conspirators, Will have to be made less |
difficult. The escape of a convict will !
now be almost a mere act of stepping !
upon train and saying farewell to his |
guards.
1T will be, therefore, quite necessary
to establish a system of police with !
officers of more ability and shrewdness |
than the COssacks who now command |
the rude guards who stand sentinels |
over the cars great dominion in Asia. !
''Such a department of police has al |
ready been established in TobOlsk, |
through which the railway is now COM |
pleted 1t is time now for us to think |
of such Il department in Tomsk."
AS the prince and governor paused |
the inspectors breath came short and
fast.
"And, your excellency, In the good |
ness of your heart you have thought |
Of meF"
81 have been thinking-Of several. | !
have befriended you. | desire to do so
again. But there are difficulties which |
we must consider. Your present posi-
tion, while not a low one still is SO
low that the leap from it to the posi-
ton of superintendent of police Of the
government of Tomsk would excite the
imaginations of certain people at st.
Petersburg
superintendent of police of Tomskw
Jansky cried
Certainly. That is the position for
which | intend you. | have watched
your career. You are eager, ambitious
and resourceful What better man
could | have in such position? 1t is
upon you whom | must rely to prevent
the encrOachments Of our enemies. 1t
win be the superintendent Of my police
who will be my closest confdant. Who
could be more acceptable to me than
gou?"
81 thank you, your eXcellency. l
hank"-
"Wait. Thank me with deeds when
Ve succeed. AS l said before, there are
difficulties. One cannot leap too great
distance at once without a cause. We
aust find n cause"
"a cause, your eXcellency?
"What | mean is some potent reason
or this great promotion. The chief of
le Tomsk police will have palace, a
lrge income and will be second only
} myself in power To obtain that
le must do something worthy"
"Oh, if | could but win that distinc-
onw
II think it even now within your
Dwer"
"You have discovered something"
"Yes-a very nesting place for nj
lists"
Good! Give me an idea where this
zee is, your eXcellency. There will
no more nesting"
Do you know a forge on the forest
al I.aIfues ont If PORN tn tho SpIIth ~ |