Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-07-19

|beeswax. but he did not know Just
where 1t could be found.
"We have had great news" he add
led. "a spy has come down all the way
from Stavropol. The report OF the rail-
way wreck which has delayed the Rus
sian force Is confirmed. Moreover
Il am out of favor with the khan"
said Darrell, interrupting. II do not
feel that / should listen to your mill
.tary secrets"
Korna stared, and then. seeing that
Darrell was serious. be was about to
express his sympathy Wien le was
hastily summoned TO the khan's pres
ence.
Darrell put away the CLOAK and pipe
and went out into the town. where he
found many small stores open. for
there was excellent order i'm the place.
and secured without great difficulty
a supply of beeswax and black goats
hair. with which he built up a beard
almost as wild as Musefs. A beard
constructed in this way by n man ex-
perienced I'm the art will bear close in
spection. Having completed his task.
he wrote g note to Korna in these
words:
Ny Dear ColOnel--I am going to try to get
through the Russian lines with a copy OF the
khan's cipher message 20 Prince Klziar- II am
not heard Of within ten days, will you please in
form the khan Of my sttemptS would have you
maintain silence for that interval II you can do
without serious Inconvenience and IL do not
return would have you remember me pleasantly
as shall remember you long I retain the
faculty.
he left this where Korna would find
it and then, mounted upon grotesque
little mule that he had purchased.
made his way out through the Circas-
sian lines, the seal of the khan upon
the order that he bore being his war
rant.
The mule was n sturdy brute and,
though Darrell made a wide detour. so
| that he seemed to be coming up from
the east it was not later than o'clock
in the afternoon when he was halted
by Russian pickets upon the right
wing OF their force.
An utter recklessuess had taken pos
session OF Darrell since his wretched
interview with Vera. He had ridden
along the road rehearslng the denean-
IL.
practicing the peculiarities of speech
that had distinguished the idiot and
fitting crack Drained jests from his own
memory to the language in which they
must be uttered.
He had given some attention also to
the pipes, but found it easier because
OF his especial aptitude to initiate the
sound OF the instrument than to play
upon ii.
When the picket cried out 'Haltv'
Darrell cuffed the mules ear and cried
"Haltr' to him INF an excellent copy OF
the Russian soldiers tone. whereat
another soldier laughed. Meanwhile
the mule kept straight on and did not
stop until the soldiers had him by the
bride. one on each side
''It is Musef the Traveller" said the
soldier who had laughed. Il have seen
him I'm Stavropol."
II Darrell had been In a humor IA
vorable TO fear, this utterance would
have alarmed him seriously. He had
not attempted a personation. IL was
impossible that he should be mistaken
for Musef by any one who had more
than the feeblest recollection OF the
original. 1t had not occurred 70 Oar
rell's mind that the imbecile could
have so wide fame. His sole idea
had been to take the guise OF a harm
less character. II detected as a coun-
terfeit, he might expect a spy's fate.
81 don't remember YOU" he said.
! "but still you may have seen me-
played under the windows OF the jail"
1t was the other soldiers turn to
! laugh. and he welcomed the chance.
His comrade took the jest without Of
! Tense.
\ at was through a window that saw
you" he said, 'but the window OF u
grogshop, not jail"
ut seems / was a little early for you
Awith my serenade," rejoined Darrell.
s"rl give it to you now if you'd like to
hear IT,"
Z He put the pipe to his lips and played
\ few notes.
Here, quit that" cried one OF the
Ioldiers. Were close to the lines, and
the noise may be heard"
''You have no ear for music" said
Darrell. Get alongp the last words
being addressed to the mule.
The soldiers had let go OF the bride
and had stepped aside. The animal
started with alacrity, for Darrell had
learned how to appeal TO him with a
touch OF the heel
Halt! Come back here! cried the
Russians in duet and one Of them
threw q stick that lay handy beside
him. 1t missed Darrell and by good
luck hit the mule. Secretly encouraged
by his rider, the brute ran away, but
at no very great speed.
Y Don't shoot. I'll catch him." ex-
claimed one OF the Russians, and Oar
/ rel, looking back, saw him coming,
while the other, rife in hand, was now
| unable to fire, even If he had wished
| TO do so, because of the risk OF hitting
/ his comrade.
Darrell urged the mule to better
| speed. The running soldier halted.