The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-06-07

Ivan Ogareff had just now played with
success his base role. The grand dukes
confidence had been accorded him full
and entire. He could abuse it when
and where he thought proper. He
would even live in that palace. He
would know all the secrets of the de-
Tense. He held therefore, the situation
in his hand. No one in Irkutsk knew
him. No one could tear off his mask.
He resolved. therefore, to begin the
work without more delay.
Ivan Ogareff, having every facility
of seeing observing and acting, spent
the next day in visiting the fortifca-
lions. Everywhere he was received
with cordial congratulations by the
officers, soldiers and citizens. This cou-
rier Of the car was like a tie which
bound them to the empire. Ivan Oga-
ref therefore recounted to them all the
details Of his journey, and this with a
vivacity that was never wanting. Then
adroitly, without at first insisting on 1t
too much, he spoke Of the gravity Of
the situation, exaggerating, as he had
done while addressing the grand duke,
both the successes of the Tartars and
the forces at their disposal. To listen
to him, the succor would be insufficient
should it even come, and it was to be
feared that a battle fought under the
walls of Irkutsk would be as disas-
trous as the battles of Kalyvan, Of
Tomsk and of Krasnoiarsk.
Ivan Ogareff was not at first lavish
In, CT ;cto the >0Iy
care they should penetrate by degrees
into the minds of the defenders of IT.
kutsk. He seemed to answer only when
great many questions were put to
him and then as though with regret
In any case he added always that it
must defend itself to the last man, and
they must blow it up rather than sur
render it!
If the defenders of Irkutsk could
have been discouraged. Ivan Ogaref
had chosen an efficient means. But
the garrison and population of Irkutsk
were too patriotic to allow themselves
to be frightened. OF those soldiers, of
those citizens. shut up in an isolated
town at the farthest end of the Asiatic
W VI III, hOt ObI udb QiOdlutd VI SpOdh-
ing of equalization. The disdain Of
Russia for those barbarians was with
out limit. In any case no one for mo-
ment suspected the hateful role which
Ivan Ogareff was playing. No one
could have imagined that the pretended
courier of the car was nothing else
than traitor.
oir0uD1 n a It0Opf hor
was the cause. from his arrival at IT.
kutsk, of there being frequent relations
between Ivan Ogareff and one of its
bravest defenders. Wassil Feodor. One
knows with what anxiety this unhap-
py father was devoured. If his daugh-
ter, Nadia Feodor, had left Russia at
the date assigned by the last letter he
had received from Riga, what had be-
come of her? Was she still trying to
traverse the invaded provinces, or,
rather, had she already been for long
time prisoner? Wassili Feodor could
not find any solace for his sorrow ex-
cept when he had some opportunity of
fighting against the Tartars, opportu-
mites which were too seldom for his
liking. Now, when Wassili Feodor was
Informed of the unexpected arrival of
courier from the car he had a pre-.
sentiment that this courier could give
him some tidings of his daughter. 1t
was only a yery slight hope, but still
he chung to it.
Wassili Feodor went to find Ivan
Ogareff, who awaited himself of this
opportunity to have daily relations
with the cOmmandant. Did the rene
gade think he could turn that circum-
stance to his own profit? Did he judge
all men by himself? Could he believe
that Russian, even a political exile,
could be so mean as to betray his coun-
try? Whatever was the case, Ivan
Ogareff met with skillfully feigned ca
gerness all the advances made to him
by the father Of Nadia. The latter the
very next morning after the arrival of
the pretended courier, went to the pal
ace Of the governor general. There he
Informed Ivan Ogareff of the circum-
stances under which his daughter had
to leave European Russia and told him
now what was his anxiety in her re-
gard.
Ivan Ogarefr did not know Nadia, al
though he had met her at the post
house of Ichim the day on which she
was there with Michael Strogoff But
then he had paid no more attention to
her than the two journalists, who were
at the same time in the posthouse He
could not therefore give any news Of
his daughter to Wassili Feodor.
But at what time" asked Ivan Oga-
ref, had your daughter to leave Rus
sian territory?'
AT nearly the same time as you" re-
piled Wassili Feodor.
Il quilted Moscow on the 18th OF
July"
"And Nadia also had to leave Moscow
on that date. Her letter told me so ex-
pressly."
"She was at Moscow on the 18th of
July?" asked Ivan Ogarefr.
Eyes, certainly at that date"
Every WELL" replied Ivan Ogaren.
Then, recollecting himself, he added:
But no; was forgetting. was
nj ~ 49,