The Washington times., 1903-02-01
HOTEL MOSCOW.

mere you al 2 dJ idSts ne called cut
cheeriIy. Hotel Moscow. your honor"
The next instant he reeIed back IN
cmazement as Donald stepped feebIy
out and CROPPED his way across the pave
ment. The effect of the drug was just
passing of, and he did not as yet real
ize what had happened. He looked up
at the hotel and then turned to the
amazed driver
Where is my-my satchel?" he de-
manded stupidity And how did my
clothes get wet? This is the Hotel
Moscow. is it, All right, I'm sleepy
and want to so to bed. Tell me how
much owe you and I'll give you the
money at once"
The Russian looked at Donald with a
white, scared face. Was this man IN the
wet clothes and gray cloak the same
neatly clad gentleman whom he had
taken up at the railway station an hour
/ or two before-or was it different per
son altogether No: that could not be.
He had the same face and he wanted the
Hotel Moscow.
A sudden suspicion of foul play and
of the probable result to himself flash
ed into the drivers head He glanced
up and down the street It was empty.
No one had seen the carriage arrive.
His only escape from bad scrape was
in immediate flight
1T don't matter about the money
he whispered hurrfedly to Donald. You
can pay it another time. There is the
hotel-just in front OF you" Taen he
mounted the box, drove furiousIy down
the street. and vanished around the first
corner.
Donald looked heIplessIy after the de
parting vehicle and then walked IN
steadily across the pavement. The name
of the hotel caught his eye. and he open
ed the door and stepped in.
The Office Of the Hotel Moscow was
small, plainly furnished room. On one
side was a buffet full Of decanters and
glasses. Behind this stood a middIe-aged
nan conversing with an officer in police
uniform. who was leaning over the buffet
slipping a glass Of wine In the other end
OF the room was a red-shirted mujfk fast
asleep on a wooden bench.
The two men at the buffet scrutiuized
Donald sharply as he came toward them,
and also instantly left the room after
making a hasty sign to the buffet keeper,
who nodded slightly.
"a glass Of brandy, quick" said Don
aid, as he reached the buffet and caught
hold of It for support.
The attendant poured out a gIassfuI
Of the stuff and Donald began to sip it
slowly The door opened softly behind
him and four gendarmes entered, led by
the officer who had left the apartment a
moment OF two before The latter ad-
vanced to the buffet and cIapped Donald
on the shoulder.
4 arrest you in the name Of the
Gar" he said sternIy. 4 warn you not
to resist
The sight Of the gendarmes and the
stimulating powers Of the raw brandy
threw of the Iethargy that oppressed
Donald. and his mind became suddenly
clear. He remembered all. and the
mystery of the wet clothes that he wore,
and Of the missing satchel, was a mys-
terry no longer.
what do you want with me?" he de-
manded Of the officer in a tone Of fnd1g-
nant surprise, and speaking in Russian,
of course.
The officer made no reply. He plunged
his hand into the pocket of Donald's
coat and drew out bundle of papers.
As he hastily examined them q smile
Of triumph fitted across his stern
features.
This is the right person. he said,
briefly. Here are papers stolen from
/ Colonel Jaroslav, a passport made out
to Nicholas Pashu, and photograph.
HuUo, What does this mean? On the
back Of this card is written. Portrait Of
serge MasIon- This is a good night
work. men Serge MasIof and Nicholas
Fashua, the assassin, are one and the
same. I can see the likeness clearly.
The face in the portrait has a beard.
! it is true. but the other points are the
same-Ifght hair, rudy skin. blue eyes;
that is the description written on the
back of the card. Yes. this is Serge
MasIof beyond n doubt"
/ The officer glanced several times from
the portrait to his prisoner. and then,
completely satisfied, he put the packet
of proofs into his pocket.