Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-07
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Surprise.
lOriginal.]

lOriginaLl
MargGerita. wife of Prince Sergius
Scaroff, chief of police at st. Peters
burg, possessed rare intellect. Her
husband admired her vigor of brain,
but was not sure that it was leading
her in safe channels. However, the two
were very happy together, and fortune
smiled on them.
One day Scaroff received a terrible
shock. Among number of intercepted
letters that had fallen into the hands
of the police and were laid before him
was one written by his wife. 1t read:
Bring it to the rear door at IL o'clock
tonight-that is if the emperor's trip has
been begun as announced on that day. If
the trip is postponed act accordingly
Scaroff was unnerved. 1t was plain
that his own wife was in league with
nihilists TO assassinate the czar. After
awhile he tapped a silver bell on his
desk An attendant entered, and the
chief directed him to pass the inter
cepted letter. Then he ordered his car
rage and drove to the Winter palace.
Your majesty, he said as soon as
admitted to the emperor, Il beg that
you will excuse me from attending you
this evening"
''Why so, prince?"
MY spies have intercepted Il letter
indicating that a bomb is to be deliv-
cred TO Il certain person at IL o'clock
on the night of your departure. 1t is
doubtless to be used on your return.
Your majesty will be safe, at least,
from this danger on your outward jour
ney. and l wish to attend personally to
the capture of the bomb and its bearer
myself. l consider 1T too important
matter to leave to any one else."N
''As you think best. prince"
Scaroff returned to his house at 4
O'Clock, threw some things into his
valise and bid his wife goOdby. She
had known that he was to accompany
the cart was his custom to do so
whenever his master journeyed-and
there was no surprise.
THE trip not being put off, pre-
sumo there is no suspicion of danger"
remarked the princess.
None whatever"
Without looking at his wife he start
| cd to go. He had reached the door
when he heard her call him:
"Sergius"'
He turned. She was looking at him
reproachfully.
You have forgotten"
Pardon me, dear. My mind is pre-
occupied. These nihilists who are con-
Stantly conspiring against the life of
the car keep me always thinking"
He returned and kissed her.
How cold your lips are!" she said.
Something is wrong. \ blow is sure
to fall somewhere before morning.
Some person or persons will go to the
scaffold. 1 wish you were engaged in
another occupation"
1.-The chief horror of it is that we
officers of the police never know when
it viii be our duty to turn over to the
| executioner some one near and dear to
us Last week one of my deputies was
obliged to arrest his own sister"
Dreadful"
The prince passed out Well might
his wife call his lips cold. 1t was a
wonder that he could control himself
| as we'll as he did, since he was going
| to watch for Il bomb TO be delivered to
his own wife. Starting in the direction
of the railway station, he soon gave
his coachman orders to turn and drive
to his private office, which was sepa-
rate from that in the headquarters of
| police There he dismissed his car
riage telling his coachman that he
would go to the station later and on
| foot. Entering his office, he remained
| there till the clock struck 10. then
| emerged, disguised rs a peasant. and
| directed his steps to his own house.
Taking position near by where he