The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-12-31
A SURPRISE
IorIEinaIl

M0rgucflIn WlLe or EIllce GelBluh scaron. chief of police at St. Peters burg, possessed a rare intellect. Her husband admired her yigor 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 Scaron received a terrible shock. Among a number of intercepted letters that had fallen into the hands of the police and were laid before him was one written by his wife. It read:
 Bring it Go the rear door at il o'clock tonight-that .a II Che emperor's trip has been begun as announced on that day. IT the trip is postponed act accordingly
 Scaron was unneryod. 1t was plain that his own wife was in league with nlhilists to assassiuate 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 riage and drove to the Winter palace.
 "Your majesty" he said as soon as admitted to the emperor, "I beg that you will excuse me from attending you this evening"
 "Why so. princeY
 "My spies have intercepted a letter indicating that a bomb is to be deliy- cred to a certain person at Il o'clock on the night of your departure. It is doubtless to be used on your return. Your majesty will be safe, at least from this dangero on your outward jour ney. and ] wish to attend personally to the capture of the bomb and its bearer myself. ] consider it too important 9 matter to leave to any one else"
 "As you think best, prince.'
 Scaron returned to his house at 4 o'clock, threw some things into his vaIise and bid his wife goodby. She had known that he was to accompany the czar-it was his custom to do so whenever his master journeved-and there was no surprise.
 "The trip not being put off, ] pre- sume there is no suspicion of danger" " remarked the princess.
 None whatever
 Without looking at bis wife he start ed to go. He had reached the door when he heard her call him:
 "Sergius"
 He turned. She was looking at him responsibility.
 "Ycl have forgotten
 Pardon me. dear My mind is pre- occupied. These uihilists who are con siantly couspiring against the life of the czar keep me always thinking.
 He returned and kissed her.
 "IIow cold your lips are" she said. "Some.hing is wrong A blow is sure to faI somewhere before morning. Some person or persons will go to tue scanold. ] wish you were engaged in another occupation 70
 .The chief horror of it is that we officers of the police never know when it will bc our duty to turn over to 'he cxecuuoucr some one near and dear to us. Last week one of my deputies was obliged to arrest his own sister,
 "urcaJfuL"
 The prince passed out Well might his wife cal his lips cold. It was a wonder that he could control himself as well as lr did, since be was going to watch for 90 bomb to be delivered to his own wife Starting in the direction of the railway station. he soon gave his coaclman orders to turn and drive to his private office, which was sepa- rate from tbat in the headquarters of police. There he dismissed his car riage. telling his coachmou thut he would go to the station later and on foot Entering his office, he remained there tnl the clock struck l0, then emerged. disguised as a peas"ut and directed his steps to his own house Taking position near by where he would be uuobserycd. he waited and watched
 Ata quarter ,o 1l a man came down Che street and without looking about him to see if Inc vas watched was mak- ing straight for the rear door when a hand was laid on his shoulder, and one in rough peasant glrb covered him with revolver. His captor led him to short distance from the house. put him into a carriage and the two were driven TO the private office of the chief of police. As soon as they were alone in the office Scaron threw off his peas ants costume and revealed his iden- tty.
 "Valeyitch" he exclaimed.
 The other stood mute.
 CT told my wife tonight that the hor TOT Of my career was never knowing when We must arrest some one we know-some one dear to us. Put down Che bomb"
 Valevitch. the brother of the princess. placed the box on a table. Sergius ap- preached 1t and put his ear to it.
 ooh. heavens" he exclaimed bitterly 'It is so. hear the click of the clock work that Is to regulate the explosion You Valevitch. to lead your own sister to the scanoldr
 Valevitch stood meeAiy looking at the prince with a peculiar expression; then he went to the box. drew a slidinr cover and took ont clock of antique workmanship.
 "What the Ivan clock-the clock ct the terrible czar which ] have so long desiredT
 "Yes Marguerite has intended a sur prise for vou."
 scaron stood astounded, a great re. 1t h. ...... r.t- r,.o rTl,or ho