Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
Their Way in Russia.
copyright. 1904. by C. B. Lewis.I

ern part OF the United States, and my
information led me direct to the city
of Narva. Before 1 had been in the
place two hours the chief of police
called and .let me knowrthat Twas con-
sidered suspicious"
He told me that Peter Bogof, whose
heirs 1 was seeking, had been strongly
suspected of nihilism before he died
and that warrant would have been
served had he lived u day longer. This
was as good as telling me that 1 would
get into trouble If prosecuted any in
quiries, but 1 foOlishly determined to
beard the lion in his den.
Thinking 1 might better carry on the
business from st. Petersburg,lI depart
ell for that city after a few days and
at once calledlupOn lawyer. He was
sharp enough TO realize that 1 would
not have taken the long journey unless
the property was of considerable value,
and without any beating around the
bush lie told me that he would findtthe
heirs and put the matter through for
the sum Of 5000. This was rank'rOb-
berry, and l refused to submit to it,
and as u result soon discovereduhat no
lawyer would have anything TODD with
the case at all.
Not only that. but 1 was soon sum-
moned to the office of the chief Of po-
lice He was very polite, but at the
same time it was easy TO read his
hypocrisy. He first secured possession
of my passport, which, he claimed,
needed some slight amendment, and
then began to question me. He kept
me on the rack for three long hours
and then had the impudence ito offer
me his hand as I departed.
l went straight from his office to
that of Il private detective agency to
set inquiries on foot. The superin-
tendent entered into the matter with
considerab BILE earnestness and agreed to
dispatch a man to Narva that evening
to secure the wished for information.
1 returned to the hotel feeling rather
jubilant at outwitting the police, but
this state of feeling did not last long.
Within an hour the superintendent Of
the agency called TO inform me THAT he
must drop the case, turning me off
with the excuse that he was too busy
to attend to ii.
He had scarcely departed before the
proprietor of the hotel came to my
room and politely asked me to vacate
it. He would not admit that it'was the
work of the police, but l had no trou-
BILE in coming to that conclusion.
l finally got rooms in boarding
house after being refused at every
other hotel. and for Il week the police
let me alone. l had made the long jour
ney to find the heirs of Bogoff and
close Al deal for the land. L had not
been provided with money to bride any
one, and l must either defy the police
and work up the case single handed or
return and report failure.
Being firmly convinced that Mrs. b.
goff was in Narva, l secretly left the
capital for that town one night. Secur-
ing rooms in a boarding house after
my arrival and Disgusting my personal
appearance to considerable extent, l
prosecuted my inquiries under one ex-
cuse and another until 1 at length dis
her own house and in poor circum-
stances and was reioiced at the pros
poets of selling the land.
/ now had to give my case away by
calling on notary To make out the pa
pers. and in less than half a day the
police were at my heels again. They
not only warned every notary at Mar
va. but the widow was obliged to flee
the city and go into hiding.
Things might have stopped there had
1 been cool and placid man. When l
found the police bounding me again 1
lost my temper and gave the chief my
candid opinion of things In general and
of his own conduct in particular. As a
natural sequence l was promptly ar
rested, though just what the technical
charge was l never learned.
l was taken to Jail and confined in a
cell with II man waiting trial for rob-
berry. He seemed to be n thorough
villain. but as he could not speak a
word of English nor l a word of Rus
sian we hit 1t of by letting each other
severely alone. AS soon as incarcerated
l asked to communicate with the Amer
lean minister. but was refused.
ON the third day the chief of police
sent for me and asked me if L would
leave Russia If given my liberty. re-
piled i'm the negative and was returned
TO prison. My threats that the matter
would be thoroughly sifted by our rep
resentative only made him smile, and
he quietly Informed me that he would
keep me in prison for the rest of my
life If did not agree to his terms.
On the seventh day he sent for me
again. l had now changed my mind,
realizing that 1 could even be sent on
TO Siberia If the police so desired and
that there was no longer the slightest
hope of accomplishing my errand.
therefore answered him that I was
ready and willing to leave the cars
dominions AT n moments notice, and an
hour later. in charge OF four police Off
GERS. was on my way TO a steamer