The Washington times., 1904-01-24

TT had stopped showing. Innumer-
able stars twinkled brilliantly in
4 the clear. darkly blue span of sky.
and under the glare of the street
lights the packed and frozen snow gilt
tered as IL diamond strewn. The streets
were alive with color and movement.
Sitting well forward, their arms out
stretched, the burly Russian coachmen.
with their fur caps drawn down to the
bridges Of their noses, let their horses
race at highest speed, for the night was
bitterly cold. In and out through a
maze Of sleighs and carriages. with
skill that was marvellous, they guided
their handsomely harnessed charges. so
that the snow was kicked into white
powder under the long, flowing snow
nets, and the rhythmic tric-trac of hoofs
and the merry Jingle of sleighbells made
constant music.
Wrapped to the teeth in heavy furs.
Anthony Strong and his friend, Anton
Petrowitch Yeliseyeff. left the restau-
rant Cubat and turned down the Bal
shot Marskoya toward the Nevsky, a
few PAGES distant.
Several iswostchiks, or sleigh drivers
ran after the two and begged to b. hired
at any price the BARNS" would pay,
but Strong and Yeliseyeff in their
warm. fur-nned shoubas felt that a
short stroll after the big dinner they had
eaten would not come amiss, refused all
offers, and continued on their way.
At the Nevsl1y they halted, Yeliseyeff
because he had much to say of warning
to his friend, and Strong to admire the
pale night beauty OF the city he was
leaving reluctantly
He sighed as he caught sight of a pair
of wide-open, roguish bright eyes. two
rosy cheeks and lips coquettishly curved
and smiling. He raised his fur cap with
quick gesture OF surprise and pleas
ure. and had barely time TO do so be-
fore the huddled figure shapeless in rich
furs was whisked rapidly by. Strong.
however, saw the red of her velvet
shouba and cap and the fash of dia-
monds in her ears. Oh, the fascination
of these Russian women, he thought
passionately. and more poignantly still
he regretted the fact that the morrow
would find him turning his back for a
long while on semi-Asiatic civilization
with its strange. bizarre contrasts and
splendid luxury
Anthony Strong just then was in an
excited state OF mind. The dinner Yell
seyef and a few other friends had tend
cred him on his departure was .narred
by the extreme disappointment at the
absence Of an old school and college
chum. Captain Barton. the English mil
itary attache, who had made his stay in
Russia extremely pleasant. Barton had
left the city that morning, rather been
expelled from IT. and vague rumors had
reached Strong in a whisper as 10 the
cause Of this expulsion-the theft Of the
plans of the Cronstadt fortress.
News in Russia. Strong had lived long
enough in St Petersburg to know. al
ways comes as a rumor, and he had
learned TO respect rumor. for in a city
where the privileges of the censor are
mighty things set down in black and
white are generally discredited or taken
with a grain Of salt; whereas rumor is
nearly always received with respect.
Strong had tried TO question Yelise-
yen, for Yeliseyeffs information usual
~ came from an official source. But on
this occasion he found his Russian
friend peev1sh and non-comrnittaL Il
beg Of you. my dear Strong. DC not get
us suspected" he had ended quite posi-
lively, and all that Strong could gather
rests had been made, at least four Of
Yeliseyeff's friends being among the
number, that both the English and
German embassies were implicated. and
number OF prominent government Of
ficials mentioned in the scandal.
When they turned the corner OF the
Belshoi Morskaya Strong was about to
bid his friend goodnight and go farther
on to his hotel beyond the Catharine
Church, but Yeliseyen wanting 20 con
vey his warning. invited him In for
game Of cards, telling him that both OF
them could make up their beauty sleep
next day in the train. for Yeliseyeff was
10 be his compagnon de voyage
Strong assented, and after the dvornik
had opened the outer door for them,
. Yeliseyeff let himself in with his latch
key. and OF going up TO his apartment
found two of his friends, Apraxine and
Stassof, who had suites on the same
floor, waiting for him
Strong knew both OF them well. and
all four drank vodka before sitting
down TO the card table. Native. Yell
seyeff's servant. had everything pre-
pared for the game; the table was out
for II, the match boxes, the cigarette
case, and the ash trays. He lit the two