Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-07-15
CHAPTER VII.

tpu4h Hpl tAuplpN MY lIAue bCl'Il bl'i
In visiting this little town, which con
tains more than two thousand inhabit
ants, Russians, Persians and Turko
mans.
At nine o'clock the signal to start was
given. The train leaving Kill Arvat
went off in n southwestery direction
toward Askha bad, along the Persian
frontier.
If | remained awake it was because
! was troubled in my mind | was think
Ing of my famous packing case, Of the
man it contained and this very night |
had resolved to enter into communication
with him. | thought of the people who
had done this sort Of thing before In
1889, 1891 and 1892 an Austrian tailor,
Herman Zeitung, had come from Vienna
10 Paris, from Amsterdam to Brussels,
Irom Antwerp to Christiania, in box
But | must wait until Popof had re-
tired to rest. The train would not stop
until it reached Check Tepe, at one
o'clock in the morning During the run
from Kill Arvat to Check Tepe | reck-
oned that Popof would have good
sleep, and then, or never. | would put
my plan into execution.
Half an hour went by, and the noise
of a door shutting on the platform of
the car told me that our guard had just
entered his little box. In spite of my de-
sire to visit the baggage car, | waited
patiently, for it was possible that P0pof
was not yet sound asleep.
| rise, | draw aside the curtain of
one OF the lamps. | look at my watch.
lc is a few minutes past eleven. Still
two hours to Check Tepe. The moment
has come. | glide between the seats to
the door Of the car. | open it gently
and shut it after me without waking any
one
Assured of my safety, | cross the
gangway and am in front of the baggage
van. The door is only fastened with a
bar which is hung between two staples.
open it and shut it behind me.
Although the darkness is deep in the
van, although there is no side window,
! know my position. l know where the
case is placed it is in the left corner
as | enter. Carefully feeling with feet
and hands, | reach the case.
| leaned over and placed my ear tim
Idly against the other panel. There was
no sound of breathing.
The products Of the house of Strong,
Rulbul & Co., of New York, could not
be more noiseess in their boxes. A fear
seizes upon me-the fear of seeing all
my reporters hopes vanish. Was l de
ceived on board the Astara?
No! Feeble as it is, | detect a move
ment inside the case! 1t becomes more
distinct, and | ask If the panel is going
to slide, If the prisoner is coming out
of his prison to breathe the fresh air?
Suddenly a slight cracking greets my
ear | am not the sport of an Illusion
it is the crack of a match being lighted
Almost Immediately few feeble rays
pierce the ventilation holes of the case
A minute elapsed. Nothing shows that
the panel has been moved. nothing gives
me reason to suppose that the unknown
Is coming out.
Cautiously l wait Then I have an
idea to make something out of this light
The case is lighted within. l put my
eye close to one of the holes.
There is a man in the box. His fea-
lures | can make out clearly. lie is
from % to 26 years of age He does not
shave, and his beard is brown. He is
of the true Roumanian type. He is good
looking, although his face denotes great
energy of character cad he must be
energetic to have shut himself up in
box like this for such a long journey.
But what is he doing now? Well. he
IS seated on the bottom of his case and
placidly eating his supper by the light OF
little lamp. 4 box of preserves is on
bis knee, biscuit is not wanting, and in
a little cupboard l notice a rug and
OvercOat hooked up on the wall.
Evidently No. II is quite at home. He
IS there in his cell like a snail in his
shell His house goes with him; and
lie saves the thousand francs it would
have cost him to journey from Tihis
TO Pekin second-class. know he is
committing a fraud. and the law pun
fishes such fraud. He can come out of
his box when he likes and take a walk
IN the van, or even at night venture on
the platform.
An idea occurs TO me which NAV nor
perhaps be as good as it seems. That is
10 rap lightly on the box so as 10 enter
into communication with my new com
panion, and learn who he is and whence
he comes, for l know whittier he goes.
| will tell him that | am a French.
man, and a Roumanian knows be can al
ways trust a Frenchman. | will offer
him my services. He will have nothing
10 regret from my visits, and nothing Il
fear from my impudences.
l rap the panel The light suddenly
goes out. The prisoner has suspended
his respiration. l must reassure him.
"0penp' l say to him gently in Rus
dan. "Open-"
l cannot finish the sentence: for tn,
train gives a sudden jump and slacken
speed. There Is a noise outside. rusl
out of the van and shut the door benin.
me.
1t was time. I have scarcely reache,
the platform before Popof's door opens
and, without seeing me, he hurrie
through the van on to the engine. A
most Immediately the train resumes il
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