The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-13

is, I should have thought it consistent
with the honor of Russian prince OF
the blood to take part in defeating their
unworthy Schemes :.
This was evidently a new view to his
imperial highness, and [ could see by
the expression Of his face that it was
telling. powerfully. * 4 i
to me that you have my word. When ?,
do you propose to pay me this money!
Nov, this moment, lfiyour hlghness
n Count It out, tassa,', was the brief
Injunction: ~ 80" w =" ,.'+t 80
obeyed. 1t was "a singular scene as
I stood there laying down pile after
on a richly inlaid table, while one Of
the highest personages in the proudest
court Of Asia Stood beside me, his tall
figure glistening with gold ornaments
and ieweled decorations, and ibis dark
Slavonian features flushed with excite
ment and green. As the last note left
my fingers, he bent down and breathed
"Take the Siberian railway, and use
your eyes,
I am ready to admit that my first
feeling, after hearing those few words
which had cost me a hundred thousand
roubles each, was one of sikening dis
appointment. But a very little con-
sideration served to show me that the
grand duke had told ne enough to place
success within my reach. and that the
information which he thus. put it in
| my power to acquire by my own obser-
walton was calculated to be Of greater
value than any mere statement made at
secondhand.
| Somewhere along the vast, just com
| pleted track which connects the Baltic
4 with tho pooifo low no 10 70 tho FIR,
purpose Of that famous rescript which
| had imposed on all the statesmen of
the world, and only vigilance and cir
cumspection were required to find it.
Never was there a Journey, more
now undertook. I had to disappear
from civilization for an unknown
length Of time and plunge into region
s 81 GUIDED, in mysterious dread, the land
which forms the background to the
snowy life Of the capital beside the
Neva,. like dark subterranean dun
geon hidden beneath glittering pal
/ ace.
. From Siberia few enemies of the
Russlan government ever return. My
safety depended on my keeping up the
lookout for sources of wealth requiring
French capital for their development
In that character I was sure of a cor
dial reception, and it served as a con
Venlent cloak for some curiosity about
the country l was passing thru.
Not daring to intrust my secret to {
companion, l was obliged to go withou
sleep from the moment of leaving tn,
Ural mountains behind The utmos
indulgence 1 could allow myself wa,
such light doze as left the attention
ready to leap into activity at the leas
1 provocation. At. every stopping plac,
~ got out and made careful examina
ZION OF the neighborhood. The on,
1 thing had to fear was the night. Il
& Ine zimmerman darkness Of a northern
wlnter ! might have been carried pas
The train by which / Travelled wa
q long one, and it was increase,
addition Of an open car FIJI Ike as cat I'll
truck, containing peasants whom I tool
70 pe prisoners. I had to be careful
not to show myself too inquisitive, bu
! noticed at the various stations alon
the track that they were all young me-
. of about the same age, and that the.
J got IN and out in obedience to order
, given by officials who were armed, an
1 whom imagined to be Warders o
. police.
X did not consider it safe to hol
I Emufc n conversation with my fellow pas
J, sengers. 1t was probable. that NOR
than one spy was among them. I ha
], an uneasy sensation Of being watche
! by invisible eyes, and knew that j
| once aroused real suspicion by m
| behavior, my doom was sealed.
So the days and nights passed, an
> the train crept on it's way across tn
1 silence of the frozen continent.
| strained my eyes in vain across tt
binding waste, and strained my cal
thru the night. No sight or sound r
4 Warded me, save the solitary huts (
8 the, railway men and the monotonol
tinkle Of sleigh bells.
= According to my reckoning we ha
E got nearly half way from the Ural {