Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-05-26

'There # Is all rightF~ said enc Of the
porters, looking to see that the case was
as it should be, top. where top should
be, and so on 4
"There is no fear of its moving" said
another porter; 1'the glass will reach Pc
kin all right, unless the train runs off
the metals" RI
The American came up to me and took
last look at his stock of incisors. mo-
lars and CANNES.
You know, Monsieur Bombarnac,"
he said to me, "that the passengers are
going to dine at the Hotel du Czar be-
fore the departure of the train. 1t is
time now. Will you come with me?"
Il follow you.'
The dinner ends ten minutes before
the time fixed for our departure. The
bell rings and we all make a move for
the train, the engine Of which is blowing
off steam.
The Baron Weissschnitzerdorfer is not
behind hand this time. On the contrary,
it is the train this time which is five
minutes late in starting; and the German
has begun to complain, to chafe and to
threaten to sue the company for dam
ages. Ten thousand roubles-not a
penny less!-if it causes him to fail.
Fail in what. considering that he is 60
ing to Pekin?
At length the last shrek of the whis-
tie cleaves the air; the cars begin to
move, and a loud cheer salutes the de-
parture of the Grand Transasiatic ex-
press.
For fifteen years our guard had been
in the Transcaspian service. He knows
the country up to the Chinese frontier,
and five or six times already he has been
over the whole line known as the Grand
Transasiatic.
l asked him if he knew anything Of
our fellow travellers. l meant those who
were going through to China, and in the
first place of Major Noltitz.
'The major" said Popof, ''has lived
a long time in the Turkestan provinces,
and he is going to Pekin to organize the
staff of a hospital for our compa triots,
with the permission of the Gar, OF
course
Il like this Major Noltitz." 1 said,
''and l hope to make his acquaintance
very soon. And these two Chinese. do
you know them?'
"Not in the least. Monsieur Bombar.
nae; all know is the name on the lug.
gage"
What is that?"
''The younger mans name is Pan.
Chao, the elders is To-King. Probably
they have been travelling in Europe TO,
some years. AS to saying where they
come from, I cannot. l imagine that
Pan-Chao belongs to some rich family
for he is accompanied by his doctor"
"And the two French people. that cou
pie so affectionate," 1 asked. "Wht
are they?''
"Stage people who are going to a the
alter in Shanghai, where they have an en-
gagement at the French theater."
!, That is capital. / will talk about tn,
: theater, and behind the scenes, and suct
} matters, and 1 shall soon make the ac
qauintance of the CHEEKY comedian ant
his charming wife.
AS to a certain scornful gentleman
|, aboard, our guide knew nothing beyond
that his luggage bore the address in full
Sir Francis Trevellyan, Trevellyan Hall
Trevellyanshire.
"a gentleman who does not answe
when he is spoken to-" added Popof.
Nov we get to the German" said
: "Baron Observation-Disclosures
} "He is on trip round the world"
l "a trip round the world?"
"In thirty-nine days.
, And so after Mrs. Bisland, who di
the famous tour in seventy-three days
and Citizen George Francis Train. VIII
did it in seventy, this German was al
tempting to do it in thirty-nine7
8 "He will never do it," exclaimed.
"Why not?" asked Popof.
t Because he is always late"
D CTo be contiuued.l
e