Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-06-30
what it is their interest to know"

not read the Twentieth Century.
Meanwhile, different opinions were be-
ing exchanged on the gangways. Some
would rather travel with the millions
than carry a corpse along with them,
even though it was that of a first-class
mandarin. Others considered the carry
ing of the treasure danger to the pas
sengers. And that was the opinion of
Baron Observation-Disclosures, in q furious
attack on Popof.
"You ought to have told us about it,
sir-you ought to have told US about
it! Those millions are known to be In
the train, and they will tempt people to
attack US. And an attack. even II repuls-
ed. will mean delay, and delay I will not
submit to. No, sir, will not!'
mo one will attack US" replied Popof.
"No one will dream of doing it"
"And how do you know that-how do
you know that?
"Be calm, pray"
81 will not be calm; and If there is a
delay / will hold the company RESPONSE
ble"
That is understood; a hundred thou
sand forms damages to Monsieur lie Bar
on Tour de Monde.
Let us pass to the other passengers.
Ephrinell looked at the matter, of course,
from very practical point of view.
There can be no doubt that our risks
have been greatly increased by this treas
ure, and in case of accident on account
of it the Life Travellers Society, in
which 1 am insured, will, I expect, re-
fuse to pay, SO that the Grand Trans
asiatic Company will have all the re-
sponsibility."
"Of course" said Miss Bluett; land
if they had not found the missing van
the company would have been in seri-
Gus difficulty with China. Would it not,
Fulk?"
Exactly, Horatia."
Horatia and Fulk-nothing less! The
Anglo-American couple were right, the
enormous Joss would have had to be
borne by the Grand Transasiatic, for the
company must have known they were
carrying a treasure and not a corpse,
and thereby they were responsible.
AS to the Caternas, the millions roll
ing behind did not seem to trouble them.
| The only reflection they inspired was,
"Ah! Caroline, what splendid theater
we might build with all that money!
| But the best thing was said by the
Rev. Nathaniel Morse, who had Joined
the train at Kachgar.
.'It is never comfortable to be drag
ging a powder magazine after one"
| Nothing could be truer, and this van
with it's imperial treasure, was a pow
der magazine that might blow up oul
train.
CHAPTER Xxx.
The first railway was opened in Chins
about 1877, and ran from Shanghai tt
| Fou-Tcheou. The Grand Transasiati,
followed very closely the Russian roat
proposed in 1874 by Tashkend, Kouldja
Kami, Ian Tcheou, Singan, and Shang
hal. This railway did not run through
the populous central provinces, whicl
can be compared to vast and hummin
hives of bees. and extraordinarily pro
life bees. AS nearly as possible it form
straight line to Sou-Tcheou befor
curving off to Ian Tcheou; it reache
cities by the branches it gives out to tn
south and southeast.
Since we left Kothan, we have covere
a hundred and fifty kilometers in fou
hours. 1t is not a high rate of speed
but we cannot expect on this part of th
Transasiatic the same rate of travelin
we experienced on the TranscaspiaI
Either the Chinese engineers are not s
fast, or, thanks to their natural indt
lence, the engine drivers imagine tha
from thirty to. forty miles an hour is th
, maximum that can be obtained on th
railways of the Celestial Empire.
At o'clock in the afternoon we wer
at another station, Mia, where Geners
, Pevtsof established a meteorological oil
!, servatory. Here we stopped only twent
minutes. I had time to lay in a fe,
provisions at the bar. For whom the
, were intended you can imagine
The passengers we picked up were onl
Chinese, men and women. There wel
only a few for the first class and thes
3 only went short journeys.
We had not started d quarter of a
hour, when Ephrinell, with the serior
manner of a merchant intent on SON
business, came up to me on the gam
, way.
5 Monsieur Bombarnac." he said, .
: have to ask favor of you."
< "Only too happy, can assure you
said l. what is it about?"
r 81 want you to be a witness. I am e
n ing to marry Miss Bluett.''
! Marry herr"
Eyes. A treasure of woman, well a
e quainted with business matters, holdir
v a splendid commission-'
"My compliments, Mr.. Ephrinell! Ye
: can count on me"
t "And, probably, on Monsieur Cate
: nap
n '.He would like nothing better, and
t there is a wedding breakfast he w
sing at your dessert"
e "As much as he pleases," replied Il
s American.
/ 'Then it is to be"
Y Here"
'sIn the tramp
l. "In the train"
r. "But to be married you require
j. "An American minister, and we ha
d the Rev. Nathaniel Morse"
Brave, Mr.. Dphrinelll A wedding
d a train will be delightful"
IT 1t needs not be said that the CONNIE
e cials were Of full age, and free to d
pose of themselves to enter into ms
le riage before a clergyman and witho
IN any of the fastidious preliminaries !
ID Quired in France and other Journalist
i - IL