The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-07-14

ne Will be put under guard at the next
station, and it will be useless for Made
moiselle Zinca Klork to expect him in
the capital of the Chinese empire.
1t would be better for me to relieve
his anxiety this very night. That is i'm
possible, for the train will soon stop
at Check Tepe. and then at Askhabad.
which it will leave in the first hour Of
daylight l can no longer trust to Pop
offs going to sleep.
| l am absorbed in these reflections
when the locomotive stops in Check Tepe
station at l o'clock in the morning. 4 ne
train starts at 2 o'clock, after having
been Joined by a few passengers whom
Popof tells me are Turkomans.
l envied the sleep of my companions.
The dawn was appearing in the east.
Here and there were the ruins of an
ancient city, citadel girdled with high
ramparts and a succession Of long portl-
Goes extending over fifteen hundred
yards. Running over a few embank-
ments necessitated by the inequalities
of the sandy ground, the train again
reaches the horizontal steppe.
We are RAINING at speed OF thirty
miles an hour in a southwesterly direc-
ton along the Persian frontier. 1t is
only beyond Douchak that the line be-
gins to leave it. We reached that sta
ton at 6 o'clock in the morning.
| We stop here two hours. l am off to
look at Douchak, with Major Noltitz as
my cicerone l was led to question the
major regarding the safety Of the Grand
Transasiatic across the provinces of Cen
trail Asia.
| In Turkestan, he told me, the safety
is well assured. During the years the
| Transcaspian has been at work there has
been no attack to hinder the train ser
vice.
THAT is another matter" said the
major. 1.-THE Grand Transasiatic is I'M
| der Chinese control, and l have not
much confidence in that"
| Are there not a lot Of scoundrels
prowling about Mongolia and Northern
China?" l asked. my sole anxiety is
that our journey may not be devoid Of
| incident"
Really, Mr. Special Correspondent, l
admire you. Well, am afraid you will
be disappointed, as l have heard that
the company has treated with several
chiefs of the robber bands. But there
is one of these highwaymen who has
Actd4uCu 1uuSpcuUcuCc duA AOOAbJ VA
action, certain Ki-Tsang."
"Who is he?''
"a bold bandit chief. half Chinaman,
half Mongol. Having for some time been
a terror to Yunan, he was being too
closely pursued, and has now moved into
the northern provinces. His presence has
even been reported in that part Of Mon
golia served by the Grand Transaiatic
"Well, he ought to furnish q few
paragraphs"
We returned toward tho station. The
stoppage at Douchak had another half
hour to last. As walked on the quay,
I observed something going on which
would change the makeup Of our train.
Another van had arrived from Teher
an by the branch line Of Mesched. which
puts the Persian capital in communica-
ton with the Transcaspian.
This van was bolted and barred, and
accompanied by a squad of Persian po-
lice, whose orders seemed to be not to
lose sight of It.
l don't know what made me think 80,
but 1t seemed as though this van had
something about 1t, and as the major
had left me, went and spoke to Popof,
woh was watching over the proceedings.
"Uopof, where is that van going2"
ITO Pekin."
"And what has 1t got in HT'
IAN exalted parsonage"
well, Popof, when this exalted per
sonage gets out perhaps you will let
me know?"
HE will not get out"
"Why notY'
Because he IL dead. It Is his body
they are taking to Pekin, where he will
be inferred with all the honors due to
him."
While was looking at this van a
| new passenger came up and examined
it with no less curiosity than l did. He
was a fine looking man Of about 40
wearing gracefully the costume of the
richer Mongols. q tall fellow with rather
gloomy look. a military mustache, taw-
ny complexion and eyes that never shut
Here is a splendid fellow" 1 said to
myself. Il don't know II he will turn
out the hero of the drama l am in
search Of, but anyhow, will number
him twelve in my travelling troupe"
This leading star, l soon learned from
Popof, bore the name of Faruskiar. He
was accompanied by another Mongol of
| lu1cI1O0 Iuuh, VI oUOut Lie same age,
whose name was Ghangir. AS they look
ed at the van being attached to the tail
of the train in front Of the luggage van
they exchanged a few words. As soon
as the arrangements were complete the
Persians took their places in the second
class car, which preceded the mortuary
van, so as to have the precious corpse
always under their surveillance.
The signal is given. The passengers,
old and new. hurry to their places.
Among the new ones I notice three Mon
gols Of forbidding appearance, who get
into the second-class car.
| As I put my foot On tho platform l
hear the young Chinese say something to
his companion in French.
And SO Pan Chao speaks French.
What do say? Better than French. He
speaks Partisan. Most extraordinary! l
must have q talk with him.
| CHAPTER TX.
For an hour the train Is running
through an oasis. We shall soon be in
the open desert. 1t Is half past 10.
breakfast will soon be served in the din
ing car.
| wharo Ia Tnhrdnall9 7 ID mn "a. hin,