The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-07-08
CHAPTER XII.

AEVunU nl1x1s
~ CHAPTER XII.
The train Is running at high speed. In
the ordinary Service when 1t stops at the
eleven stations between Bokhara and
Samarkand, 1t takes a whole day over
the distance. This time it took but three
hours to cover the two hundred kilo-
meters which separate the two towns,
and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon it en-
tered the Nlustrious city of Tamerlane.
Samarkand 10 situated In the rich oasis
watered by the Zarafchane in the valley
Of Sogd. 4 small pamphlet l bought
at the railway station informs me that
this great city 10 one Of the four sites
In which geographers "agree" to place
the terrestrial paradise. I leave this
discussion to the exegetists of the pro-
fession. After q stop of six hours our
train started of again at 8 o'clock.
During dinner I noticed that Major
Noltit1 continued to keep his eye on his
lordship Faruskair. Had he begun to
suspect him3 Was 1t Of any Importance
ia his opinion that this Mongol seemed
to know, without appearing to do so, the
three second-class travellers, who were
also Mongols2 Was his Imagination
working with the same activity as mine?
And was he taking seriously what was
only Joke on my part?
Az for me, I had soon forgotten ali
about the Mongol for the man in the
case. II / get q chance to visit him
tonight will.
| 1t was about half past eleven when
decided to open the door of the van,
which shut behind me.
l knew that the young Roumanian was
not always shut up In his box, and the
fancy might just have taken him to
stretch his limbs by walking from one
end to the other Of the van. The dark
ness is complete. No jet of light filters
through the holes Of the case That seems
all the better for me. It Is as well that
my No. ii should not be surprised by
too sudden an apparition. He is doubt
less asleep. will give two little knocks
on the panel; will awake him, and we
will explain matters before he can move.
feel as go. My hand touches the
case; place my ear against the panel
and listen. There Is r IT a stir, not a
breath! Is my man no. here2 Has he
got away7 Has he R'pped out at one
Of the stations without my seeing him
am just going to knock, when the
locomotives whistle emits its strident
crow as we pass through a station. But
the train is not going to stop, know
and wait until the whistling has ceased
4 then give a gentle knock on the
panel. There iB no reply. l knock more
loudly.
This time it IL followed by an inVOl
untary movement Of surprise and fright
<"Open, openw I say in Russian. "It
10 q friend who speaks. You have moth
ing to fear!'
If the panel 10 not lowered as I hac
hoped, there 10 the crack of match be
Ing lighted and q feeble light appears il
the case.
look at the prisoner through thu
: holes In the side. There is look O.
alarm on his face; his eyes are haggard
He does not know whether he Is asleeI
or awake.
"Open, my friend, say; open anc
have confidence. have discovered you
secret. shall say nothing about 1t. o.
tho other hand, I may be Of use to you
You are a Roumanian, think, and an
a Frenchman."
: "Frenchman? You are FrenchmanT
And this reply was given in my owl
: language, with q foreign accent. On
, more bond between US. The panel slip
, along it's groove, and by the light of
little lamp can examine my No. IL.
'No one can see us nor hear usF h
asked In q half-StiHed voice.
. "No one."
:. = 1.-THE guard?'
: Asleep"
Ny new friend takes my hands; h
> clasps them. feel that he seeks
: support. He understands he can Deepen
!. on me. and he murmurs:
. do net betray me-do not betra
me-"
"Betray you, my boy7 Can you be
IpIeve that I, q journalist-
a "You are a Journalism
"Claudius Bombarnac, special CORE
!, spondent Of the Twentieth Century"
!, "And you are going to PekinF
Through to Pekin."
"Ah! Monsieur Bombarnac, ProVidenc
j. has sent you OH to my road
q Anything I can do for you VIII
y What 10 your name"
1 "Kinko." -.
"You are g Roumanian, are you not!
"Roumanian, Of Bucharest"
"But you have lived in France
= "Four years in Paris, where l wa
!. apprentice to an upholsterer in the Fa'
v bourg Saint Antoine"
= "And you went back to Bucharest
- eyes, to work at my trade there unit
? the day came when It was impossib
: for me to resist the desire to leave
a ITO leave? Why"
"To marry"
"To marry Mademoiselle Zinca Klor
Avenue Cha-Coua, Pekin, China"
q "You knowT'
"Certainly. The address Is on II
L box" = -s. . 1850