The Minneapolis journal., 1905-08-23

"But there has been no such occa-
sion. I swear to you that I have not
once left this room without taking am
pie precautions.
I fancied I discerned touch Of hesi-
tation, rather in the operators tone
than in his actual words.
"Speak more plainly" said.
"What do you mean by precautions?'
'Either the door was locked or else
- This time the hesitation was
palpable.
cor else what9"
''It was left in charge of trust
worthy person."
"HAnd that trustworthy person, who
was heg' I found it hard to sup
press all signs Of excitement as put
this question.
"The gentleman who will shortly be
my brother-in-law.'
"Ah! Perhaps this gentleman is an
yourself?''
nestiy. 'SHe is a teacher in the mill
tary college. He knows nothing of
| telegraphy; in fact, he has sometimes
asked me questions on the subject
which have convinced me that he is quite
a fool where electricity is concerned.'
! " Indeed! And the name of this
lOOllSu pSISO1, IL you )l0dotR
"Herr Severinski.' ..-...-
"a Pole!'' I exclaimed.
emo, Russian. He was exiled to
Siberia on account of his political opin-,
ions, but escaped. He teaches Russian
in the college,
"How did he come to be left in
charge of this room?"
"He called here the day before. yes
terday, in the evening, to speak to
me about his marriage with my sister.
They have been engaged for some
time, you must know. While he was
here 1 received note from my sister
to her at once outside the palace. I
went, leaving my brother-in-law to
wait here during my absence. My sis
ter, I found, merely wished to urge
me not to object to any proposal made
by her betrothed. On my return I
emily bored to death in my absence. I
asked him, and he assured me no one
had come near the room while I was
away.''
| I could scarcely resist smiling as the
whole intrigue, so simple, and yet SO
consummately successful, lay barred to
my perception. Ny whole anxiety now
was to keep the, worthy but stupid
Zeiss ignorant of the transaction in
which he had been an unwitting ac-
complice.
I brought him away from the pal
ace wi tn me, so as to leave him no op-
portunity of warning Severinski, and
we proceeded together to the Russian IS
quarters. I fatter myself that the pro-
fessor of the military college was not
a little disconnected when he saw his
spector Of the Berlin police. p.
I eXnlained NV nOsitiOn in s11nh a
manner as to let Severinski see that
I knew everything, without enlighten-
ing, the other man. -
1.-THE day before, yesterday Herr
Zeiss left you alone in his room in the
palace. You took the opportunity to
are known to me, over the emperor Is
private wire. For this ofense you and
he are liable to, severe punishment
What l now have to propose to you is
to make confession which will have
the effect Of generating everyone ex-
| cept yourself. If you do this, think
| can promise you that you shall suf.
, loss Of your post in the military col
, lege.'
Severinski gave me a glance of in.
> telligence. p. "a
"You do not require me to denounce
|. anybody else9'' he inquired signif-
cantly.
} II do not require you to confess what
is obvious to everyone,' I returned
with equal significance.
Poor Zeiss followed this exchange
with an air Of bewilderment. It was
evident that the discovery Of the
others guilt had caused a. shock to his
confding nature, and he was still try
ing to reconcile the Russian s prompt
surrender to me with his previous stu
l pidity on questions Of electrical
science, when I summarily dismissed
J. view.
Q AS soon as we were by ourselve.
: Severinski spoke out boldly enough.
Y 81 am quite willing to give you .
: statement that I sent the telegram
X But l am not going to tell yo,
h anything more. You must know tha
q l am an anarchist. -
i l waved my hand scornfully.
o eff I consent to your rsuppressins
:. the truth, Professor Severinski, it doe
not follow that l am willing to lister
a to absurd fctions. Be good enough t.