The Ordway new era., 1905-07-21
CHAPTER !.
rh. Mlnl,ter Of PoIIee.


Karsichef. minister OF police, was
evidently in no amiable mood as ne
sat. deeply intent on mastering the
details OF the mass OF official docu'
ments spread before him.
II was late In the afternoon OF
December day in lSS-. ST. Peters
burg was all athrill with the life OF
great city. The silvery music oil
thousands Of sleigh bells played
jingling accompaniment to the brill
liant scenes that were being enacted
on the great thoroughfare that parai-
leled the historic Neya. To the casual
observer the Russian capital at the
time presented nothing TO indicate
that aught but peace and prosperity,
happiness and content, were the lot
OF its people. The brilliant equip
ages of the nobility whirled along IN
Kaleidoscope variety. giving an air
OF wealth and luxury TO the scene Ap-
parently the autocrat OF Russia had
nothing to fear from the most favored
Of his subjects.
The season was at its height IN ST,
Petersburg. The czar and his court
were at the capital. and a series OF
brilliant state ceremonials Kept soci-
ETY. In whirlwind OF social pleasures,
and gave an impetus to fashionable
frivolity. manifested by n constant
succession OF entertainments at the
great homes of the aristocracy, one
Of the most magnificent fetes OF the
season was to occur on the night fol-
lowing the day on which our story
opens. and IL was whispered that the
imperial master OF Russia himself had
promised to honor II with HIS pres
ence. II was because Of this prom
ise-because OF the belief that the
car by this action designed to show
distinguished honor to Paul, Count
Nazimon-that Karsichen. minister
Of police. on this afternoon sat. with
clouded brow. earnestly engaged with
the papers before him and which oc-
cupied his thoughts to the exclusion
OF all else.
Constantine Karsichen was nearing
the supreme moment OF his life. Sue
cess now meant fortune. favor. future
greatness: failure meant ruin. dis
grace. perhaps even exile. There is
but one test applied to the minister
OF police-and there is no halfway
stopping place between extremes. Al.
ready ominous signs were not want
Ing that the car was far from salts
ned. A week before. after confer
ence with Gortshakon. president Of
the council Of ministers. the intima-
No. haf -
was growing weary OF apparent mac
tion. "His imperial majesty" sus.
gested the prime minister. fails to
understand why your policy has borne
no results. and why the enemies OF
the state are apparently more active
than under any Of your predecessors.
But. your eScelleucy." Karsichsn
had urged. u AN waiting TO crush the
enemy by one supreme stroke. All my
plans are being matured for action
that will stamp out Nihilisul in Russia
as completely as II 1t had never ex.
listed"
Gortshako1 smiled griully. The
veteran diplomat was accustomed to
take words. from whatever source
they came. with liberal discount on
their face value. Il will report your
words TO his majesty" he said-and
then. as II the thought had suddenly
occurred. he added: But do some
thing"
DO something. do something" The
words of Gortshakon kept ringing in
his brain as Kariseher. his examina.
tion Of documents finished al last.
leaned back in his chair and summed
up 4 : result
1t was to Karsichers credit that he
had brought the system OF espionage
to degree of perfection that had
never been surpassed. His agents
were everywhere. In the salons OF
the nobility: in the faculty Of the
college; among the rank and file in
the army: mixing with the merchant