Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-01-27
lency, I am merely passing through"

doreivitch, | have the honor to wish
you good-day," and the Governor raises
his cap with another stiff bow, to which
l respond.
''Au revoir, Ivan Feodoreivitch" ex-
claims Andrei, with an audacious grin.
The man servant shuts the carriage
door, swings himself to the box, and in
a few moments | stand alone in the road.
/ step out after this. and the verst stones
crop up quickly one after another. |
advance into the town until the houses
begin to take the form of streets, and |
feel the round powders of the pavement
under my feet. Then l ask my way to
the general postofice Of a respectable
looking citizen.
| am directed to the usual square,
flanked on all sides by government build
ings, over whose entrances hovers the
spread eagle, in the center of which
rises an equestrian statue, probably of
Peter the Great. l am presently enter
ing the postofice. In ascending the
steps my eyes rove up the street, and
are arrested by the sight of two officers
whom | met in the suburbs, who are just
turning the corner together They both
look toward me.
Well, there is nothing extraordinary in
two gendarmes walking together, nor is
there anything remarkable in the fact
that they happen simultaneously to di-
rect their eyes toward me. 1t is acci-
dent-pure accident, | think, shaking
myself free of the vague uneasiness that
is creeping on me. And l push open the
swing door Of the Left Letter Depart
ment."
"A letter for Waldemar Nicolaivitcli
| Alikanoff?"
Yes, there is one" The clerk hands
it to me and my fingers close with a
thrill of joy on the precious missive. All
| is well. is well. my heart sings. l spring
down the steps and have gained the
street, when a hand is put on my shoul-
der and | see before me the police Off
GERS, one of whom addresses me courte-
ously:
You are a stranger in town, 1 believe,
sir?'
"Yes, l am a stranger to Kovno; l am
passing through the town" | reply, look
ing the man steadily in the face. For
tunately he cannot see my flying pulses
Exactly. | am sorry to have to trou-
BILE you, but we have orders to inspect
the papers Of travellers The police in
spection department is just across the
square If you will have the goodness tc
accompany u.s."
The man indicates a large stone build
J ing opposite. 1t costs me supreme
effort not to groan aloud, and my voice
shakes as | stammer:
Il have not my papers here. Would i
not suffice if l present myself with then
tomorrow
IL regret to say that It would not,
replies the officer. Under these circum
stances we are bound to place you unde
arrest until your papers are forthcom
ing"
well, it is no use parleying about it.,
roughly interposes the other officer. eth
man must come with us. That is tn
sum total" And he lays his hand O
my arm.
''The gentleman is quite willing to G
with us and set this little matter right,
observes the polite officer, and he quietl
strokes his companions hand from m
arm, taking his place on my other side
l still hold Maruscha's letter crushe
in my fingers, forgetful of it in this me
ment of perplexity. | am reminded G
it. by it's deXtrous withdrawal.
Permit me-" observes the polite off
Ger.
He raises it to his eyes and slowl
reads the address aloud. 'Waldema
Nicolaivitch Alikanoff" He bows t.
ward me as if a third party were in tn
act of presenting me to him. "a goo
name. A good Russian namew
II have not read that letter, it is froi
my betrothed," l say, choking down m
indignation. "Will you permit me I
read it? Surely it can make no diffe
ence so that you retain it in your po
session.
my duty Is to place it in the hand
of the Prefect unopened" is the respons
"As there is nothing reasonable in it, b
will return it to you"
The cold sweat breaks out on IN
brow. ooh, Maruscha! Maruscha. &c
in His mercy grant that thou hast NJ
compromised thyself" | inwardly groal
Meanwhile, with a gendarme on eac
side of me, l have crossed the squal
and am entering the police offices. W
pass into small ante-room and stop
, a door at which the officer who seems a
ways to take the initiative knocks.
is torn open instantly, and an irate hea
is thrust out, surmounted by a militai
l cap.
what now?" exclaims this individua
"No use coming to me! l have nothir
to do with it, After business hours
going home to dinner. Should have bee
. gone an hour ago."
The gendarme draws him aside al
whispers to him.
l strain my ears to catch the purpo
:. Of the gendarme's remarks, but on
1 hear: "The Governor, "St. Petersburg
and the name Andrei Piotrovitch." On
three words, yet they are enough to i
form me as to whom I owe my arres
'. and the knowledge lightens not my a
!, ~ prehensions.
4 Whilst the gendarme Is whispering, Il
\. listener fixes his google eyes on me as