The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-07-21
The Special Correspondent

King.
For the same reason, suppose, Meth
er Faruskiar nor Changer took part In
1t, for they only exchanged few words
in Chinese.
stance which did not escape the major.
We were talking about the safety Of the
Grand Transasiatic across Central Asia,
and Pan Chao had said that the road
was not 30 safe as 1t might be beyond
the Turkestan frontier, as, In fact, Major
Noltitz had told me. l was then led
to ask If he had ever heard Of the
famous KiTsang before his departure
from Europe.
"Often," no said,. 'tor Ki-Tsang was
then In the Yunnan provinces. hope
we shall not meet him on our road"
When he uttered the name Of Ki-
Tsang Faruskiar knit his brows and his
eyes flashed. Then, with look at his
companion. he resumed his habitual in
difference to all that was being said
around him.
CHAPTER XII.
The train is running at high speed. In
the ordinary service, when 1t stops ut the
eleven stations between Bokhara and
Samarkand, 1t takes a whole day over
the distance. This time 1t took but three
hours to cover the two hundred kilo-
meters which separate the two towns,
and at o'clock In the afternoon 1t en-
tered the illustrious city of Tamerlane.
Samarkand is situated in the rich oasis
watered by the Zarafchane in the valley
of Sogd. A small pamphlet I 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. leave this
discussion to the exegetists Of the pro-
fession. After stop Of six hours our
train started of again at 8 o'clock.
During dinner noticed that Major
Noltitz continued to keep his eye on his
lordship Faruskair. Had he begun to
suspect him7 Was It of any importance
In his opinion that this Mongol seemed
to know, without appearing to do so, the
three second-class travellers, who were
also Mongols? Was his ina ginatio
working with the same activity as mine
And was he taking seriously what was
only a joke on my part?
As for me, had soon forgotten all
about the Mongol for the man in the
case. If get a chance to visit him
tonight win.
It was about half past eleven when
decided to open the door of the van,
which shut behind me.
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 Il complete. No Jet of light filters
through the holes Of the case. That seems
all the better for me. 1t IL 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 60. My hand touches the
case, place my ear against the panel
and I listen. There is r IT stir, not a
breath! Is my man no. here2 Has he
got away7 Has he slipped out at one
of the stations without my seeing him
I 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, l know
and wait until the whistling has ceased
| I then give a gentle knock on the
panel. There is no reply. l knock more
loudly.
This timo it is followed by an invol
untary movement of surprise and fright
"Open, openw l say in Russian. III
is friend who speaks. You have moth
ing to fear?'
If the panel Is not lowered as I ha(
hoped, thei,e Is the crack of a match be
ing lighted and feeble light appears il
the case.
I look at the prisoner through tn
holes in the side. There Is a look o
alarm on lis face; his eyes are haggard
He does not know whether he is asleel
or awake.
"Open, my friend, say; open ant
have confidence. have discovered you
secret. ohall say nothing about it. o.
the other hand, I may be of use to you
You are a Roumanian, think, and al
a Frenchinan."
"Frenclman? You are Frenchman?
And this reply was given in my ow
language, with foreign accent. On
more bond between us. The panel slip
along its groove, and by the light of
little lamp I can examine my No. II.
"No ono can see us nor hear us?" b
asked in half-stifed voice.
mo one"
'"The gaardT
"Asleep."
!. MY new friend takes my hands; b
clasps thAm. feel that he seeks
support. He understands he can Deepen
on me. and he murmurs:
"Do not betray me-do not betra
me-"
] "Betray you, my boyl Can You b.
lpieve TINT I, a Journalists"
. "You are a journalism
e "Claudius Bombarnac, special corr
/, spondent Of the Twentieth Century"
"And you are going to Pekinf"
Through to Pekin."