Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30


draft his report Soon the steady labor
involved brought peace He abandoned
his tourist program, stuck to his task,
and plunged into the mass of details.
Evidently this attitude on his part
perp1exed somebody After he had dined
and was wavering between "Phedre" "
at the theater and a disquisition on
Usbeg Tartars in his room, he was asked
to 60 to the hotel office. There a polite
official requested the pleasure of seeing
his passport. Such a proceeding in the
Russia of to-day is unusual in the case
of reputable foreigners travelling through
the country Armstrong felt that some
person of influence had stirred up the
authorities to make things uncomfortable.
The police agent was surprised when
the document was produced. 1t was
Foreign Office passport, vised by the
Russian Ambassador in London and
Endorsed by the Governor of Baku, the
latter authorization having been obtained
by the Colonel of Cossacks.
1T is in perfect order, gosPodln,
said the man gravely, returning it
But why have you examined it,
demanded Armstrong. why have you
picked me out of dozens of people in the
hotel for this personal scrutiny?"
The policeman shrugged his shoulders
You are obeying orders, of course,
went on Armstrong. However, | shall
make it my business to report the Incl
dent to the Ministry of the Interior l
regard it as an affront.'
The man vanished, The hotel en-
p1ovees groveled Here was one who
dared to question the proceedings of the
all-powerful police.
The next twenty-four hours left him,
as far as he knew, without further sur
VIGILANCE, He grew impatient as the
hour for the arrival of the Saratoff train
passed and nothing happened. He was
beginning to think that some stupid hoax
had been perpetrated on him. when,
while he was dressing for dinner letter
was slipped under the door of his room.
He heard the rustic of the paper on
the carpet and darted to the door to
look out A serving maid was hurrying
away along the corridor. He called to
her, but she whisked out of sight. The
letter itself was as perplexing as the man
ner of its delivery 1t had not been
written long, and it read
SRI, Vladimir Sassulitch sent to you the
telegram from Atkarsk in the name of your
English friend. Prince Melnikof has lied.
Your friend and his father are not absent on
a shooting excursion. They are prisoners in
the hands of Prince Melnikof's adherents,
who pose as outlaws. Lady Ernyntrude
Grandson is virtually prisoner in the palace
of Bannofka. She will be cajoed forced
into marriage with the Prince, as the price
of the deliverance of her father and brother.
l have warned her in the past; but unfortu-
nately she did not understand my motives,
and it is probable that she revealed something
to Prince Melnikoff, as my helpers in the palace
were suspected and have been removed Some
of them will die. You, as an Englishman and
a friend Of the family, may be able to help
Lady Ermyntrude and the Others That is
why have come to Moscow to see you.
There followed an elaborate direction
of the manner in which, by using various
doors of the Salon DIES Varieties, he could
battle any pursuer, reach a side street,
and walk to a house not far distant
ArmStrOnp 6iS1ilked and dic+r,,c+aJ +b;c