Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-11-02


Reski, the tall, handsome Pole, who had
about him more of the feudal knight than
country inn-keeper, met US in the
porch, bowling a stately welcome.
"You have had a bad drive, gentle
men," said he. THE wind has been
fierce, and the snow, l fear, was heavy.
Supper will be ready in half an hour"
IT believe a Mr.. George Wakefield
slept here last night" said Graden, dust
ing the clinging flakes from his outer
wraps. ut is always pleasant to meet
a compatrot. If he is still in the house,
perhaps he will join us at our meal"
Herr Wakefield No, mein Herr. he
has not yet returned"
80, he has gone outT'
The innkeeper hesitated, glancinE un-
easily at his questioner. he was evil
IDENTIFY in some uncertainty of mind.
"He Is a strange man, the Herr Wake
field; though. perhaps, for an English
man"
HE is not more mad than usual, en-,
Mr.. Landlord 2" laughed Graden.
"Mein Herr, it was not my intention
to speak thus of your great people" apol-
ogized the man. IF he has surprised us,
it is doubtless because we, being ignorant
countryfolk, do not understand his Gus
TOMS"
why, what has he been aboutT'
'Well, mein Herr, 1t Is this way. After
you had started for your drive to the
house of the Prof. Mechersky, Herr
Wakefield came running down from his
room with many questions concerning
you. He seemed sorry that you had gone
without seeing him. He then paid his
bill with the liberality of the English,
who are indeed great and generous ma
ton, and commanded that his luggage
should be carried to the station for the
midday train. At II he himself set out
for the station upon foot. We were
sorry to lose 50 good a guest. What
then, mein Herr, was our surprise when
little after II he reappeared, having
ridden back upon the sleigh that had
taken his baggage to the stationl The
man who drove it told me that Herr
Wakefield had left his baggage upon the
platform unregistered, and that he had
seen a stranger standing by it as if in
charge"
Graden glanced at Mossel, who grin
ned luminously.
proceed, Mr.. Landlord" he said.
He had only peeped into the station
and left at once, the man said. tie
demanded of me a sleigh AM svod
horses, but the best 1 haze we're with
you, and it was necessary to send for
others from a neighbor. He was very
impatient Of delay, using angry words
At last he drove away, and he has not
returned"
"Who went with him?"
"Ivan, my eldest son."
'Did he say where he was going?"
"No, mein Herr; only l heard him CRY
to Ivan to follow the eastern road which
is towards the Russian frontier"
"And while he waited for the horses,
what did he dor
"As l have said, at first he abused me
roundly for the delay. Indeed, mein
Herr was surprised at his knowledge
of German, for before he had spoken
it very badly. For the rest, he sat by
himself, reading, in the best ROOM"
"Please to show us there
We tramped in single file after the
landlord through the ill-lit passages to
the 'best ROOM" a parlor set aside for
important guests. 1t seemed peculiarly
nartistic apartment, with green wall
paper and angular chairs covered with
purple antimacassars. On the central
table stood q lamp. and beside it lay a
number of those dingy books that seem
common to inns of all nations. Graden
made for them at once, and as he sorted
through the pile of time tables, cata-
logues, and trade papers, we stood watch
ing him in surprise Suddenly he stopped
in his search with a little grunt of salts
| faction, and drawing a chair to the table.
sat down. l looked over his shoulder.
He was actually reading a German
Baedeker
Doubtless you are planning a picnic
party?" l suggested, with as mucl. sar-
casm as l could put into the question.
Il know you are tired and hungry, my
good Robert" he answered; but please
keep quiet"
He had reached "Lemsdorf''-I could
see the name at the top Of the page
and now was turning the leaves very
slowly. Suddenly he held up the Bae-
deker to me.
'Do you see that?" he asked sharply.
A jagged line of paper ran along the
inner crease of the guide book. The
map of the district had been torn away
Mossel thrust me gently aside and,
bending over, examined the under page
thus left exposed. He took the book
from Graden's hands and, carrying II
to the lamp, continued his scrutiny.
you are quite right, Mossel," said
my cousin. His pencil had a xhsrp
point"
You have keen eye, Herr Graden,r "
grinnsd the policeman. ''In our busi
ness you would have made some reputs.
ton"
This is a new edition. How Iona
have you had it?"
But a few days, mein Herr"
And have you been visited By any
tourists In that timer
mo, mein Herr"
"Then this should make It certainty