The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-31

..Nothing else, your highness, ex.
,'oh, by the way, I forgot to pay my
cabman. Of course it isn't his fault
that he brought me here
81 shall have pleasure in sending him
to you, and again, goodnight. ..s
Goodnight" said the prince.
He closed the door of his cabin,
pulled out his notebook, and rapidly
wrote two letters, one of which he add
dressed to Drummond and the other to
took him within the cabin and closed
the door. -. ..
"Here, he said in loud voice that
the sentry could overhear if he liked,
Chow much do [ owe you?'
The driver told him.
THAT IS too much, you scoundrel,'
placed three gold pieces in the palm Of
the drivers hand together with the two
letters, and whispered: ...-
IH'Get these, delivered safely, and I'll
give you. ten times this money if you
call on Prince Lermontoff at the ad-
dress on that note.'
The man saluted, thanked him, and
retired; a moment later he heard the
Jingle of bell, and then the steady
dow to his stateroom, and he could not
tell whether the steamer was going up
or down the river. Up, he surmised,
and he suspected his destination was
Schlusselburg, the fortress prison on an
island at the source Of the Neva. He
determined to go on deck and solve the
question of direction, but the soldier
at the door brought down his gun and
barred the passage.
~ am surely allowed to 20 on
deck?''
You cannot pass without an order
"Well send the captain to me,
them
~ dare not leave the door, said
the soldier.
Lermontof pressed the button, and
presently an attendant came to learn
what was wanted.
evil you ask the captain to come
hereg'
The steward departed, and shortly
after returned with a big, bronzed,
beared man, whose bulk made the state
room seem small.
"You sent for the captain, and 1 am
here.'
sso ns am t. said the PRINCE iannti1y
have heard of me?' ~: .,-.. r..<
The captain shook his shaggy head.
am a prince of Russia, and by
some mistake find myself your passen-
ger instead of spending the nj ght i'll
my own house Where are you taking
me, captain?' ~.
cit is forbidden that I should an
swer questions -
els it also forbidden that should
"The general said you were not to
be allowed to leave this stateroom, as
you did not give your parole"
Glow can l escape from a steamer
IN motion, captain2'
"It is easy to jump into the, river,
and perhaps swim ashore. - 49,. =.
captain, L II give you my parole that
| shall not attempt to swim the Neva
on so cold night as this.u
~ cannot allow you on deck 1low,".
said the captain, ''but when we are
the deck with the sentry beside you.''
''The Gulf Of Finland" cried Ler-
montoff. 'rThen you are going down
the river9' J. ..-.s - =
The big captain looked at him with
deep displeasure clouding his brow,
feeling that he had been led to give
away information which he should have
kept to himself. -.
"You are not going up to Schlussel-
burg, then9''
~ told your highness that am not
allowed to answer questions The gen
eral, however, has given me letter
for you, and perhaps it may contain
all you want to known -'@-
1.-THE general has given you a let
ter ter e h ;, Then why don T you let me
He told me not to disturb you to.
night, but place it before you at break
fast tomorrow =
Oh, we re going to travel all night,
Yes, excellency.''
-" Did the general say you should not
allow me to see the letter tonishtg''
"No, your excellency; he just said,
DO not trouble his highness tonight,
but give him this in the morning. - :,
~; In that case, let, me have it now
The captain pulled a letter from his
pocket and presented it to the prince.
It contained merely The two notes
which Lermontoff had written to Drum
mond and to the ear.