Hilo tribune., 1906-06-19
APPLE FROM
ST. PETERSBURG
tOriginal.1

whom l knew, ana he asked me TO car
ry dispatches to Washington, whittier
[ was going. l accepted the commits
sion and left on the night train. 1t was
overloaded with people aiming to es-
cape the terrible events transporting in
the capital. A railroad official tapped
me on the shoulder and offered to show
me to a seat. He took me to a car
where there was room for but one per-
son, put me in, shut the door and was
of before l could fee him. This aston
lshed me, for l had supposed a fee was
the object of his attention.
At every station on the route one or
more Of the passengers in my cOmpart-
ment got out till at last there was but
n left, a young girl. l had settled my
self for a nap, but was still half awake,
when l was conscious that this girl
was rummaging my satchel. 1 was
about to start up to prevent her when
curiosity changed my intention, and l
feigned to be sound asleep. The girl
found my passport and seized upon II
eagerly, evidently much relieved to find
1t in the satchel. Then she threw Off a
macintosh, took a soft hat out Of her
pocket and appeared as a man. Rolling
her CASTOR clothing in a bundle, she
lowered the window and threw it out.
1t was not long after this that the
train stopped, the door opened and an
officer put in his head and called for
passports. 1t was a critical moment with
the girl, and she turned pale as death.
Opening my satchel, 1 hunted for what
l knew she had taken and, not finding
it, ~endeavored to explain to the officer
that l had left it behind. Meanwhile
the girl had produced II. The officer
was sufficiently absorbed in my cas- to
hand II back to her with but a hasty
examination.
"Your passport he demanded Of me
severely.
II think 1 can satisfy you," l said,
and, taking the envelope bearing my
dispatches addressed to the secretary
of state at Washington, also the seal Of
the American embassy. l showed 1t to
him. After some words he agreed to
telegraph to st. Petersburg for instruc-
lions, which should arrive before We
reached the frontier. Then he locked
the door and In a few minutes the train
started on.
1 expected the girl would thank me
for what l had done, but l had played
my part so well that she really believed
I thought 1 had left my passport be-
hind. Presently l said to her in French:
"Mademoiselle, you will pass the bor-
der safely. 1 shall probably be detain-
ed. May 1 ask that you will wait for
me at-well, suppose l meet you at
Bromberg for return Of my passportr
Without a word she came over to
where l sat, knelt before me and kissed
my hand.
Monsieur, you have saved me from
death or worse than death-Siberia,"
you are very fortunate in availing
yourself of my passport"
at is not luck. A clerk in the Ameri-
can embassy Informed our club that
you were to depart tonight. You were
shown into this compartment by a
railway official who is also a member
OF the club. The compartment was
filled with other members Of the club
to prevent any one else from riding in
1t. The plan was laid for me, in the
hope that 1 might steal your passport.
Had 1 not found 1t in your satchel /
should have drugged you"
why are you leaving Russia p
"Just now 1t would not be best to
tell you"
you are right. l would rather not
know"
When we reached the frontier the train
stopped, and the officer appeared and
said that he had received a telegram
that at the request Of the American
minister l was to be permitted to go on
without a passport. AS Don as he had
withdrawn l looked at the girl. She
draft from my flask.
We had not gone far beyond the Dor
der when from under a shawl on the
seat behind her she produced an apple,
lowered the window and was about Ia
throw the apple out when l stopped
her.
II think I deserve your confidence
l said. what does this meanT"
II must get rid Of It," she gasped,
looking at me appealingly. ut is O
bomb!'
Taking 1t from her, I hurled It with
all my strength into a field. There was
an explosion. The train came to a stop
and every head was thrust out Of the
windows. After examination, the on,
Gals, finding that no injury had result
ed, started the train.
Arriving at Berlin, the girl gave me
her address on my promise not to re
veal 1t, and the next morning l called
ON her. She confessed the reason fol-
her sudden departure from Russia.
Il was deputed by our club" she
said, ITO kill that terrible man. the
Grand Duke Vladimir. l am the daugh
ter Of a noble, a high official in the gov
eminent, and have access to all except
the emperor. The day l left st. Peters
burg l had offered a basket Of fruit Il
the grand duke containing two apples
both Of which were merely apple skim
filled with a glass bulb, the bulb fllet
with an explosive. He chose one Of thu
apples, and l brought away the other
The n he took he laid on his desk
An hour later / heard that there HAD
been an explosion in his office, but h
xVaa mot infurad Nv nlau had fafIa0