The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-06-06
Chasing q RuSsinn
ASSaS5in.
fOrIrlnnl.l


road running between Moscow and
Odessa on tho Black sea, was known
by the royolutionisis 10 lie III the pay
OF tho police. Once Or twice "poIiti-
calls" trying 10 get out OF the country,
had begged him 10 conceal them on bin
engine and take them % Odessa. where
they could embark. One had tried 10
bribG him. Invariably the engineer
had gone straight 10 the police with
the informatItn. One night Lemsiky.
who had d dag run, WINS preparing TO
10 10 bed when there was d knock on
hls door and d well dressed young man
with light hair and blue eyes stepped
In.
II wish 10 20 south to Odessa on To-
inorrow's II o'clock train. You, I am
told. run the engine OF that train. Will
you slow up just beyond the limits to
enable mo 10 get onf II win be very
easy for you and would be worth a
hundred rubles 10 me"
Lemsky thought a moment. Should
be take the bribe without earning ~
ne would receive It's double from the
police for his information. No; II
would be too risky.
The next morning Lefnsky when be
went to the roundhouse dropped In on
tho police and informed them that
suspicious character had tried 10 bribe
him 10 slow his train that he might
get ON. The police ordered q couple OF
detectives to 70 on the train and watch
Tor the suspicious character as de-
scribed by the engineer.
Az half past 10 o'clock report was
heard In the governors palace and
attendants entering found the governor
blown TO atoms There was no sign
whatever Of the perpetrator OF the
deed. There was an awakening at tho
police Office. though II came late. The
information OF the engineer suddenly
appeared to be very important. OF
course II was only n ciew. but the more
they thought OF II tho more they con
sidered II tho true clew. Had II not
been tho assassin himself who, intend
Ing 10 kill the governor not long before
the train started, had wished to take
II outside the city lirnitsY But, falling
10 bribe the engineer TO STOP had he
not taken the train nj the stationf
II was 1 o'clock when the police got
the Idea Into their stupid noddles, and
the train had been gone two hours.
They of once went TO the railway Of
fees and directed the superintendent
to catch the IL o'clock train by tele-
graph and direct the detectives on II
10 stop II tiIl II could be certainly
known II the assassin was on board.
The superintendent gave them two
pieces OF Information that astonished
thein--nrst, the telegraph line to odes-
sa was down; second. police Official
had only half an hour ago hurried into
the Office and In the name OF the gov.
ernment demanded an engine with
which 10 follow the II o'clock train.
An engine standing ready on the
track had been given him and after
taking IN all the coal and water II
could carry had left not ten minutes
before with the officer. the engineer
and stoker.
The officials were puzzled Exchang-
Ing opinions. they concluded that some
one high In rank aud more energetic
than themselves had got ahead OF
them. But they could only wait for
information. The telegraph line being
down. there was no way OF reaching
the train or the engine.
And now let us follow the police OIL
cial who had dlstanced his fellows.
He was a black eyed man. with dark
hair and beard. He stood, with a
watch In hand. timing the train, and.
though 1t covered a mile minute. he
ordered the engineer to 30 faster.
"Catch the II o'clock train before 1t
reaches Crakoy," he said to the engl-
neer. ..and promise you In the name
Of the car q thousand rubles."
The engineer ordered more coal into
the furnace, and, with increased
steam. the engine bounded over the
rails like comet. The officer had a
time table In his pocket and, noting the
time OF day, told the engineer that he
should overhaul the train at Kursk.
And he did. When the locomotive roll
ID into Kursk, there stood the train on
the track, A switch was set for the
locomotive. and S rolled alongside the
train, Then ths officer Of police or
lered the engineer 10 pull ON.
"But | thought you wanted to catch
his train,' said the engineer.
II did --and pass 1t. Pull onr' thun-
Tered the officer.
The engineer let on steam, and the |
locomotive was soon dashlng on again |
II the same terrific rate as before.
"Now for ODESSA" said the officer,
We must reach II by 10 o'clock to-
light In time to catch the boat for
Jonstantinople."
The engineer now began to wonder
t this singular man who had been so
nxious to catch train and when he
ad caught II passed It without COM
nunlcatlng. But he held his peace.
Ie was IN Russia. and the officer talk
d in the name OF the ezar He SPOKE
d one In authority, and II was plain
hat he was not to be questioned,