Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-06-27
By ROBERT BARR,
Au1bor Of

414h ~ oullOIll4CS uO ~
playing up to the laboring class, whom
they despise. l lay It all to that un-
fortunate explosion, which gathered the
police about US as II they had sprung
rom the ground. There was an off,
eial examination, Of course, and Jack
explained, apparently to everybody's
satisfaction, exactly how he came to
make the mistake that resulted in the
loss of his beard and his windows. I
don't know exactly how to describe the
feeling of uneasiness which has come
over me.
"At first sight this city did not strike
me as so very much different from
New York or London, and, meeting, as
l did, so many refined gentlemen in
high places, 1 had come to think st.
Petersburg was, after all, very much
like Paris or Berlin or Rome. But it is
different, and the difference makes it.
self subtly felt, just as the air in some
coast towns Of Britain is relaxing and
in others bracing. In these towns a
man doesn't notice the effect at first,
but later on he begins to feel it, and so
1t is here in st. Petersburg. Great
numbers Of workmen pass down our
street. They all seem to know who the
prince Is, and the first days we were
here they saluted him with q Difference
which 1 supposed was due to his rank,
in spite Of the greasy clothes he wore.
Since the explosion an indefinable
change has come over these workmen.
They salute the prince still when we
meet them on the street, but there is
In their attitude a certain sly sympa-
thy, if 1 may S 10 term it, a bond of
camaraderie, which is implied in their
manner rather than expressed. Jack
says this is all fancy on my part, but
l don't think it is. These men imagine
that Prince Ivan Lermontoff, who lives
among them and dresses like them, is
connecting some explosive which may
yet rid them of the tyrants who make
their lives so unsafe. All this would
not matter, but what does matter is
the chemical reaction, as l believe Jack
would term it, which has taken place
among the authorities. The authorities
undoubtedly have their spies among
the workingmen and know well what
they are thinking about and talking
about. l do not believe they were sat
isfed with the explanations Jack gave
regarding the disaster. l have tried
to impress upon Jack that he must be
more careful in walking about the
town, and l have tried to persuade
him after work to dress like the gen
tleman he is, but he laughs at my fears
and assures me that I have gone from
one extreme to the other in my opinion
Of st. Petersburg. First 1 thought it
was like all other capitals; now 1 have
swung too far in the other direction.
He says the police of st. Petersburg
would not dare arrest him, but I'm not
sc sure of that. A number of things
occur to me, as usual, too late. Russia,
with her perfect secret service system,
must know that Prince Lermontof has
been serving in the British navy. They
know he returned to st. Petersburg.
avoids all his old friends and is brought
to their notice by an ineXplicable ex-
plosion, and they must be we'll aware
also that he is in the company Of the
IA who fired the shell at the Rock in
the Baltic and that he himself served
on the offending cruiser.
Gas to my own affairs, l must say
they are progressing slowly, but salts
factorily. Nevertheless if Jack would
leave st. Petersburg and come with
me to London or New York, where he
could carry on his experiments quite
as we'll, OF even better than here,
should depart at once, even If | jeop-
ardized my own prospects,"
The next letter, some time later. be-
gan:
your two charming notes to me ar
rived here together. 1t is very kind of
you to write to a poor exile and cheer
him in his Punishment. l should like
to see that dell where you have swung
your hammock. Beware of Hendrix
Hudson's men, so delightfully."- written
of by Washington Irving. If they offer
you anything to drink, don't you take
1t. Think how disastrous it would be
to all your friends If You went to sleep
in that hammock for twenty years.
It's the Catskills l want to see now
rather than Niagara falls. Your sec
ond letter containing the note from
Captain Kempt to Jack was at once
delivered to him. What on earth has
the genial captain written to effect
such a transformation In my friend?
He came to me that evening clothed
in his right mind in evening rig out,
with his decorations upon it. command
ed me to get into my dinner toys, took
me in q carriage across the river to the
best restaurant st. Petersburg affords.
and there we had a champagne dinner
In which he drank to America and all
things American. Whether 1t was
the enthusiasm produced by Captain
Kempt's communication or the effect
of the champagne. l do not know, but
he has reconsidered his determination
not to return to the United States, and
very soon we set out together for the
west.
II shall be glad to get out Of this
place. We were followed to the res
taurant, l am certain. and / am equal
" certain that at the next table two