The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-21
An Apple from
St. Petersburg.


/ Before leaving ST, Petersburg tmmo-
/ dtately after the great january massa-
/ ere called ON the American minister
( whom knew. and he asked mo to car
! ry dispatches to Washington, whittier
/ wa1 going accepted the commits
/ sion and left on the night train. II
was overloaded with people aiming to
| escape the terrible events TRANSPORTING
| In the capital A railroad official
tapped me on the shoulder and offered
to show me seat, He took me to u
car where there was room but for one
, person. put me In. shut the door and
was or before | could fee him This
astonshcd me, FOR 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 until AT last there was
but one left, young girl | had settle
myself for nap. but was still nalf
awake. when | was conscious that this
girl was rummaging my satchel,
was about 10 start up TO prevent her
when curiosity changed my intention
I yNf.y -, ~, al fh.N
girl found my passport and seized
upon il eagerly, evidently much re-
lieved to find It in the satchel, Then
she threw on her macintosh. took
soft hat out II her pocket. ana APP
peared as a man. Rolling her cast off
clothing into 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
oacer put In his nead and called for
passports. 1t was a critical moment
with the girl and she turned pale as
death. Opening my satchel. | hunted
for what | knew she had taken, and,
not finding II, endeavored to explain to
the officer that had left II behind.
Meanwhile the girl had produced II,
The officer was sufficiently absorbed In
my case to hand 1t back TO her with
a hasvy exclamation.
Your passport" he demanded OF
me severely.
Il think can satisfy you" said
and taking the envelope bearing my
dispatches addressed TO the Secretary
OF State at Washington, also the seal
Of the American Embassy, showed 1t
to MIN. After some words he agreed
to telegraph to ST. Petersburg for In
structions, which would arrive before
we would reach the frontier. Then ne
locked the door. and In few minutes
the train started on.
| expected the girl would thank me
for what had done, but had played
my part so well, that she really believed
I thought l had left my passport be-
hind. Presently l said in French.
"Mademoiselle, you will pass the
border safely. shall probably be de-
tanned. May / ask that you will walt
for me at--well, suppose | meet you at
Bromberg for return OF my passport"
without a word she came over to
where l sat, and, kneeling before me,
kissed my hand.
"Monsieur, you have saved me from
death or worse than death--Sberia."
You are very fortunate In availing
yourself OF my passport"
1t Is not luck. A clerk In the Amer
ican embassy informed our club that
you were to depart tonight. You were
shown into this compartment by
railway official who Is also a member
Of the club. The compartment was
filled with other members Of the club
to prevent anyone else from riding in
it. The plan was laid for me in the
hope that might steal your passport.
Had I not found 1t In your satchel
should have drugged you"
why are yor leaving Russia"
Just now 1t would not be best to
tell you"
"You are right. would rather not
know"
When we reached the frontier the
train stopped, and the officer appeared
and said that he mad received a tele-
gram that at the request Of the Amer !
lean minister I was to be permitted to
go on without passport. AS soon as
he had withdrawn I looked at the girl.
She had tainted. l revived her with a
drink from my flask.
We had not gone far beyond the