Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-30
DAILY STORY
PAUL OBLONSkY'S RUSE.
[Original.l

writer III DenalI OF the car.
While Oblonsky was publishing his
pamphlets, which were all eminently
satisfactory TO the government. he was
engaged in disseminating literature of
an entirely different kind. He made
Journeys from his home to different
points to organize. advise and encour-
age different secret societies that rep
resented the most radical element of
the revolution OF course the day
came when he was reported to the po-
lice as Il suspect, but so wary had he
been that the chief would not believe
he was Il revolutiOnist
One day telegram came to the po-
lice 1T st. Petersburg that Il meeting of
reyOlutionists had been broken up at
Moscow and man resembling Paul
Oblonsky had got away The chief
sent at once to Oblonsky's house to
discover If he was at home. The man
who Went on the errand knew OblOn-
sky by sight and as he approached the
house saw him sitting ut an upper
window. He returned and reported
the fact to his superior
Not long after this a spy Of the gov
eminent in Warsaw reported that OBJ
lonSky was one of Il band of conSpira-
Cors, of which he Ohe spy was also 4
member. Still doubling the truth of
information duplicating man who
had defended the government. the
chief sent the same messenger he had
used before to OblOnSky'S house. On
the way the messenger met OblOnSky
i'll a carriage driving with his sister.
The chief was puzzled. Those who
use spies are never certain but that
they are spies of the enemy. However.
he telegraphed orders that if at any
time OblOnSky was seen in Warsaw
the occurrence he at once reported. In
few days telegram came anuOunc-
ing that OblonSky had been seen enter
ing that city from the suburbs in
drOSky. The informant was not in the
pay of the government; therefore OBJ
lonSky was not followed. The chief
sent one of his best men at once to
OblOnsky'S house. directing him to
make sure whether or no OblOnSky
was there. He was to go in and speak
with him. Oblonsky had been seen en-
tering Warsaw an hour before the re
ceipt of the telegram. He surely would
not have had time to return before
the official could get to his house. As
the messenger approached he looked
up at the window where OblOnsky was
accustomed to read or write. but lie
was not there. Entering the house.
he found Oblonsky's old mother.
Il have called" he said. to get a
| copy Of your sons last political pam
phlet for the chief of police. 1t is re-
ported that there are in it some fea
| lures Objectionable to the government"
Indeed" said the old lady, Il will
| call my son. who will hand YOU one
| himself" ThereupOn she went up
stairs, and who should come down but
Oblonsky himself. with the pamphlet
in his hand. The official wished him
good day, took the pamphlet and re
| turned to the chief. Immediately an
order was sent to Warsaw to send the
person who had seen Oblonsky enter
| ing the city to st. Petersburg. \ man
arrived the next day who declared that
| he knew OblonSky we'll aud he had
| certainly seen him as he had reported.
! The chief sent for OblonSky OstenSibly
| To discuss the Objectionable passage in
| his pamphlet but really to subject him
| to the view of the infOrmer from Mos
| COW. The infOrmer ut once declared
| that OblOnsky was the man he had
seen in the droSky entering Warsaw.
The chief was now satisfied that
| there had been n mistake. He gave or
derS for the secret police to watch
| those who had reported against oh
| lonsky. thinking that they might he
| revOlutionists endeavOring TO get rid
of friend of the government.
| One morning an official occupying a
| high position in the government was
| found murdered in his office. Among
| those reported to have left the office
| shortly before the finding Of the body
| was OblOnSky. For the first time the
| chief began to believe that OblOnsky
was q revolutionist. and if so he must
be one of the most adrOit as we'll rs
| most dangerous of the lot. The chief
did not order Oblonsky's arrest. but
surrounded his house with spies. They
reported that every morning and after
noon Oblonsky sat at his window writ
ing But when they reported that with
the most careful watching they could
not detect the slightest movement The
chief sent an official to arrest him.
The official found the suspected
mans mother and sister. who declared
that Oblonsky was in his room writinC
an important article in defense of the
government and had given orders thai
he was not to be interrupted. The Off
cial brushed past them and went up
stairs to the room. There sat OblonSky
but not a whit startled at the interrup
ton, for he did not even look up. II,
was a dummy. the exact image of Oh
lonsky. Oblonsky had left st. Peters
burg the morning of the assassination
and was now being smuggled acros!
the frontier.
The moment the official saw the dunn
my he remembered having seen OBJ
lonsky on the mimic stage in pla!
wherein it was necessary to make hin