Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-16


agreeable institution. He Joined his
new-found friend and the two descend
ed to the platform together and enter
ed a low wooden building where a
throng of Russians from the first,
second and third-class compartments
were crowding around long bar in
the most democratic manner, partah-
ing of sandwiches, salt fish, caviar
and vodka, vodka, vodka. Hardy ate
of the various hors-d 'oeuvres and
drank glass Of vodka and found 1t
good. Then, after great ringing IT
bells, he went aboard. S
Where do we get .dnner?" he ask
ed, as the train again got in motion.
He was informed that the midday
meal would be served at another
station about mile farther on. He
felt hungry and took pride in the fact
that he was becoming Russianized
rapidly.
"Have you secured your compart-
ment on the Alexsay?' asked the Rus
sian
"No," replied Hardy, why? Will the
boat be crowded
Il hardly think so, but the Princess
Romanovna is going on her, and it
| is likely that all the best accommoda-
lions will have been reserved for her.
Fortunately, she does not seem to be
travelling with much of suite. Her
! Highness will probably require two or
three cabins for herself, a couple for
her baggage, one for each Of her two
[ maids, and one for her man"
"And will she be given all this, even
I If fha r,f ,,c or. Onr,oro11nd ~, c1
on the decks p
"Her Highness is-her Highness."
| Hardy was about to declaim against
a government where the aritocracy
enjoyed such privileges, but fortunate
ly, his French was not quite equal to
his indignation, and in the moment OF
hesitation he remembered Consul
Greeners warning.
| And who in the world is the Prin-
cess Romanpvna?" he asked with a
slight tinge of sarcasm. He would
have liked to say, who in the dick.
ems" but he did not know the French
! for 'the dickens
| THE Princess Romanoyna," explain
| ed the Russian, belongs to one Of the
Oldest families in the empire. She Is
a distant relative Of the car, who is
my imperial master, and here ne
took his hat off. She is Immensely
rich and has city palaces at Moscow
and Petersburg, besides a country
estate near the former city. She is us
wealthy as she is beautiful"
She must be very wealthy then,
said the American win conviction.
/ The Russian smiled
Monsieur speaks the truth" he
said. "He Is also like all Americans
very gallant. When we take zakous
ka again, we will drink to the Princess
Romanovna."
with pleasure" said Hardy.
After two very comfortable nights
the train bearing Frederick CORTLAND
Hardy arrived, about noon, at Khabar
pvka, on the lordly Amur. Itlhad beer
RAINING and the low wooden station re
sembled an ark stranded in seas o.
Jack mud.
4 Hardy found an agent of the com
pany awaiting him here, a San Fran
ciscan who nearly fell on his neck a
4 seeing fellow countryman and hear
ling again the English language spok
4 en- He did not know that Americans
could become so demonstratiye. His
goods were loaded upon telega, :
sort Of long boat upon wheels ant
without springs, and were sent ava,
to the Alexsay at its wharf, two Of
three miles distant, while Hardy am
the agent took seats in a drcshky ant
tore furiously away to the cempany's
store, over rocks and through rut:
z and puddles, the mud spraying in {
centrifugal shower from the humping
and whizzing wheels.
4 "Tell MIN to drive silver" shouted
Hardy. We have plenty of time"
.No power on earth could make ,
i Russian cabman drive slow" reptile.
the agent; "ttey are the lineal DIES
pendants of Jehu, and uneir speed Is I,
! part Of their natures. You might nj
we'll try to make the Amur run III
hill"
That night, in darkness as black 4!
ink and in drilling rain Hardy wen
on board the Alexsay, to begin hi
long journey up the Amur. The waite
the agent informed him, was rising
owing to the recent rains, and there
would be little danger Of grounding
The trip to Blagover tchensk should bs
made in live days.
4 sThere is little spice of DANCE
attending the Journey" said the agent
4 on taking leave: "the ship that wen
UP ahead of this was fired on by Man
4 churian brigands. saw several bull
4 let-holes in her side myself, made b.
lrifle balls. But hardly think 70!
4 need feel much apprehension. Sine,
/ the Cossacks destroyed Aigun, ant
killed every living man, woman an.
child that could not get away, tn
4 Chinese have been pretty quiet. Tha
taught them a lesson they will no
soon forget. have heard 1t rumoret
\ that they have been somewhat EN-
4 boldened of late by Japanese agitator
who are working among them. TIL
Japanese, they tell me, are talking 0
war with Russia Foolish people! Th,
Russians wouln eat them up. Japa,
would be a Russian province tw,
4 months after the declaration of host
lities. 'Twould be pity, too, japan
| is a picturesque country, as reme1n
. Der it."
I'll.