The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-04-05

member of the military council; mill
tary information could be obtained as
wanted. The stars of luck were shin
ing brightly. But there were those
Third Section" men-what of them?
Almost every day Cheney was sum-
moned before the project, and that
day he had learned Gen. Trepoff had
come to st. Petersburg. Cheney made
up his mind to a bold move. His en-
gagement with Count Yarmoleff was
for eleven the next morning. At 10:
Is he stopped at the government po-
lice office on the Nevsky Prospect.
He sent his card to Gen. Trepof and
was received Immediately.
"Ah, my dear Mr.. Bradley, am glad
to see you. It is an HONOR"
THANK you, general. I came to-
day before l was sent for. Ever since
l landed in Russia I've been under the
surveillance of your men and every
day I've come up like lackey and re-
ported to your minions, either here or
at Moscow. Now, general, I'm sick
and tired of it. Everywhere l go one
OF your men follow me! 1t must cease
right now or l shall go to the Ameri-
can ambassador and claim the protec-
ton of my government. Do I make
myself clear, general?"
Perfectly, Mr.. Bradley said the
general, rising. Both men stood fac
ing each other and the situation was
tense. The Russian bear was being
bearded in his own lair
I'm these times, Mr. Bradley, we
watch every one-and we do more
than that on occasions"
"Oh, yes, know; general. Siberia
and all that; but am not intimidated.
At eleven have an appointment with
Count Yarmoleff. If the surveillance
continues I shall ask him to accom-
pany me to my embassy and then to
the foreign Office"
At the mention of Yarmeloff's name
Trepoff's manner softened. Yarmeloff
was a noble, a man of note, and Ire
poff was a sycophantic man. If this
American was friend of Count Var.
meloff's it might be we'll to draw in.
Il am sorry Mr.. Bradley, that you
have been troubled. / will see that it
ceases instantly. You will understand,
I am sure, that extreme care is neces-
sary." More profuse apologies, and
Cheney left. The surveillance did
cease and thereafter Cheney's prog
ress was unimpeded. He saw the re-
view of the Tenth imperial Hussars;
he saw Cossacks and Guards regi-
ments galore, and after the review
was over Yarmeloff presented him to
number of notables.
That evening while dining with the
count, Cheney judiciously put few
questions, intending to draw informa-
ton military. Yarmoleff had had sew
eral glasses of wine and was mellow
with affection for Bradley.
"Ah, my dear Bradley; you must
come down to my estates near Var
oslav. Next week have quite dis
tinguished party there. Grand Duke
vladimir will be one and others of
note. You will enjoy yourself. You
will come? Yes?"
THANK you, count, I will come.
Maybe 1 can get a good descriptive
story out of this: 1 am writer, you
know
Eyes, you may, but fear not. You
see all of the gentlemen will be mill
tary men, but while the council meets
you can enjoy yourself on the place.
Wo will CT tn.rnnrrnv
Cheney saw the American ambassa-
dor that evening and the next day
went with his friend to Yarsolav. The
estates were magniicent-the castle
grand and everything was done for
Cheney's comfort. vladimir and the
other generals arrived. Makaroff and
Rojestvensky for the navy came also.
Cheney smoked many cigars, read a
few books and kept his eyes and ears
open. He learned all. 1t was only
81, mind you, but even then Japan
was being discussed. Troops in great
numbers were being rushed across ST.
IBERIA into Manchuria. Port Arthur
was being strengthened. Japan was
not held in very high esteem by Rus
STA, and the great bear would crush
the little yellow man by sheer force
of numbers. Cheney secured all the
information necessary and reluctantly
he babe his host good-by, promising to
return later on. Odessa was 1000
miles away, and Cheney made for that
point by easy stages. Again came the
ugly surveillance of the Third Sec
ton" His steps were logged con-
tinuously. Three days must he wait
for steamer to take him to Con-
stantinople. On the second day the
air of Odessa became oppressive.
Cheney's bunch began working over
time and he scented trouble. He sat
in his room overlooking the quay,
striving to evolve some plan whereby
he could get out of Odessa without
waiting for the regular boat. Men
were watching him from every side.
Looking up, he saw large white
hulled man-o'-war gliding into the har.
Dor. From her gaff flew the Stars and
Stripes.
"An American man-of-war," said
Cheney. THANK God for that"
After the salutes had been fired he
saw launch put off from the ship
and head for the shore. His suit
case was all packed and when the
launch was about to land he threw
open the door, and there was man
waiting for him! It was no time for
parley. Cheney dropped his suitcase
and quick as flash his right arm
flew out. 1t was clean upper-cut
and one portion of the Third Sec