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


not be we'll to antagonize the general.
"The honor is mine, Mr.. Dabrowsky.
Say to the general I'll be there"
Cheney was there, and was ushered
into the presence of Trepoff Trepoff,
whose name afterwards became
synonym of everything that was
cruel; Trepotf who afterwards met
death at an assassin's hand. He was
distinguished looking gentleman,
be-whiskered, be:uniformed and be-
medaled His cordially was extreme
and his English perfect.
| "Monsieur Bradley, l am honored."
"The honor is mine, general" said
Cheney, taking the proffered hand and
sitting down.
II am informed you are a journal
list, Monsieur Bradley?'
Yes, general"
"And the nature of your visit to
Russia at this time is to collect and
| collate articles?'
Eyes, general
the talking
What kind of facts and informa-
ton do you want, Mr.. Bradley? Per-
haps l can help you get them
"You are most kind, general; but 1
won't bother you"
"You are going to write of physical
Russia or political Russia?''
Maybe both, general
What periodicals and papers do
you write for, Mr.. Bradley?"
Cheney smiled. well, you see,
Gen. Trepoff, in America I am what
is known as tramp journalist 1
have no regular connecticut write
an article and sell it as I can"
Isn't that precarious living, Mr..
Bradley" The generals question
was impertinent and personal, but
Cheney knew his ground.
IF that was my only living, yes;
but I'm not poor, general; I have an
Independent competency of my own.
Munro & Co., No. Rue Scribe, Paris,
will honor my draft to-day for &1O,-
900. I'm not poor, general"
"Assuredly not How long do you
intend staying in Moscow"
1.-TWO or three days. It's an inter
esting place, the Kremlin particularly
| So"
And then"
"Well, general, I hardly know. St.
Petersburg, to be sure. Maybe Odessa
and Sevastopol"
The interview ended and three days
later Cheney left for st. Petersburg.
He was under surveillance and knew
it, Moscow didn't yield him any in
formation whatsoever. St. Petersburg
must do better or the Russian visit
would be nil. There was military &C.
tivity, lots of it,; Cheney could feel it
in the air; but what was it? He called
on the American ambassador, was
made welcome, and then tried for his
information. Wherever he turned he
was watched, he knew it. 1t was irk~
some to him, he hated it. Through
the instrumentality of one of the un-
der secretaries of the American en-
bassy Cheney was given the courte-
sizes of the Imperial club. Here"
thought Cheney, II will be let alone"
Not so, however, because wherever he
turned outside he was watched And
even in the club some of the servants
were members of the third Sec
ton
One evening Cheney was sitting in
the club smoking his customary cigar,
and mentally cursing the people that
were keeping him from achieving his
end. All at once he felt light touch
on his shoulder. Quickly turning he
found himself gazing into very
frank pair of blue eyes. A friendly
hand was outstretched and a pleas
ant smile was on the face OF the man.
He was Russian, surely.
IN. Bradley, you look lonely
Cheney took the proffered hand and
in the shake received a Masonic grip.
Masonry in Russia is without the pale
of the government, and Cheney was
not sure but what the grip was given
by mistake; but again it was given,
and this time more pronounced. At
last here was a friend
Il am Count Yarmoleff, Mr.. Brad
ley. For several days l have noticed
YOU Particularly have I noticed your
gold watch charm. Sh-yes, 1 am a
Mason. It's tabooed here, but in Eng
land, where I was an attache, I took
my degrees-only three of them, but
enough to appreciate the beauties of
Masonry
well, I am glad to meet you.
count" replied Cheney, with an easy
grace. Il was lonely-damned lonely,
if you will pardon the ultra American
expression
The meeting was most opportune
At first Cheney thought Yarmoleff
might be Third Section" man, but
subsequent events proved he was not.
He was just royal good fellow, who
was first attracted by Cheney's watch
charm and later by his strong per-
sonality. An inquiry at the desk re-
vealed the name "Bradley;" the Ma
sonic hail did the rest. The count
was more than cordial and in course
of the evening said:
You must see the review of my
regiment tomorrow, Bradley"
Your what?" said Cheney.
my regiment, the Tenth Imperial
Hussars. I'm colonel of it, and the
Car reviews it tomorrow"
why, count, shall be delighted"
Here was a chance! Yarmoleff as
colonel of the Imperial Hussars was
@1AI ~IAIIAI/