The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-06


full not to stub my toe, for the eyes of /
the admiral are upon me. However, I I
think l can straighten this matter cut. /
l have six months leave coming on /
shortly, which intend to spend in st. |
Petersburg. l shall make it my busi- |
ness to see privately some Of the off, /
Gals in the admiralty there, and when
they realize by personal inspection
what well intentioned idiot am all
distrust viii vanish"
Il should Go nothing of the kind" re-
joined the girl earnestly, quite forget
ting the shortness Of their acquaint-
ance, as she had forgotten the fight
OF time, while on his part he did not
notice any incongruity In the situation.
I'D leave well enough alone" she
added
"Why do you think thatT' he asked.
'Your own country has Investigated
the matter and has deliberately run
the risk Of unpleasantness by refusing
to give you up. How, then, can you go
there voluntarily? You would be act
ing in your private capacity directly in
opposition to the decision arrived at
by your government"
Technically that Is so; still England
would not hold the position she does
in the world today If her men had not
often taken a course in their private
capacity which the government would
never have sanctioned. AS things
stand now, Russia has not insisted on
her demand, but has sullenly accepssd
England's decision, still quite convinc-
ed that my act was not only an inva-
sion Of Russia's domain. but deliber-
ATE insult; therefore the worst results
of an inconsiderate action on my part
remains. If | could see the minister
for foreign affairs or the head of the
face for ten minutes I'd undertake to
remove that impression"
You have great faith in your per-
suasive powers" she said demurely.
The lieutenant began to stammer
again
mo, no, it isn't so much that, but
have great faith in the Russian as d
judge of character. 1 suppose 1 am
imagined to be a venomous, brow
beating, trueulent Russophobe, who
| has maliciously violated their terri
/ tory, flinging a shell into their ground
and an insult into their face. They
are quite sincere in this belief / want
to remove that impression, and there's
nothing like an ocular demonstration.
1 like the Russians. One of my best
friends is a Russian"
The girl shook her head.
Il shouldn't attempt it," she persist
ed. Suppose Russia arrested you and
said to England, We've got this man
in spite of your"
The lieutenant laughed heartily.
'Thatis unthinkable. Russia wouldn't
do such a thing. In spite of all that is
said about the Russian government its
members are gentlemen. OF course If
such a thing happened there would be
troeble. That is a point where we're
touchy. 4 very cheap Englishman
wrongfully detained may cause most
expensive campaign. Our diplomatists
may act correctly enough and yet leave
a feeling of resentment behind. Take
this very case. Britain says coldly tC
Russia:
"'We disclaim the act and apologize.
"Now, it would be much more to the
purpose if she said genially:
GIVE have in our employment ar
impetuous young fool with a thirst FOL
information. He wished to learn how
a new piece of ordnance would act, sc
fired 1t off with no more intention oil
striking Russia than of hitting tn,
moon He knows much more abou
dancing than about foreign affairs
We've given him a months leave, anC
he will slip across privately to st. Pc
tersburg to apologize and explain. TIL,
moment you see him you will recognize
he is no menace to the peace of ma
tons. Meanwhile if you can inculcat
In him some cold, calm common sens
before he returns Wen be ever S
much obliged"
$50 you are determined to do wha
you think the government should hav
done"
t ''Oh, quite. There will be nothin
frigidly official about my unauthorize
mission. I have a cousin in the en-
! bassy at st. Petersburg, but I shan't g
near him; neither shall / 60 to a hote
but viii get quiet rooms somewher
: that may not run the risk of meetin
any chance acquaintances."
1T seems to me you are to affor
, the Russian government an excellen
: opportunity of spiriting you of to S
) IBERIA, and nobody would be the wiser.
Drummond INDUCED in the fire
, hearted laugh Of a youth to whom lif
t is still rather a good joke.
81 shouldn't mind studying the Sibt
, rian system from the inside If they a
I lowed me to return before my leav
was up. I believe that sort of thin
has been exaggerated by sensations
( writer's. The Russian governmeI
] would not countenance anything {
e the kind, and if the minor Official
s tried to play tricks there's always N