Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-07-04
XII.

~ hurst alone, as he had %stipulat-
ed, waiting for him. He was dressed
in a sort of naval uniform and held a
peaked cap in his hand, standing awk-
wardly there as one unused to luxuri-
GUS surroundings. His face was bronz-
ed with exposure to sun and storm,
and, although he appeared to be little
more than thirty years Of age, his
closely cropped hair was white. His
eyes were light blue, and If ever the
expression Of a mans countenance be-
tokened stalwart honesty it was the
face Of this sailor. He was not in the
least Dorothy's idea Of a dangerous
plotter.
"Sit down." she said, and he did so
like a man i'll at ease.
II suppose johnson is not your real
name" she began.
ut is the name I bear In America,
madam"
do you mind my asking you some
questions?"
mo, madam, but If you ask me any
thing I am not allowed to answer l
shall not reply"
"How long have you been in the
United States?"
"Only a few months, madam"
"How come you to speak English so
well"
'In my young days 1 shipped aboard
a bark plying between Helsingfors and
New York"
You are a Russian?"
II am a F%inlander, madam"
"Have you been a sailor all your
life?"
eyes, madam. For a time 1 was an
unimportant officer on board a battle
ship In the Russian navy until 1 was
discovered to be a nihilist, when 1 was
cast into prison. l escaped last May
and came to New York"
"What have you been doing since you
arrived here?"
II was so fortunate as to become
mate on the turbine yacht the Walrus,
owned by Mr.. Stockwell."
"Oh, that's the multimillionaire whose
bank failed a month ago"
Eyes, madam"
"But does he still keep a yachtY'
mo, madam. 1 think he has never
been aboard this one, although it is
probably the most expensive boat in
these waters. l am told it cost any
where from half a million to a million.
She was built by Thornycroft like a
cruiser, with Parsons turbine engines
in her. After the failure captain and
crew were discharged, and 1 am on
board as a sort of Waterman until she
Is sold, but there is not a large market
for a boat like the Walrus, and I am
told they will take the fittings out of
her and sell her as a cruiser to one of
the South American republics"
"Well, Mr.. Johnson, you ought to be
a reliable mar If the court has put
erty."
9" believe 1 am considered honest
madam"
"Then why do you come to me ask.
ing $4,000 for a letter which you say
was written to me and which naturally
belongs to meY"
The mans face deepened into a ma
hogany brown, and he shifted his car
uneasily in his hands.
Madam, l am not acting for myself
I am secretary of the Russian Liberia
ton society. They, through theil
branch at st. Petersburg, have con
Quoted some Investigations on your be
half"
"Yes, for which / paid them very
WELL"
johnson bowed.
"Our object, madam, Is the repres
sion Of tyranny. For that we r il
continual need Of money. 1t is thu
poor and not the millionaires who sub
scribe to our fund. 1t has been dis
covered that you are a rich woman
who will never miss the money asked
and so the demand was. made. Believ,
me, madam, I am acting by the com
mand Of my comrades. / tried to per
suade them to leave compensation Il
your W generosity, but they refused
IS You consider their demand unrea
sonable, you have but to say SO, and
will return and tell them your deci
sion.n
Have you brought the lettsr Vim
yon9" @