Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-03-19

could hear him kneel down and try
the keyhole. 1 had left the key there,
so that he could see nothing. But he
began talking softly and rapidly
through the hole in a foreign Ian
guage. 1 did not know it in the least,
but I believe it was Russian. What
had led him to Believe l understood
Russian 1 could not at the time mag
inc, though l have a notion now. l
went on running his stock of plates. 1
dragged every one ruthlessly from it's
hiding place and laid it out in the full
glare of the sunlight.
"Mirsky left off talking, and I heard
him quietly sneaking off. Perhaps his
conscience was not sufficiently clear to
warrant an appeal to the police, but it
seemed to me rather probable at the
time that that vas what he was going
for. So 1 hurried on with my work.
II had spoiled every plate 1 could
find and had the developed negatives
safely in my pocket. when I happened
to glance at a porcelain washing we'll
under the sink. There was n mega
tive in that, and 1 took it up. 1t was
not a negative of a drawing of yours,
but Of a Russian twenty ruble notev'
"This was a discovery. The only
possible reason any man could have
for photographing a banknote was the
manufacture of an etched plate for the
production of forged copies. 1 was al
most as pleased as I had been at the
discovery of your negatives. He might
bring the police now as soon as he
liked. l could turn the tables on hin
completely. l began to hunt abou
for anything else relating to this mega
tive.
II found an mixing roller, some ole
pieces Of blanket used in printing
from plates, and in a corner on tn,
floor, heaped over with newspaper;
and rubbish, a small copying press
There was also a dish Of acid, but no
an etched plate or a printed note to b,
seen.
II had no doubt now of Mirsky's rea
son for carrying a parcel downstairs
He probably mistook me for anothe
visitor he was expecting, and, knowing
he must take this visitor into his room
threw the papers and rubbish over til,
press and put up his plates and paper
in a bundle and secreted them some
where downstairs, lest his occupation
should be observed.
"Plainly, my duty now was to com
municate with the police, So, by tn
help Of my friend, the barber down
stairs, q messenger was found. and
note sent over to Scotland Yard. Whel
the official detective arrived, he recog
nized at once the importance of tn,
case. A large number of forged Rus
sian notes have been put into circula
ton on the continent lately, it seems
and it was suspected that they cam
from London. The Russian govern
ment has been sending urgent mes
sages to the police here on the sub
ject.
"Of course I said nothing about you
business, but while I was talking wit
the Scotland Yard man a letter wa
left by a messenger addressed to Nil
sky. The letter will be examined, o
course, by the proper authorities, bu
I wat not a little interested to perceiv
that the envelope bore the Russian i'm
perial arms above the words Russial
embassy Now, why should Mirsk
communicate with the Russian en-
bassy? Certainly not to let the official
know that he was carrying on a yer.
extensive and lucrative business in tn
manufacture Of spurious Russian note.
I think 1t is rather more than posstbl
that he wrote-probably before he az
tually got your drawings-to say tina
he could sell information Of the high
est Importance, and that this letter wa
a reply. Further, I think it quite poss
BILE that, when I asked for him by hi
Russian name and spoke Of a conf
Dental letter. he at oues conclude
that I had Gene from tho embassy !
axsvsr t. his ktter. TAst wsaA "