Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-02-14

awakes In due time, and looking about
him, finds himself surrounded by the OBJ
Jects on which he closed his eyes. The
same pictures hang upon the walls, the
same ornaments decorate the mantelpiece,
the same furniture Is disposed about him
in the same positions. He recognizes the
gentlemen with whom he dined. They
bend over him in tender concern. He
has been Ill, but he knows that one Of
his friends is a medical mana man of
the highest repute, he has been told. He
is advised to lie still and repose himself.
He is able in a little while to take nour-
lshment. The object Of his abduction is
not to kill him, but to hand him over
with all the secrets which he only can
reveal. His life is precious to his cap
tors. When he is sufficiently recovered
to endure a second dose without danger,
he Is drugged anew. And then the we'll
appointed carriage, the sleeping wagon,
the railway journey, the awakening to
the familiar faces and the familiar pic
lures on the wall, the partial recovery,
the composing draught, and all. Finally
he is landed in Russian territory, and is
arrested"
\
an attentive air, but NJ. Wroblewskoff
had heard 1t with a watchfulness alto
gether cat-like. His keen look dwelt
alternately on Dobroski and Farley.
Yes" said Dobroski, when Farley's
pause had lasted long enough to seem to
demand an answer to his speech. 1.-THE
plan Is simple and ingenious enough.
What of it?"
IF any servant Of Russia took upon
him to carry such plan into execution,
and succeeded in it, would his government
accept the risk of OBTAINING the man?"
What do you say to that, Wroblew-
skoffT' asked Dobroski.
II have not altogether understood, dear
sir" said Wrobleswskoff. "Is it his
tory? Is It discovered plot? Has it
happened? Is it feared that it will hap
penn"
Neither" said Austin. "It is merely
an invention. 1t is part of the plan of
a book l am writing novel;"
Sir" cried Mr.. Wroblewskoff, rising |
to his feet, do not write that book"
why not?" asked Austin, a little
startled by the others vehemence.
"Oh, sir, put no such tool as that In
Muscovite hands Put no such thought
as that in Muscovite hearts If that
thing has not been done, it Is only be-
cause they have not seen their way to
do 1t. Do not show them such a way. |
Do not set a trained and cunning intel |
lect to work to devise plans for that |
devilish police. All, dear sir"-he turned |
to Dobroski-'your friend must not i'm
peril your safety"
MY good Wroblewskoff," said Dob
roski, with his mournful and affectionate |
smile. Write your book, Mr. Farley,
with no fear Of my amiabe companions |
fears. You ask me would Russia do such
a thing as you have described. l tell you
she would do anything for her own profit
If the thing were well done, the victim
would disappear-simply and absolutely.
No inquiries would unearth him."
HE would never be heard of more"
cried Wroblewskoff, with new vehemence.
"You confess it. You admit it. Such
scheme made public-sown broadcast in
a book 1t is intolerable. 1t is horrible.
It is terrible"
Even whilst he stood declaiming there,
vivid hope was burning within him,
and the thought was in his mind III
could brighten the fool from writing
such tale, l should have all the credit
to myself"
Nobody knew better than Mr.. Zeno
how his employers would applaud and
pay the man who placed Dobroski in their
hands. But then, ON the other hand no
body knew better than he how complete
ly that man would be lost who tried
such trick as Farley had been speaking
of, and failed in it. To succeed would
be to be covered with glory-that is to
say, with glory of such quality as Mr.
Zeno coveted. To be found QUITO be
foiled-to give reason to the enemies of
the master he served for a new cutlery
against the disregard of national honesty,
would be to be lost beyond redemption.
1t was big stake to play for, and Zeno
had had 1t in his mind ever since he had
been set upon Dobrosk's track. But it
had been with him as a dream rather
than as a plaza thing to wish for rather
than arrange. Now that he saw it formu-
lated 1t looked possible. zeno walked
homeward, turning the thing over in his
mind. Then he began to draw up an in
ventory.
fTn he continued