The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-02
CHAPTER XIV.
The Chief Of Police

CHAPTER XIV.
The Chief of Police.
For three days Gen. Trepoff's
rage, excited by the reproaches of
the emperor, and by no ways APP
peased by Bogoluboff's flogging,
had been on the increase. In
three days search he had still
found no clew to the conspiracy.
The stupid, unsuccessful zeal of
his police had exasperated him.
And SO, when Prince and Prin-
cess Kryloff were announced he
fairly bounded from his seat.
"Ah! now l will find out some
thing. A woman, a young girl;
will manage to make her speak. 4"
He received his visitors with po-
likeness, and invited them to be
seated.
General" said the prince, my
daughter has desired me to bring
her to see you, in order that she
may lay her complaints before
you of the manner which she is
watched by your agents."
YES" said Trepoff, 81 have had
several reports made to me in
which the princess name figures,
and"-
Up to this time Wanda had sat
with her veil down; she removed
1t.
The general looked at her,
struck dumb with admiration.
She ~Ure a liJtle hat of garnet
UnIUnt triv ia
trich feathers and pearl buckles.
Her hair fell over her forehead
in soft curls, and her excitement
caused her eyes to deepen and to
glow.
Il have come here to accuse
myself" she said, smiling in the
most coquetish, bewitching man
ner. II am a socialist"
What" cried the prince, who
thought his daughter had gone
mad.
The chief of police looked on
in utter establishment.
YES" she went on, 81 am a
revOlutionist, a REBEL rebel
against the miserable pavement of
Petersburg, against our green
roofs, that drive the French paint
ers to despair. revolt against
everything that is ugly, that of.
tends my eye and hurts my feet,
against everything that shocks my
taste, my good sense, or the feel
ing of justice that nature has i'm
planted within me. Up to this
time l have not rebelled against
society, for have nothing to COM
plain Of"
Well" said the general, utter
ly confounded.
But If you go on accusing
me-" she continued, Spying me,
prosecuting me, don't know
what I shall do-perhaps turn
socialist, nihilist, revolutionist,
Notwithstanding, just to find
out what 1t is all about, and to
keep your policemen at bay"
At these last words Trepoff felt
his face grow crimson.
"And yet," he said. last night
at 8 o'clock, you, together with
Count and Countess Litzanoff"-
and my companion" inter-
rupted Wanda not in the least
disconnected.
Were seen In part of the
town not much frequented by the
aristOcracy, going in the direction
of house which is looked upon
as suspected"
I'VE were all going to a little
theater, which is not very refined,
that is true; but we only wanted
to amuse ourselves; we had no in
tentions whatever against the
government"
How could you make up your
mind to go to such a placer"
Count Litzanoff is so blase,
that he always wants to try some
Tout-of-the-way place. We had a
very pleasant evening. That is
the whole truth"
But why did you give a hun
dred roubles to Popoff?"
With wonderful presence of
mind Wanda answered: ITO un-
derstand that, you would have to
know Count Litzanoff. The per-
sistency of that fellow in follow
ing us set him nearly crazy. He
did not want any one to recog-
nize him, and he had no small
change with him, SO he threw him
that hundred rouble note"
Trepoff listened to all this. II
1t was not true, at least 1t was
probable, and how could he say
to this beautiful creature: You
lie!
"You are very clever" he said,
Wanda interrupted him.