The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
CARS SECRET SERVICE
Two Instances of the Way Nicholas Is Served
Passports Not Always Needed.

ShV0iu want his passport tie next day al
noon, as he was going up the river for a
week or So
The next day az luncheon when he de-
manded his papers the landlord smiled
biandly. and told him 20 90 ahead, that
he did not need any passport
Why, 7 thought you could not stay
more than twenty-four hours anywhere
in Russia without giving up your pass
portY' protested Mr.. Cavendish.
The landlord shrugged his shoulders.
1 will tell YOU what I was told at the
police station. They looked up your rec
ord, and they just smiled, and told me
70 tell you 10 go ahead You are all
right they said You don't need any
passport for this trip"
STILL ! do not like the idea OF going on
a journey into the country without a
passport / have always understood that
you might as well be dead as be without
a passport in Russia"
I think you will be quite safe IL YOU
do as you are told" remarked the land
lord with another shrug. "I shall not ask
for the passport again. You can do as
you please about il"
Accordingly up the river Mr. Cavendish
went without passport. Arrived at his
destination, he found a warm welcome.
his host assuring him that he would have
great sport during his stay. as the shoot
ing was excellent.
Has No Passport.
Eve will 20 around 70 the club after
dinner" he said, "and have a rubber.
You will find everything very comfortable
there, and I want you to meet some or
my friends. As il may be late before we
get home, suppose you give me your pass
port now. and | will send It around 10
the chief Of police at once
1 did not bring any passport with me-
The astonishment OF the other man was
evident Why, my dear fellow, don't
you know that you cannot stay here more
than twenty-fOur hours without a pass
port? How on earth did your landlord
happen 10 let you come away without II?
/ am afraid you viii have 20 go back on
to-morrow's boat
The situation was explained.
There must be some mistake Mr.
Jones persisted They could not have
understood that YOU were going 10 STAY
here a week. The awkward thing about
II IS that the chief OF police is likely To
drop in at the club. and the first thing
he Will ask us about win be your pass
port 1t IS very dangerous 10 have any,
thing irregular about your papers in these
small towns; the police have so little
else to think about"
We'll" remarked Mr.. Cavendisb nbilo-
sophically. Il have had a lovely time
since l came TO Russia. have always
done what ] was told was the proper
thing 10 do. this with a smile to himself
at the recollection OF the interpreters ad-
vice. "and have absolute confidence
mat such charming hosts as the Russians
are not going TO make things unpleasant
for me at this late day.
If the chief Of police orders me 10
80 back tomorrow I shall certainly go
am going 20 do what am told in this
country ] will get my passport and come
up again.
But all my arrangements for the com
ing week will be spoiled"
Police Chief Appears.
After an excellent dinner. which was
rather clouded by the hosts worrying
over the matter OF the passport and
the prospect Of his shooting plans being
all upset. his family joining him in the
assurance that Mr.. Cavendish could not
stay, they went around 10 the club and
cut into a rubber at whist. Absorbed in
the game. the American had spparentl,-
forgotten all about the passport when his
host gave a sudden start and touched
him lightly on the elbow. motioning his
head toward the door.
Looking up. Mr.. Cavendish saw man
whom he instinCtively recognized as the
chief Of police. although he was not in
IL
table and turned over the pages of A
magazine from which Kennan's articles
had been blacked out. evidently waiting
until the players had finished the hand.
so as not TO interrupt.
The moment the last trick was turned
and quilted he approached the table
with smile and bowed to those whom
he knew. Mr.. Jones drew his chair
back. coughed. grew very red in the face.
and was about TO introduce the guest
when the officer extended his hand
Mr.. Cavendish. I. believer Charmed
TO have you visit our little town PRAY
do not let me interrupt your game II
you have time tomorrow. I shall be glad
10 have you call on me. I understand
you intend 70 be here for a week Per-
haps il may be longer"
Fears for HIS Guest.
The last sentence made Mr.. Jones un-
easy. He knew something about Russian
ways, and he advised his guest TO present
himself at the police station the first
thing in the morning and have il over.
assuring him that the officers politeness
was simply company manners. the velvet
glove that conceded the iron hand.
You have been Up to something. I am
afraid. he whispered as they went home
from the club. You have been talking
politics to some Nihilist. and this letting
you get up mere without a passport is a
dodge 10 catch you where they can
whisk you off to Siberia.
Mr. Cavendish did not think so He
realized that his host was an alarmist
AT the same time he felt uneasy about
that interpreter. Had some one informed
the police OF their acquaintance? Was
ne already a suspect?
He was at the police station bright and
early the next morning. and found the
chief more than agreeable. Not a word
was said about any passport
While the Officer was running over soma
places Of interest around Lake Ladoga
which HIS visitor should see. he happened
10 mention the Fortress Of Schlusselberg.
Mr.. Cavendish had heard of IT, 1t was
there that they had the cells in which
the water rose an inch a day. so that
finally the prisoners had 20 swim for Il
and eventually found there was not room
for their heads between the water and
the ceiling. He mentioned his recoIlec-
ton of the popularity TO the chief. who
laughed heartily
The credulity Of Americans Is only
equaled by their powers Of exasgera-
tion, he said at length. but at the Same
time his visitor had a feeling that he
rainhf he -aI.I,na fror,, -.