New-York tribune., 1910-03-20

we had passed, the place was nOurlsllng one
and seemed quiet enough. though here again
as az Wilma and Riga. there was something
OminOus IN the air
We put up al the best inn in the place where
We found fresh horses waiting us under the
care OF a couple Of men IN uniform. There was
a telegraph wire % LOstrov, and MIshka had
sent word OF our coming i learned later that
when the Grand Duke was IN residence "a con-
stant line OF communication was maintained.
with relays of horses for carriages or riders be-
tween the castle and the railroad
/ had wondered when Nishka told me the
arrangements for the journey why on earth
motor cars weren't used over this last stage
but when / found what the roads were like
when there were any roads az an. / guessed 10
was wise 70 rely on horses. and on the light and
strong Russian travelling carriages that 20 gaily
Over the toughest track rather than on the best
built motor prOCurable
The landlord Of the inn was a lean old man
with greasy earlOCks and a long beard He
welcomed us with cringing ettusion and gave
us OF ms best. The dinner table. set the one
bedroom we We're % share. SO that We might
dime privately and IN state, was spread with
cloth. which. though grimy % a degree was Of
hne damask, and displayed forks. spoons and
CandlestiCks of solid silver. The frOwsv sheets
and coverlets on the three beds were of linen
and silk.
Evidently Moses Barzinsky was a wealthy
man, and his wife, a fat dame with beadv
eyes and prePOsterOus black wig. served us
g
mented her on IL when She brought in the
samovar; for here IN the wilds IL didn't seem
70 matter about keeping up my pretended
ignorance Of the language. She was hattered
and assumed quite a mOtherly arr toward me
she didn Cringe like her husband As / sat
there, slipping nv tea and chatting with her.
little guessed what would befall the Comforta-
BILE hOmely. good tempered old lady a very few
days hence. Mishka listened IN Disappearing
silence 20 our interchange of badinage. and
ret ted hss
grumbhng protest
You are very indiscreet. he grunted
Why do YOU want o. chatter with a thing like
that"
lie Ierked his pipe toward the doorway.
M1shka desplsed the cigarette which. % every
other Russian / have met. seems as necessary
% HE as the arr he breathes and when he
hadn't cigar fell back ON q distinctly NAL
OdOrOus brlar.
VIII, IN thunder shouldn't talk 10 herr"
demanded shes the only creature I've
heard laugh since got back into HOLY Russia.
IL cheers one up bit even % look 40 her
You are fool was his complimentary
rStort md she Is another hike all women. or
she would know these are mo- davs for laughter
But. tell YOU once more. YOU cannot be- too
cautious Nou must remember that YOU know
no Russian You are only an American who
mas come % help the Prince while away his
time oi exile by irving o. turn the Zostrov
muz hiks into good farmers That In itself ts "A
form ot madness. of course. but doubtless they
think II may keep him out OF more dangerous
mischief '
Who are they I wish You'd be- a b,t
more explicit. | demonstrated he did make
me angry sometimes.
That rs not INV business. hc answered
stohdlN. NV business Is 90 obey orders. and
one 90 those is 90 bring YOU safely to Zostrov"
Il COULD not see how mv innocent eonvcrsa-
uon with the housewife could cndlnrcr Che /
safety ot either ot us. but had already learned
mat 10 was useless % argue with NishAi
w Wc smoked in silence for some minutes. while /
nuscd over The strdngcncss ot nv position. {
nad determined 90 return o. Russia in search of |
Nnnr had hailed Mishkas intervention. scizci |
IN the opportunity provided ON the Grand |
DuNc s. mutation. as t they were tfod-scnt
.Nnd vet here / was seemingly even farther /
from news ot her than had been in England /
PLAYING mv part as helpless pawn in O. game /
1 dld not understand IN the least
The landlord entered presently and obsc-
quiously bee koued Nishka o. the Tar end of |
thc room. where they held "a whispered con
yersatton which tried NOT o. listen Co., though /
! could not help ovcrhcaring frequent rcicr /
enccs 90 The Mayor and the Commandant OF the /
garrison From my post of observation bv the /