The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-04-20

of the attack at Burndo, ne
had other incident to add: Professor Shishkin
had disappeared. How he had gone no knew:
but when last SEEM just before the attack was
made, he had been standing the deck, peering
the side, the presumption was that he had
fallen had been knocked overheard. In any
event he gone.
This brought pang hearts that Caruth
had supposed to be far away and little interested
AS he stepped Of the Office of the charge, after
telling his tale, he heard his name called in won
dering tones
The accents seemed familiar and he whirled
round. Then he started in amazement and held out
his hand.
Great Scott. Bristow!" he cried. Where
earth did you spring from?"
The reporter grinned back at him. Seems kind
of funny, doesn't it? he answered But, shucks.
this is small world nowadays. and you oughtnt to
be surprised meeting anybody"
Caruth disregarded the persifage Well! he
declared, heartily 81 don't know any man in the
world I'd rather Your arrival is regular God
send. How did it about?'
Most natural thing in the world The CONSOLE
dated Press at st. Petersburg has been want
ing for year two to come home on a months
vacation, but they never could spare him. A few
weeks ago, when things We're quieter than they had
been for time, | asked them to send me over
to relieve him. When | told them could speak
little Russian they agreed right away. | left New
York days after you did
81 didn't know you wanted to come to Russia
The reporter grnned. Il didn't know it either
month ago., he responded But l got married
and"
Married! Good for you, Accept congratula
THANK you My wife wanted to visit Russia in
hurry and so-here are But that's enough
about How about yourself? There's an incen
diary tale afoat about your doings! Any truth in
it,"
TOO much Come here and sit down and
I'll tell you the whole story.
Rapidly, Caruth poured his tale into the reporters
sympathetic He kept nothing back, as he had
done in his first talk in New York. He told about
Wilkins arrival explained about the letters: and
sketched rapidly the organization and the departure
of the expedition and the events so far as he knew
them that had taken place at Burndo Island.
The situation is all in muddle," he ended. II
suppose Wilkins got away with the gold, though
can't imagine how he did it. And | suppose the
professor was knocked overheard and drowned But
l can't understand what has become of the girl"
Bristow leaned back in his chair "lf | remember
correctly" he promised slowly 81 favored you in
New York with certain moralizations on the way
events fit in together. I'll add to that that if
you hunt back far enough you find common
for good many events that at first blush
unrelated You don't know it. of course but
have direct personal interest in this affair. You
see have known Professor Shshkn and his daugh-
ter for several years In fact, Miss shshkn is now
my wife.
What" Caruth half rose from his seat.
Take it easy. don't mean that the girl you had
board this yacht is my wife God forbid. AS
matter fact that lady is not Professor Shishkins
daughter at all She is an alleged actress, drafted
from the music hall stage by the professor and cast
for the part of his daughter. Now perhaps you be-
gin to glimmer of l. ,ht."
But Caruth shook his 44ead NO don't" he
turned. why should Professor Shishkin palm off
somebody else as his daughter? It's all tangle of
fraud and deceit You go and explain please.
My brain is buZzing.'
Its simple enough The nhilists had ordered
the professor to bring his daughter with him this
trip and he didn't want to do it. Just why he OBJ
jected I'm not sure, though have my suspicious.
But he didn't dare to refuse. He half mad
when / went to him and asked for Olga. To cut it
short, he agreed that / might marry her if would
find substitute who looked like her and who would
go in her place. | did find such substitute in the
person of Miss Florence Lee, the lady who accom-
panied your expedition She always a cold