Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-03-02
SEARCHED.

OLhllUIILUI
i
BY HARRY VAN AMBUo.
Copyright. 1909. by American Press AaDo.
ciation.l
"Donho6r'
I'm heavens name. what Is it,"
The policer' =
! Donhon sprang up and darted to
closet, seized Il package of papers and
threw them into the stove, watching Z
bright streak in its side-a crack-dl
the fame died out, when he turned to
his friend. who bad hurried In to warn
him -
ANY one peachedY' be asked quick
~.
"Yes. Alex" -.
At that moment there was a step on
the stairs. Donhof turned pale. clap
ping his hand to his coat pocket at
the same time. But be did not speak:
there was no time. The door was
thrown open. and an officer of police
stepped into the apartment.
Donhoff had letter in his pocket
that he had forgotten. 1t was from
the chief of his revolutionary society
detailing a plan for the assassination
of the minister of the interior. 1t had
been written using assumed names,
and some attempt had been made to
disguise the different steps to be taken
by using commonplace words and acts.
Nevertheless in the hands of the po-
lice it would be interpreted without
trouble.
But no finer display of nerve was
ever given by a man. Donho6 faced
the officer with we'll feigned surprise.
Pardon me. SIR said the officer.
II am ordered to search your apart
ment.' -
what for?"
''That is a matter which concerns the
government" =.
II have an enemy. Doubtless he has
accused me. l desire that you should
make thorough search, that may
be indicated and may punish him.
l will aid you.''
I'm any event that will do you no
HARM" 49, -:
Here are my keys. l beg Of you to
open every drawer. look in every cor
ner.' 49,: "
The officer took the keys and opened:
everything that was locked. He hunt
ed through closets. desk. bookcases.
Donhon went about with him. assisted
him and often called his attention to
places that he had either overlooked
or had not yet reached. When he had
taken the books from a case and
shaken them. Donhon seized one OF the
volumes and. turning over the leaves,
took out paper, handing it to the
officer. The latter opened it, glanced
over it and handed it back to the
owner. Not scrap Of discriminating
paper had been found, and the officer
was beginning to tire Of the work
when Donhof opened a drawer brim
full Of papers. -~
Come" he said. ''These must be
looked over carefully. l don't wish
you to go back to headquarters with
out being able to vindicate me en-
tirely."
He handed each paper to the officer
separately, opening it and insisting on
his reading it. The officer read few.
glanced at others, and when he had
finished the suspect opened another
drawer equally voluminous. The Of
6cer began to tire Of the work, but
Donhofr insisted on his doing it thor
oughly.
Then Donhor began to rip up the
carpet.
"Never mind that" said the searcher.
II am not instructed to tear things to
pieces"
"But 1 do mind it. If gentleman is
to be treated as felon he is at least
entitled to have the work done thor
oughly, that he may not have second
party to go through the effects"
So the officer was obliged to take
hold and help get up the carpet OF
course nothing was found.
'"That will do" said the tired man.
ut only remains to- ~
Donhod knew very we'll that the SEN
tence finished would be search you" "
He rushed to closet and took down
an old portmanteau in which there
were more papers. The officer sighed
and began to look them over.
"Helloy' exclaimed Donhoff. There
IL batch of business papers which
have long missed" ~
Selling the papers, he opened every
one of them. showed each to the OIL
Ger; who looked at it perfunctorily.
and when he had seen all Donho6
asked If he objected to his putting
them in his pocket. He received the
| necessary permission.
Donhoff dared not put the officer Oh
any longer from his search Of himself.
''Come, nowv' he said. II must In
sist on your going over me as thor
oughly as you have examined my eff
fects."
He began to disrobe. sss
'sThat isn't necessary said the OH.
Ger, almost angrily.
"Well. then. here, and here, and
here -
He thrust his hand in his coat pocket
where was the discriminating paper
and In which he had put the papers
from the portmanteau and, pulling out
Ill together, began to open them under
the officers nose.
1--WE seen those"
$50 you have"
When Donhon said this he was un-
folding the letter that would have sent