Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-04-16

"Donhoffw
"In heavens name. what is it?"
The police"
Donhoff spranS up and dartcd to
closet, seized package of papers and
threw them into the stove, watching
bright streak in its side-a crack-til!
the flame died out, when he turned to
his friend, who had hurried in to warB
him.
ANY one peached?' he asked quick,
ly.
Yes, Alex"
AT that moment there was a step on
the stairs. Donhoff turned pale. clap
ping his hand to his coat pocket at
the same time. But he did not speak; /;
there was no time. The door vas
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. Donhoff faced
the officer with well fcigned surprise.
4 .tt.,
Il am ordered to search your apart
ment"
What for?"
THAT is a matter which concerns the
government"
Il have an enemy. Doubtless he has
accused me. l desire that you should
make a thorough search, that | may
be vindicated and may punish him.
l will aid you"
"In any event that will do you no
harm"
Here are my keys. beg of you to
open every drawer. look in every cor
ner"
The officer took the keys and opened
everything that was locked. He hunt
ed through closets. desk. bookcases.
Donhoff 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 Donhoff seized one Of the
volumes and, turning over the leaves,
took out a paper, handing it to the
Svlp
over it and handed 1t back to the
owner. Not a scrap of discriminating
paper had been found, and the officer
was beginning to tire Of the work
when Donhoff opened a drawer brim
full of papers.
Come" he said. These must be
looked over carefully. don't wish
you to go back to headquarters with
out being able to vindicate me en-
tircly."
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
ticcr began to tire OF the work, but
Donhoff insisted on his doing it thor
oughly.
Then Donhoff began to rip up the
carpet.
Never mind that" said the searcher.
Il am not instructed to tear things to
pieces"
But | do mind it. If gentleman is
No fala hn 10 nt 1nnS
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,
1T only remains to-
DonhOff knew very we'll that the SEN
tence finished would be search you
He rushed to a closet and took down
an old portmanteau in which there
were more papers. The officer sighed
and began to look them over.
"Hellov' exclaimed Donhoff. There
is a batch of business papers which
have long missed
one of them, showed each to the Off
Ger. who looked ut it perfunctorily.
and when he had seen all Donhor
asked if he objected to his putting
them in his pocket. lie received the
necessary permission.
Donhoff dared not put the officer of
any longer from his search Of himself
Come, now" he said. Il must In
sist on your going over me as thor
oughly as you have examined my ef-
fects."
lie began to disrobe.
That isn't necessary" said the Oth-
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
all together, began to open them under
the officers nose.
1--WE seen those"
80 you have"
When Donhoff said this he was un-
folding the letter that would have sent
him to Siberia or death and, holding 1t
for a moment so near the officers eyes
that he couldn't easily read it, he re-
folded it and thrust 1t back In his
pocket. Then, turning all his other
pockets wrong side out. he asked:
"Wel, are you satisfied"
The officer turned OH his heel and