The Raymer enterprise., 1911-07-20
Copyright by ". q. ChApnan)

him that the robbery had been com.
mitted while the money was in transit
between the two towns. Also 1t was
perfectly clear that careful arrange
ments had been made beforehand by
the thieves. because the facsimile
boxes had been prepared In advance:
the cord used to bind the false boxes
was government cord. and the govern.
ment seal was SO cleverly initiated
that the forgery could only be de-
tected after close inspection. All Of
which proved conclusively that there
was a traitor In the camp. From the
moment that he had gathered up the
details OF the affair he had set q
watch upon the movements OF the
eight men who had travelled with the
treasure from Moscow to st. Peters
burg. The gendarmes belonged to
Moscow, and had returned. and though
watched carefully had done nothing
to arouse suspicion. The four govern.
ment officials were also watched, but
no sign came from them.
Five weeks after the robbery a fe.
male peddler left st. Petersburg by
the Moscow train. She did net book
to Moscow. however. but to a place
called Vishni Volotchok, about mid.
way between the cities. She bore with
her a big basket, containing a stock
OF slippers. boots. shoes and sabots.
In due course she reached her destina.
ton and proceeded to the residence OF
a landed proprietor named Ivan Golov.
min. 1t was almost dark when the
old woman reached the house where
she tried to sell some OF her wares to
the servants. but was not. successful.
Then she pleaded illness, and with
true Russlon hospitality the servants
took her into the great kitchen and
made her UP bed by the stove. As
she had not recovered her health the
following morning she was allowed to
remain, and stayed for three days. at
the end Of which she returned to ST.
Petersburg. Another fortnight slipped
away and as Danevitch had not given
any sign TO the chief that he was
making progress, that official grew
impatient, and visited the minister OF
finance.
u regret, your excellency," he said.
that we have made no discovery re.
garding the treasury robbery. Dane
Witch does not appear to have accom-.
pllshed anything, and am OF the
opinion that the case should be placed
In other hands"
The minister shook his head. No"
he said curtly, Il am opposed to any
change being made. have full con.
iidence In Daneyitch. And. by the
way. on next Thursday there Is to be
a wedding In the Church OF st. Sophia.
A daughter OF one OF my subordnates
Is to marry Peter Goloynin, the son
OF wealthy landed proprietor. Curl.
ously enough, met Daneyi,ch last
night and he asked me II | was 20.
Ing to the wedding told him no,
that ! had no invitation: whereupon
he expressed surprise that my subor.
dinate had not paid me the compli.
ment Of inviting me. Al the moment
! did not attach any Importance to
! the remark, but on ponderng over It
! fancy that Danevltch had a deem
motive in what he said At all events,
! shall go to the wedding on the
chance that something strange may
occur"
The marriage In question was rather
grand affair Peter Golovnln, the
bridegroom. was a good.looking young
man Of about six and twenty. The
bride was two years younger with
pretty features. but suffering from
some affection of the spine which had
cruelty distorted her figure. Her
name was Olga, and she was the only
sister OF Brlazga, the government
clerk in the finance department. who
was present during the ceremony.
The minister of finance was also in
evidence. but nothing unusual oc.
CURED. Suddenly Briazga. espying
the minister, approached him and
said,
You honor us. sir, by gracng the
ceremony with your presence. We are
comparatively poor people. and felt
that II was too humble an affair to
ask you to come to IT, But now that
you are here, trust you will Join the
luncheon party at my house?"
The minister excused himself on the
score OF business engagements. but
FIVE minutes later, when Briazga had
left him, and he was going out OF the
church. Daneyitch came up to him,
81 saw you talking TO BrIazga," re.
marked the detective.
Did you' Where were your /
didn't notice you In the church"
Perhaps not, but wasn't far
away. Briazga has invited you to the
luncheon as thought he would AS
you were present your subordinate
couldn't very well avoid asking you.
Nevertheless. he doesn't really desire
your presence |, however. would like
you to 80. A little drama may be en-.
acted In which you can play part"
Knowing Daneyitch SO he did. the
minister realized that he must have