The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-04-04
NV Unobtrusive
Typewriter
By EDWARD L. THORNTON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

While was In Russia trying to get
contract for steel rails, requiring a
typewriter, engaged one who spoke
little English. / kept him busy
typlng letters, contracts, specifications
and other such documents
Alexis Breutowskl was his name,
and he was born In Russian Poland.
quiet. unobtrusive fellow, very poor
and out at the elbows. took fancy
to him and told him that If he cared
10 eo with me | would take him to
the United States and secure POSI-
ion for him In the steel works ! rep
resented. He accepted the offer
That was at time when nihilism
was threatening every man prominent
in the government, from the car
down to the, superintendent OF ponce
tried to learn something about the
nihilists from Alexis, but he appeared
/ TO take no interest in what they were
doing. or, rather. said be did not ap-
prove of their methods. The only
man he appeared enthusiastic over
was Count Tolstoy, whose policy was
nonresistnnce,
However. when I made a friend OF
A Russian and Alexis saw that was
with him a great deal he told me that
Il was dangerous TO be seen with the
man. When | asked him why ne re-
plIed that he had heard through a rel
alive who was connected with the po'
lice that the man was suspect, wnlcn
meant that he was being watched by
the government for completely with
uihllism. Having no wish TO become
a suspect myself. / dropped the man
like hot coal.
i was successful in getting an oroel
for rails and after the contract was
signed applied for permission 10 de
mart. | understood from Alexis ina
he had also made application. ! hat
Tired a suit Of rooms which useS
both for living and Office apartments
md hat | might at all times have m!
typewriter handy gave him one o
them for a sleeping room.
When the time came for my depar
ture Alexis had not yet received oil
nassport. told him that l had beef
dealing with representatives or tn
! government and ! thought that II
! fold them | wished to take my type
writer to America TO give him a busl
ness position they might hurry the de
livery of the document But Alex
, shook bis head, saying that there wa
so much suspicion of persons enterln
and leaving Russia that my maxim
such an application might deter rathe
than hasten the granting of the pass
I nort. hut IL l would wait a few day
! he was quite sure he would receive
: | told him that / must leave the mex
day. but since | intended to remain !
: London until the ship on which | ha
engaged passage sailed he could joi
me there. | offered to leave with bill
the price of the tickets, but he a.
| clined, saying that the money woul
be advanced by his relatives.
{ What was my surprise the mel
morning on arising from my bed
!. ind the suit of clothes had take
e of the night before missing. | locke
a In Alexis room; his bed had not bee
! slept In. Had he stolen my clothes an
q decamped? My money was all righ
2 he had not taken that. But my pas
port was gone.
n l ran over the probabilities In m
S mind and remembered that he VIZ
II about my age, height and build.
il was a blond: so was he. The ey'
e of both were blue. Then It occurre
to me that be who had worn ~
J beard had the day before cut Il OF
! leaving only a mustache, as 10 my cas-
: Fearing" said TO myself. that
would not get his passport In time
20 with me. he has taken mine mat
{, himself as much like me as possib