The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-02-07

Il Ac
i .Yes-as it happened to Amaron
at was political crime?
eyes"
"And the reasons?"
mThey have the advantage OF sim.
4 .uo;tv Amaroff was member OF
tha Russian secret-service. detailed
r. mix with and observe the Niniilst
refugees. The Gar enters Par1s IN
/ two DAVIS. and when the Gear travels
the political police Of all the capitals
i GRO kept on the run. suppose
/ Amaroff showed an excess OF zeal
/ that made his absence from LONDON
desirable. Anyway, he was found
dead. and the Russians REASONABLY
| conclude it is the Nihilists who killed
him"
I who we're those men in the
studio?"
| "The big fellow was Nicolin, the
| had of the Russian service over here
| I don't know better man In his pro-
fession nor one with fewer scruples.
The other two were assistants. They
came down to the Yard this morning
with request that they might search
the studio for certain private papers
| which Amaroff had and which belong
ed to them. So we fixed the appoint
ment into which you have just walk
ed"
"And they finished their search?"
You heard them say So"
Exactly; but why, then, did they
| want an impression Of the studio
| key?"
He turned upon me with sudden
| Impotence in his eyes.
What do you mean?" he asked.
l told him of my arrival, and what
! had seen from my post behind the
curtains of the doorway. He did not
speak when had finished. but sat.
putting at his short pipe. and staring
| out over the horses ears. So we ar
| rived at our door.
IF you have further news tonight
will you call in before going to bed?"
l asked him as we stood on the pave
ment
II cannot promise you that. have
| some important inquiries to make in
the East End this evening, and ] do
| not know when l shall return"
l suppose looked depressed at his
! answer; indeed the prospect of a
| lonely evening in my rooms with such
| mystery in course of solution out
side, seemed oddly distasteful to me-
ut Is rough district, as you know"
he said. watching me; "but would you
| care to come along?"
There is nothing l should like bet
ter" l answered simply.
'Well-it's against the regulations;
| but they allow me some license. Be
ready at nine, and l will call for you
Wear old clothes, cap and a scarf
round your neck to hide your collar
| Is that UNDERSTOOD"
EYES," / said, and so it was settled
between us.
We were punctual in our meeting,
| and trotted eastward over the roads
we had covered on the previous day
| When we stopped it was at narrow
| rift in a wall of mean dwellings. We
dismissed the cab and threaded our
way down the alley, which opened out
upon a miserable square. The houses
| that surrounded it had once been of
some pretension. In a simpler age
| merchants had doubtless lived there
men who owned the tall ships that
had lain in the river near by. But now
| the porticos had crumbled. the iron
ratings had bent and rusted, the plas-
| ter had fallen in speckled patches
from the walls. In the center a few
ancient trees still dragged on a dis
consulate existence. 1t was silent
place where wheeled traffic never
came And when, through an upper
window, woman suddenly poured
| forth shrill abuse upon a drunken man
clinging to the ratings, each oath
rang loudly in the furtive silence.
AS we paused at the mouth of the
alley, tall man, with a dropping yell
| low moustache, brushed by US; and
when we turned into beer-house at
the corner he followed us, standing a
little apart in an angle of the bar.
| There were half dozen men and
women-of the life wreckage of the
| great city-sitting on the benches; but
before the inspector was served with
the drinks he ordered, they had whis-
pered one to another and melted
away. AS the last one skunk through
the door, Peace beckoned to the tall
man, who Joined U.S.
| well, Jackson" he said, you can't
hide your light under bushel in
Stepney. that's certain"
I'm afraid not, sir" he grinned
s'Leastways not in Maiden Square,"
well, have you found the place?
Oh. that is all right" for the man had
glanced at me with brief suspicion.
This is Mr.. Phillips, who has been
Of much service to me in our little
affair; let me introduce you to Ser
5eant Jackson, Mr.. Phillips
shook hands with the serjeant.
| ~