Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-13

states. 1t is equally well known that
the car of Russia. not content with
neutrality. said to the ambassador of
France, Tell your master that IL he
interfereS in the American civil war
will strike him" At the same time he
showed his readiness TO stand by the
federal government by sending a feet
TO New York.
This is history. or rather a synopsis
of the diplomatic history of that time.
But in diplomacy. while the results
come out. the moves on the chess
board that so to make game usually
remain secret. True. now and again
some one Of these moves leaks out but
II never bears the official stamp of
truth. The following episode is a case
in point:
One day the American minister in St
Petersburg called an official of the en-
bassy into his private office and said
to him:
81 have just come from an audience
with the car he has told me that he
has sent word to the emperor OF
France that he will not permit the dis
memberment of the American republic
! by European interference. But the
car fears that Napoleon will induce
England to join him in intervening be-
fore the latter learns of the cars po-
sition. England once committed can
( not we'll withdraw. and England and
! France together will be too strong for
! Russia. especially as the matter would
/ be fought out on the water. 1t Is of VI
/ tai importance that the British govern
ment be at once advised of the cars
/ position. and | wish you TO carry an
official communication to that effect.
warn you that that fox. Napoleon. has
the best spy system in the world, and
it exists right here In st. Petersburg
as it does in Paris. The French am
baSsadOr will endeavOr to keep the
English government in ignorance of
the cars stand as long as possible, so
that her master may make an English
alliance for the purpose of Intervention
before the cars intention Is known in
Downing street.
I'VE are watched by French spies
Our mali in going through the Russian
the pay of the French ambassador
There is no avenue that is not spied
uNan. Your going will be known. and
GlIi5 the most unceasing vigilance will
enable you to get to Lohdon with your
message. If possible do not sleep on
the way unless you are guarded. Re
member the union of the states de-
ponds upon your success"
That same evening the official. whom
we shall call Roger Coleman, entered
railway station in st. Petersburg and
was making his way to n westbound
train when n railway official with a
This way. sir" led him to n coach
opened q door and put him in. There
was but one vacant seat, and as SCOT
as Coleman had filed it the official shut
the door and locked 1t.
At the first stop most of those who
were in the compartment with Cole
man got out. and ut the second station
the seats were all left vacant except
one occupied by n young girl. Several
persons. seeing that there were only
: TWO persons in the compartment. start
| ed to enter il. but they We're told by an
official standing by the door to go &c
, another coach. Some time before the
train moved on he shut the door and
: locked it.
The light in the coach being poor
Coleman folded his arms. closed his
, eyes aud leaned his head back on the
cushion lie had no intention of going
10 sleep. He WAS simply thinking OF
the journey before him and wondering
how he would be interfered with if a
all For some time he sat perfectly
motiouIess. Then between his eyelid'
: he saw the girl who sat on the othel
J side of the coach and opposite him. be
Gin 10 look mt him. SuspectinC her. ht
? began to breathe like Il sleeper anC
I finally 10 snOrc. Then she reached FOL
his travelling bag. which he had placed
? on the seat beside him. Coleman snOr
7 ed Justify. The girl opened the bag
: and her face lighted up with pleaSur,
at Seein" Il passport lying on the yer!
top of some toilet articles Withdraw
ing il. she thrust il in her bosom. Shu
4 She bag and. leaning back in her seat
8 pretended to sleep.
q Instead Of endelvoring 10 prevent thu
l. theft. Coleman snOred on. And this /!
what he said to himself: Tint bein.
i one of several passports ] have will
9 me. | shall not be delayed by its loss
e | was guided TO this compartment b!
? railroad official or man disguised
IS q railrosG official in the pay of thu
French ambassador, the compartment
having been previously packed by TIN
: same person with those who held tick
Pts for the first and second stations o.
the route This girI was TO be lef
alone with me 10 steal my passport
@ A. the next station the girl left III
coach. and Coleman. being alone in tn
I. compartment and learning from tn
guard that the train did not stop agaiI
for an hour. got little sleep. After tn
rrEt stop there was none till the trai
= reached wilma. and since no one got IL
7 With Coleman he S.ert till reachin
thar CITY Tie frs important stop b
reached after having crossed the DO
! der WAS KOninSsberg IN Germany. an
>, from. there after SEirting the Ba!ti
>, be passed through Hamburg and Brcu