The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-03-28

mad better cnange my quarters, ana
after few days l said to her that l
thought 1 had trespassed upon her
kindness quite long enough and l
would go and visit several pensions, Of
which l had a list, with a view to
moving.
| l was much surprised at the troubled
look that came over her face at my an
nouncement. She asked what she had
done to offend me, and when l replied
that she had done nothing she said that
I must not think of leaving her till
left st. Petersburg. She seemed so
Rverse to my going that l told her l
would remain awhile longer. She asked
how long, and I put her off by replying
week or two, perhaps longer. This
seemed to satisfy her, and L thought
saw her draw a sigh Of relief.
One morning Catherine did not ap-
pear at breakfast. At this meal, though
1t was a light one, she was very regu-
lar, and l was somewhat surprised. l
went to her room and knocked. Re
ceiving no reply, 1 opened the door.
The bed had not been slept in, but the
chamber was disarranged, as though
the occupant had left it hastily. l
asked the servants where was their
mistress. They knew no more than l,
and they did not seem to care since
their wages had been paid up to the
end Of the present month.
After I had eaten my breakfast 1
went to q boudoir adjoining my bed
room to get some money which I kept
In desk there. Pulling out a drawer,
l came upon q roll Of bills (exactly 60
lrubles) that I had paid Catherine the
evening before for board and lodging.
Surprised, 1 pulled out other drawers
and on opening the one in which kept
my passport found 1t missing.
1 was taken quite aback. l had never
dreaded to lose my money. for If l did
1 could get more, but since coming to
Russia l had not relished the idea of
losing my passport. l questioned the
servants, but they were stupid crea-
lures and could suggest no explanation.
1 felt assured that neither Of them
had taken it, for If they had cared to
take anything they could have had
money.
l involuntarily turned to Catherine
rs the person most likely to have taken
my passport. But why? And why had
she left the money 1 had paid her in
my desk? l was all at sea with re-
gard to the matter. 1 went to win
Knots of persons were standing about
talking earnestly with one another, as
though something had happened or
was about to happen. l sent a servant
out to buy q morning journal, but there
was nothing in it Of an unusual na-
ture.
Calling drosky, I drove to the Amer
lean embassy and reported that my
passport had been stolen. The young
man to whom 1 made the statement
took down my name, where 1 lived and
all about me that would tell him and
told me that he would send me pa
per to take the passports place. As
I was about to go away 1 asked If
anything unusual had happened. He
called me into his office and, after
shutting the door, said in low voice
that an attempt had been made the
night before to assassinate q minister
in his bed, but it had proved a failure
He had only been severely wounded
When asked If the assassin had beer
caught he said "No."
Catherine did not appear, and aftel
lunch went out and engaged rooms a
a pension, removing my baggage thu
same evening. I left word with th'
servants that If their mistress returned
to tell her that had gone and give he
my address. was terribly uneasy fo
several days. 1 could explain nothing
as to GATHERINGS action and feared
that had been involved in some myS
terious plot against the government
indeed, she might be connected will
the one to assassinate the minister.
A week after GATHERINGS disappear
ance one morning on arriving and go
; ing to my dresser there lay my pass
port.
"Great heavensp' exclaimed. "Wil
these mysteries never cease2 Surely
am in danger. 1 shall use this docu
ment to get out Of Russia as soon a
possible"
That very night took train for tn
west. When 1 reached the border
where the passports are taken from tn
. passengers for examination mine wa
kept a long while. When 1t was re
turned to me 1 was asked a grea
many questions. Fearing trouble,
. gave no more information about IN.
story in Russia than could help. Fl
nally the officer, handing me the pass
port, left me, and 1 suspected that tn
officials fancied that they had seen
not long before. However, got ava
from the czar's dominions safely AM
, have never since had q desire to returl
, TO them.
1t was a year later when in a stor
. on Oxford street in London, standin
at glove counter, 1 happened to loo