Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-10-10
Copyright by W. G. Cha pmsn)

and hurried nome 10 MIS- lodgings.
Two weeks had passed when q
young man and woman arrived at the
port of Kronstadt and sought a tavern
near the entrance to the harbOr. The
man was Peter Treskin and his com
panion was good-looking brunette,
whose features bore a somewhat nerv-
Gus expression. Treskin carried a
leather handbag, which he deposited
on a chair beside him as he and the
| woman seated themselves at a table
outside of the tavern and ordered re.
freshments, which were served by the
tavern keeper himself. Treskin got
into conversation with the landlord
and asked him several questions.
where is the little fathers yacht,
the North Starr" he demanded.
! "Out there, moored to that big buoy.
You see, she has the imperial flag fly
ing" The landlord pointed to the out
side of the harbor, where large
steam yacht, painted white, lay at
| anchor.
Eat what hour will the imperial
party arrive tomorrow"
"They are due here at nine O'clock -
responded the landlord.
$50" commented Treskin. well !
am going on board the yacht in lit
tie WHILE" he added boastfully. Il
have official business to transact"
The landlord bowed respectfully, his
guest having taken on new importance
in his eyes, When he had gone the
girl said fretfully:
you are too careless, Peter. Why.
do you talk about your intentions In
that way?"
Perhaps you are right" conceded
the man. 1T was little bit of vanity
on my part. However. all will be well.
Our plans are too nicely laid to mis-
carry. l must leave you now. Don't
stir from here till I return"
Taking up his bag, he went to the
quay, hired a boat. and instructed the
boatman to row him to the imperial
yacht On reaching the vessel, he was
challenged by the sentry on duty at
the gangway, and stated that he had
come on official business. He pro-
duced government document,
stamped with the official seal, and set
ting forth that his name was Ivan Or
loft, that he was one of the naval
clockmakers, and had been sent down
to adjust all the clocks on the North
Star preparatory to the cars arrival.
He was admitted on board, and an
armed sailor told of to accompany
him about the ship, and show him
where the various clocks were stu
ated.
suite Of apartments in the newly con-
structed deckhouse. The sailor paused
for an instant to cross himself before
a sacred picture that hung on the bulk.
head, but his companion pushed on,
and passing beneath costly curtains,
reached the cars sleeping cabin.
Quickly he took from his bag an OBJ
long box, turned a handle on an in
dex dial, and placed the box beneath
the royal bed. He had scarcely time
to assume an erect position, and turn
to clock on a table near by, when
the sailor entered. Half an hour later
the supposed clock maker completed
his task, and rejoined the girl who
was waiting for him at the tavern.
Il have succeeded" he said. In re-
Spouse to her anxious inquiry, and
the machine is set for thirty-three
hours. It will go of tomorrow night
when the car has retired. Now let us
60 for a walk while dinner Is being
prepared" -"
About an hour had gone by when
suddenly q terrific explosion occurred
in the harbor, and the cry went up
that something had happened on
board the imperial yacht. From all
parts of the harbor boats hurriedly
made their way to the North Star,
as it was thought that she was foun-
dering. When the explosion took
place Treskin and the girl were stroll
ing along one of the quays which
commanded a full view of the harbor.
The girl staggered and reeled against
her companion, and he exclaimed, in
Mortified accents:
"My God! The machine has gone
off before its time. I must have set
the index wrong"
He glanced around him anxiously:
then seeing boat containing a soil
tary bcatman, about to put off from
the quay, he said to his companion:
Stop where you are for little while,
l will return shortly"
She was SO dazed that she made no
protest. and hurrying to the edge of
the quay, he hailed the boatman,
sprang on board the little craft, and
they rowed out toward the yacht. The
girl waited in fever of impatience.
Twilight fell, followed by the shades
of night, but still Treskin did not re-
turn. She heard the gossip of people
as they returned to the shore from
the harbor, and gathered that the i'm
perial yacht had been partially de-
stroyed. and many lives lost. The
prevailing opinion was that the mis-
chief had been caused by the bursting
OF a boiler. At last she went back to
the tavern, and told the landlord that