Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-10-10
The Tracking of
Peter TreSkin

ond Alexander; the time. the after
noon of day in early summer; the
place, an office in the building in St.
Petersburg known as the palace of the
admiralty. The Office in question was
a large room, officially described as
department H, second floor, imperial
yachts. 1t was under the control of a
much trusted government servant
named Samuel Smell. The latter was
of English birth, but left his native
country when youth, and went tc
Russia, on the advice of a Russian
friend in London, who had taught him
to speak the Russian language. After
while, Smell became naturalized
subject of the car, married Russian
lady, the daughter of an official in the
naval construction department, and
obtained an appointment himself in
the admiralty palace. He was rapidly
promoted, and at last placed at the
head of the department responsible for
the building and repairs of the i'm
perial yachts. On this particular aft
ernoon two young women were the
sole occupants of the room designated
as department H. One was named
Catherine, the daughter of Smell, a girl
of about twenty, with fair hair and
delicate complexion. She was unmis-
takably of an English type, though
born in Russia. Her companion was
as Enthusiastically Russian; cookbook
ing brunette called Anna Plevski.
Catherine was a confidential clerk to
her father. Anna belonged in another
department altogether, being what is
termed IAN indexer." The two girls
were close friends, and Anna had
taken advantage of little relaxation
to slip into room ~ to chat with Cath
crime, for she knew that Mr.. Smell
was away.
II hear that our little father, the
car, is to go on yachting cruise
around the coast of Finland next
month, and that his yacht, the North
Star, is to be entirely overhauled and
refitted," said Anna Il would like to
see that boat, they say she is beauti-
full. You have the plans of the
North Star in this department, Cath
crime. Let me have a look at them,
won't your"
Catherine hesitated, but failing to
see that she could do any harm by
complying with her friends request,
she went to safe and produced q
large roll of cartridge paper, which
she spread out on the desk before
them. It was scale drawing, show
ing the hull, the sections, the ground
plan and general design of the i'm
perial vessel The North Star was
then in the hands of the admiralty for
refit and overhaul, and was ordered to
be at Kronstadt on the twentieth of
royal party, including the car, for a
trip. Anna looked at the plan critical
ly. Having an excellent memory, the
result of her training as an indexer,
she was able to carry it's salient parts
In her mind.
"The cars quarters are to be recon-
structed and removed from the after
part of the ship, where they are now"
said Catherine. "A large deckhouse
is to be built amidships, and fitted
up for him."
"Then I suppose his rooms will be
about there" queried Anna, placing q
finger on the center of the plan. Cath
crime nodded assent, and replaced the
paper in the safe, and her companion
returned to her own department.
A week later three men sat at work
in the attic Of an old house in what is
known as the St. Petersburg quarter,
on the north side of the River Neva.
Two of them, evidently skilled me-
chanics of high class, were fitting
together complicated piece of ma
chinery in a small oblong tin box,
while the third, tall, thin old man,
bent over retort on table in which
he was compromising something from
which an obnoxious vapor arose. It
was after midnight, and the trio
worked on in silence, which was sud-
denly broken by the sound of light
rap on the door. The old man arose,
turned the key, and the door swung
open to admit young fellow wrapped
in a cloak, who hailed him as PRO
fessor Smolski," and nodded cheerful
ly to the other occupants of the apart
ment.
Tie new arrival was Peter Treskin.
q young lawyer of good family and
considerable ability, who had seen fit
to cast his lot with the revolution
airy body that was sparing no pains to
overthrow the government.
well, friends" how goes the good
work." asked Treskin.
''The machine will be finished to-
morrow night" replied the professor.
my part is also nearly completed"
Smolski was chemist of consider
able renown in his profession. The
other two men were brothers, Isaac
and Jacob Eisenmann, whose me-
chanical skill had been utilized by the
Teyolutionists in the making of Internal
machines. The one upon which they
we're working was Of peculiarly in
,genious construction, and Treskin's
face shone with triumph a. his Cocoon
lspirators explained the operation of
the mechanism to him. It was after