Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-14
The Sunday Story
A RUSSIAN
WAY
n. Al nffAn
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1914, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

Ohiteu cIAVes In 1860 ana acquired t. |
tie to some lands in Montana. He re-
turned to Russia, where he died with.
out moving the value Of his property. |
A syndicate bought up all the sur |
rounding land and wanted that belong
ing to Bogons heirs.
As member OF the syndicate was
sent 30 Russia to put the matter
through There was just one thing to
be kept secret-Bogoff had paid about
$7O0 Tor property worth over 500 900.
was to get hold Of the land as cheap
" as possible, giving no hint of it's
real value. Bogoff was a native of the
port of Narva, on the gulf Of Finland,
and one day I landed there In search
Of information. / had my passport
and other credentials and anticipated
no trouble, but was ignorant Of the
way things work in Russia. After tax
ing up quarters at hotel / called
upon lawyer to make inquiries and
secure assistance. Yes, he had heard
of the Bogoffs and thought the family
could easily be found. was to call
again on the morrow and meanwhile
he would gather such information as
he could.
Two hours later the chief of police Of
Narva entered my room with two of
his men. The astute officer questioned
me for three long hours and was more
suspicious at the finish than at the be-
ginning. 1t was SO queer that Bogoff
should have purchased that land, SO
queer that he hadn't reported 1t on re-
turning. SO queer that / should make
such a long journey to see the heirs,
so queer that should seek out a law
yer instead of calling at the police sta
ton. l knew exactly what all this
meant Had I said to the lawyer in
IN the matter for him and for the chief
of police and two or three other off,
Gals all would have gone well.
When the chief realized that could
not be bled he had all my papers taken
to his Office. The police were ordered
to look upon me as a suspicious person,
and detective was detailed to watch
ME day and night.
Thinking might carry on the bust
| uC5b 1tOh 81 ctCfopulB, WCAL "
that city and again called upon law
yer first of all. He was sharp enough
to realize that the property was Of con-
siderable value. and without any beat
ing around the bush he told me that he
would find the heir and put the matter
through for the sum of $1,000. re-
fused to bride him and as a result soon
discovered that no lawyer would have
anything to do with the case, and only
two days had passed before was sum-
moned to the Office Of the chief Of po-
lice. He closed the interview by say
Ing that would be Swallowed while
remained at the capital and by advis-
Ing me to take no further steps on my
own account to discover the Bogoffs.
had not been provided with money
to bride any one. l must either defy
the police and work up the case single
handed or return and report failure.
Being firmly convinced that Mrs. Bo-
goff was In Narva. l secretly left st.
Petersburg for that town. Securing
rooms In boarding house and DISCUS
Ing my personal appearance to q con-
siderable extent, | prosecuted my in
Quir1es under one excuse and another
until at length discovered the woman.
She was living in her own home and In
poor circumstances and was rejoiced
at the prospect of selling the land
which she remembered her husband
referring to as a poor investment on
his part.
l must have. the assistance of a no
tary to make out the papers, and Il
was while seeking this assistance thai
the police got track Of me again. Al
soon as they interfered was baked
They not only warned every notary II
Narva against me. but the widow wa,
obliged to take a journey and go int
hiding. Things might have stopped
there had been cool and placid man
When | found the police bounding m,
again I lost my temper and gave tn.
chief my opinion Of things In genera
and OF his own conduct In particular
! was arrested; on what charge never
knew.
As soon as incarcerated asked leav,
to communicate with the American
minister. This request was refused.
was not allowed books. writing mate
5. rails or other food than the regula
e prison fire and was, in fact, treatet
in all respects as a criminal. On tn,
a third day the chief Of police sent TO
II me and asked II would leave Russii
II given my liberty. l replied in tn
. negative and was returned to prison
My threats that the matter would b.
Il thoroughly sifted by our representative
! only made him smile. and he quietl.
n informed me that he would keep me II
: prison for the rest Of my life II nee,
i be. On the seventh day he sent 70
me again. l had now changed m.
d mind. saw that could be sent Of
70 to Siberia IL the officials SO desires
y and that there was no longer tn
. slightest hope Of accomplishing my er
: rand. / therefore answered him tina
l A 4