The daily Alaskan., 1914-06-30
By M QUAD

X man named BogOR came to the United States in 1865 and acquired t. tie 10 some lands in Montana. He re- turned to Russia. where he died with out knowing the value of bis property. A syndicate bought up all the sur rounding land and wanted that belong ing Co Bog0f"S heirs.
 As a member of the syndicate I was sent to Russia to put the matter through There was just one thing to be kept secret-BogOrf had paid about &70O for property worth over $1OO,OOO. l was to get hold of the land as cheap ly as possible, giving no hint of Its real value BogOT was q native of the port of Narva, on the gulf of Finland, and one day I landed there in search or information. I had my passport and other credentials and anticipated no trouble but I was ignorant of the way things work in Russia. After talk ing up quarters at a hotel l called upon a lawyer 10 make inquiries and secure assistance. Yes, he had heard Of the Bogons and thought the family could easily be found l 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. It was so queer that BOgon should have purchased that land, so queer that be hadn't reported 1t on re turning. so queer that should make such a long journey to See the heirsr SD queer that l should seek out a law yer instead of calling at the police sta ton. knew exactly what all this meant. Had l said to the lawyer in the first place that there was a "di7vy" in the matter for him and for the chief of police and two or three other oti- ciaIs all would have gone well. When the chief realized that 1 could not be bIed he had all my papers taken to his office. The police were ordered to look upon me as a suspicious person, and a detective was detailed to watch me day and night
 Thinking l might carry on the busi- ness from St. Petersburg, 1 went to that city and again called upon a law yer first of all. He was sharp enough to realize that the property was of con- siderable value. and without any beat jug around the bush he told me that he 1 would find the heir and put the matter ] through for tGe sum of S5,0QQ. l re- l fused to brlbe him and as q result soon . discovered that no lawyer would have anything to do with the case and only ! two days had passed befoTe was sum- moned to the office Of the chief of pO- 1 lice. He closed the interview by say | ing that l would be shadOwed while ] 1 remained at the capital and by advls- l ing me tC take no further steps on my own account to discover the BOg0h's. ! had not been provided with money 1 to bribe any one, I mugt either defy 1 the police and work Qp the case single ] handed or return and report a failure. Being firmly convinced that Mrs. Bo- 1 gog was in Narva. l secretly left St ! Petersburg for that town. Securing rooms in a boarding house and disguis- ing my personal appearance to a con siderable extent I prosecuted my in l quiries under one excuse and another until I at length discovered the woman.
 She was living in her own home and In l 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.
 ] must have the assistance of 9 no