The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-09-18

| grace, out not WITHOUT CuTlOSlty. Ahu
then, as he read the lines, his face
changed and he went paler. Raising
his head, he stood staring at me open
mouthed in amazement.
81 apologize to your excellency!" he
gasped, blanched to the lips. Il most
humbly apologize. IL did not know.
You told me nothing!"
Perhaps you will now kindly give
my passport a proper wise"
In an instant he gave it the proper
wise. affixing the stamps.
Il trust, excellency," he said, bowling
low as he handed it to me, Il trust that
this affair will not trouble you further.
| assure you l had no intention of in
sulting you"
He held the letter l had given him
gingerly with trembling fingers. And
we'll he might, for it was headed:
Minister of the Imperial Household,
Palace of Peterhof
| The bearer of this is one Gordon Fran
els Gregg British subject. whom II is
| Our will and command that he shall be
! Our guest during his journey through our
dominion. And We hereby command all
| Governors of Provinces and minor Of
ticials to afford him all the facilities he
| requires and privileges and immuniues
| as Our guest
Beneath was the sprawling signature
of the ruler of one hundred and thirty
millions of people, that signature that
was all-powerful from the Gulf of Both
| rio 70
The document was the one furnished
to me year before when, at the invi-
tation of the Russian government,
had gone on a mission of inquiry into
the state of the prisons in order to see
on behalf of the British public. wheth
er things were as black as some
writer had painted them.
Sight of it had changed the chief OF
police from burly bully into a whin
ing coward, for he saw that he had
torn up the passport of a guest of the
car. and the consequence was most
serious if l complained He begged OF
ME to pardon him, urging all manner
of excuses, and humbling himself be-
fore me as well as before his two in.
feriors, who now regarded me with
awe.
II will atone for the insult in any
way your high excellency DESIRES" de.
clared the official Il will serve your
eXcellency in any way he may com.
mand."
His words suggested brilliant idea
/ had this man in my power; he feared
me.
WELL" said after some reluctance
there is little matter in which you
might be of some assistance. If you
will, will reconsider my decision OF
complaining to Petersburg"
And what is that, excellency?" he
gasped eagerly.
Il desire to know the whereabouts
of a young English lady named Elma
Heath" said, and / wrote down the
name for him upon a piece of paper
age about twenty, and was at school
at Chichester, in England. She is a
niece of certain Baron Oberg."
Baron Oberg!" he repeated, look
ing at me rather strangely, l thought
Yes, as she is foreigner she will
be registered in your books. She is
somewhere in your province, bu,
where l do not know. Tell me where
she is, and l will say nothing more
about my passport" / added.
Then your excellency wishes to see
the young LADY," he said ref1ectively
with the paper in his hand.
Yes"
an that case, 1t being commanded
by the emperor that shall serve your
excellency, l will have immediate in
quiries made" was his answer. when
l discover her whereabouts, l will dc
myself the pleasure of calling at your
excellency's hotel"
And l left the fellow, very satisfied
that had turned his officiousness and
hatred of the English to very good &C
count.
On the morning of the third day aft.
er my arrival at Abo, while sitting on
the hotel veranda reading an old copy
| VI tuC al 10 JOui hoi, iudhy POitlOuo VI
which had been "blacked out" by the
censor, the chief of police, in his dark
green uniform, entered and saluted
before me.
Your excellency, may I be permit.
ted to speak with you in private?"
Certainly" responded, rising and
conducting him to my bedroom, where
/ closed the door, invited him to a
seat, and myself sat upon the edge of
the bed.
Il have made various inquiries" he
said, "and i think l have found the
lady your excellency is seeking. My
information, however. must be fur.
nished to you in strictest confidence"
he added, because there are reasons
why l should withhold her where
abouts from you"
What do you mean?" / inquired.
What reasons?"
"Well-the lady is living in Finland
/ To-