The Green Forest tribune., 1915-11-12

l crew were also given shore-leave for the evening, but as the great heat had upset me declined to accompany the theater party and remained on board With one sailor named Wilson to con stltute the watch We had anchored about half mile from land, and earlier in the evening the baron had gone ashore to send telegrams to Rus sia and had not returned.
 About ten o'clock I went below to try and sleep, but I had a slight at tack of fever, and was unable. There. fore redressed and sat with the light still out, gazing across the starlit bay. Presently from my port-hole I saw shoreboat approaching, and recognized in it the baron with a well-dressed stranger. They both came on board. and the boatman, having been paid, pulled back to the shore Then the baron and his friend-a dark, middle aged, full-bearded man, evidently person of refinement-went below to the saloon, and after few moments
 
 watch, and gave him a glass of whisky and water, which he took up on deck to drink at his leisure
 The unusual character of my fel- low-guests on board that craft was such that my suspicion was constantly on the alert, therefore curiosity tempt ed me to creep along and peep in at the crack of the door standing ajar. A closer view revealed the fact that the stranger was a high Russian official to whom I had once been introduced at the government palace at Helsing- fors, the Privy Councillor and Sena- tor Paul Polovstoff They were smok- ing togther, and were discussing in Russian the means by which he, Polovstoff, had arranged to obtain plans of some new British fortifica- tions at Gibraltar. From what he said, it seemed that some Russian woman, married to an Englishman, a captain in the garrison, had been i'm pressed into the secret service against her will, but that she had, in order to save herself. promised to obtain the photographs and plans that were re- auired. I heard the Englishman' s name. and I resolved to take some steps to inform him in secret of the intentions of the Russian agent.
 Presently the two men took fresh crgars, ascended on deck, and cast themselves in the long cane chairs amidships. Still all curiosity to hear further details on the ingenious piece of espionage against my own nation, I took off my shoes and crept up to spot where I could crouch concealed and overhear their conversation, for the Italian night was calm and still They talked mainly about affairs in Finland, and with some of Obergs expressions of opinion Polovstoff ven tured to differ. Suddenly, while the privy councillor lay back in his chair pulling thoughtfully at his cigar, there was a bright, blood-red flash, dull report, and mans short, agonized cry. Startled, I leaned around the corner of the deckhouse, when, to my abiect horror, I saw under the electric rays the czars privy councillor lying sideways in his chair with part of his face blown away. Then the hideous truth in an instant became apparent. The cigar which Oberg had pressed unon him down in the saloon had ex- ploded, and the small missile con cealed inside the diabolical contriv- ance had passed upwards into his brain. For a moment I stood utterly stunefied, yet as I looked I saw the baron, in a paroxysm of rage, shake his fist in the dead mans face and cry with fearful imprecation: You hound. You have plotted to replace me in the czar's favor. You intended to become governor-general of Fin landt You knew certain facts which you intended to put before his maj esty. knowing that the revelations would result in my disgrace and downfall. But, you internal cur, you did not know that those who attempt to thwart Xavier Oberg either die by accident or 10 for life to Kajana or the mines!' And he spurned the body with his foot and laughed 10 himself as he gloated over his das- tardly crime.
 q watched his rage, unable to utter single word. I saw him, after he had searched the dead mans pockets, raise the inert body with its awful featureless face and drag it to the bull warks. Then I rushed forward and faced him.
 Tn an instant he sprang at me, and I screamed. But no aid came. The man Wilson was sleeping soundly m the bows, for the whisky he had given him had been doctored," went on the narrative. Upon his face was fierce, murderous look such as l had never seen before. 'You!' he screamed, his dark eyes starting from their sockets as he realized that l had been a witness of his cowardly crime. You have spied upon me, grill he missed, and you shall die also? l sank upon my knees imploring him to spare me, but he only laughed at my entreaty. .See,' he cried, as you saw how he enjoyed his cigar, you may as well sec this,, And with an effort he raised IA