The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-11-13

NAAS hOiu vi a NhD
carpenters shop, and next night.
when everyone was asleep. crept
out and unscrewed the panel. when to
my surprise | saw that the secret
cavity behind was filled with beauti-
full jewelry. diamond collars, tiaras.
necklets. fine pearls. emeralds and
turquoises. all thrown in indiscrim-
inately.
Il replaced the panel and kept care
full watch. At Marseilles, where we
called, more jewelry and heavy bag
full of plate was brought aboard and
secreted behind another panel. Then
| knew that the men we're thieves.
We'll, one hot summers night We
were lying off Naples, and as it was
a grand fiesta ashore and there was
to be a gala performance at the thea
ter. Leithcourt took a box and the
whole party were rowed ashore. The
crew were also given shore-leave for
the evening. but as the great heat had
upset me l declined to accompany the
theater party and remained on board
with one sailor named Wilson to con-
stitute the watch. We had anchored
about half a mile from land. and
earlier in the evening the baron had
gone ashore to send kilograms to Rus
sia and had not returned.
About ten o'clock / went below to
try and sleep, but | 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 portfolio ! 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 a
person Of refinement-went below to
the saloon, and after a few moments
called to the man Wilson who was on
watch. and gave him glass of whisky
and water, which he took up on deck
to drink at his leisure
The unusual character Of my fell
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 ! 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-
tons at Gibraltar. From what he
said. 1t 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
and plans that we're re-
luired. heard the Englishmans
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
cigars, assembled 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.
took OF my shoes and crept up to a
spot where could crouch concealed
and overhear their conversation. for
The Italian night was calm and still.
They talked mainly about affairs in
and with some of Oberg's
expressions Of opinion Polovstoff ven.
tured to differ. Suddenly, while the
orivy councillor lay back in his chair
pulling thoughtfully at his cigar, there
was a bright. blood-red flash, a dull
report, and a mans short, agonized
Try. Startled, leaned around the
corner Of the deckhouse, when. To NV
lbject horror, saw under the electric
'ays the cars privy councillor lying
sideways in his chair with part of his
ace blown away. Then the hideous
ruth In an instant became apparent.
rhe cigar which Oberg had pressed
lpon him down in the saloon had ex.
'loded, and the small missile con.
'ealed inside the diabolical contriv.
lnce had passed upwards into his
'rain. For a moment stood utterly ,
tupefed, yet as l looked | saw the
aaron. in a paroxysm of rage, shake ,
IFS fist In the dead mans face and crv
With a fearful imprecation: 'You
found! You have plotted to replace ,
ne in the cars favor. You intended ,
o become encouragement of Fin. ,
and! You knew certain facts which
GU intended to put before his mai. ,
'sty, knowing that the revelations /,
'ould result in my disgrace and ,