The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-08-27
CHAPTER XIV.
Spelling the SpoiIer.

Spelling the SpoIer.
/ went to the railway station, and
from the timetable gathered that If l
left Abo by rail at noon l could be in
Petersburg an hour before noon on
the morrow, or about four hours be-
fore the arrival of the steamer by
which the silent girl and her compan-
ion were passengers. This l decided
upon doing, but before leaving l paid
visit to my friend, Boranski, who,
to my surprise and delight, handed
me my wallet with the cars letter
intact, saying that 1t had been found
upon German thief who had been ar
rested at the harbor on the previous
night. The fellow had, no doubt,
stolen 1t from my pocket believing ]
carried my paper money in a flap.
1.-THE affair of the English lady is a
most extraordinary one," remarked
the chief of police, toying with his pen
as he sat at his big table. "She seems
to have met this Englishman up at
Tammerfors, or at some place farther
north, yet it is curious that her pass
port should be In order even though
she fled SO precipitately from Kajana.
There is mystery connected with
her disappearance from the wood cut
ter's hut that confess l cannot
fathom."
Neither can l." said. "I know
the man who is with her, and cannot
help fearing that he is her bitterest
enemy-that he is acting in concert
with the baron"
Then why is he taking her to the
capitai-beyond the jurisdiction of the
governor general?"
II am going straight to Petersburg
to ascertain" I said. 81 have onIv
come to thank you for your kindness
in this matter. Truth to tell. I have
been somewhat surprised that Won
should have interested yourself on nv
behalf" I added. looking straight at
the uniformed official.
1T is not on yours. but on hers /"
he answered, somewhat automatically
81 know something of the affair. but
1t was my duty as a man to HELM the
poor girl to escape from that terrible
place. She has. know, been unjustly
condemned for the attempted assassi.
nation. of the wife of general-con.
demned with a purpose, of course.
Such thing Is not unusual in Fin.
land"
"Abominable!" cried. "Oberg is a
veritable fiend."
But the man only shrugged his
shoulders, saying
1.-THE orders Of his excellency the
governor general have to be obeyed.
whatever they are. We often regret
but we dare not refuse to carry them
out"
Russian rule is a disgrace to our
modern civilization" declared hotly.
II have every sympathy with those
who are fighting for freedom"
"Ah, you are not alone in that" he
sighed, speaking In low whisper, and
glancing around. His majesty would
dition of his people. IL only 1t were
possible. But he. like his officials, is
powerless. Here we speak of the
great uprising with bated breath. but
we. alas! know that it must come one
day-very soon-and Finland will be
first to endeavor to break her bonds
and the Baron Oberg first to fall"
For nearly an hour I sat with him.
surprised to find how, although his ex-
terror was so harsh and uncouth, yet
his heart really bled for the poor,
starving people he was SO constantly
forced to Cypress.
II have ruined this town of Abo," he
declared, quite frankly. ITO my own
knowledge five hundred innocent per-
sons have gone to prison. and another
two hundred have been exiled to ST.
IBERIA. Yet what I have done Is only
at direct orders from Helsingfors--
orders that are stern, pitiless and an
Just. Men have been torn from their
families and sent to the mines, women
have been arrested for no offense and
shipped off to Sashalien, and mere
children have been cast into prison IN
charges of political conspiracy with
their elders--in order to russify the
province! Only" he added anxiously,
II trust you will never repeat what l
tell You. You have asked me why I
assisted the English mademoiselle To