The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-06

ASiuih anu hNCP III II W
CURED to him that he possessed ore
element of success that was not to lie
despised. especially in Russia. He had
plenty of money, and Russian officials
We're amenable to bribery. No sooner
did the fact present itself to him than
he gave himself up to concocting a
plan by which he might assist Lisa
Dmitrievna to escape from Kara.
A prominent American journalist had
some years previously obtained permis-
sion from the Russian government to
inspect the Kara prison and write
report of the treatment Of the prison
ers there. 1t occurred to Champlin
that such permission would be of great
help to him. Since his efforts were to
be entirely dependent upon the use OF
money he thought he might as well
begin at once. But this first move
was Independent Of bribery. He from
whom permission must be given was
Of the imperial blood, and to attempt
to bride him might spoil everything.
Champlin went to England and
bought a newspaper. Immediately its
columns contained bitter attacks upon
the Russian government for the treat
ment Of prisoners at Kara. Champlin
| saw to 1t that these articles were large
ly copied, and he employed persons to
send clippings to the czar. 1t was not
| long before a protest was sent to his
paper by the official charged with the
administration of prisons. The editor
| Of the paper wrote that II permission
J were given representative to inspect
| the prisoners Of Kara an article would
appear in the journal giving true
| account of what he saw.
1t was happy day for the Amer
lean when the desired permit came.
He had meanwhile been gathering
funds for corrupting prison officials
and had all he wanted. Having con-
verted a sufficient amount into Russian
money, he started for Siberia.
1t is questionable If Champlin would
have been able to make even begin
ming had he not been favored by for
tune. Iisa's father was a trusted Off
Ger of the ear. His daughter mad not
| DCcl NoHNlS VI VI
tended assassination. She was in
league with revOlutionists and had
been caught in suspicious actions.
These facts enabled the general to OBJ
tain for his daughter a transfer to
what Is called the Free Command,
which means that those confined there
live In huts instead Of prisons and are
in so far their own masters
While Champlin was being shown
over the prisons-they had been put
in the best possible shape for the in
spectlon-he was keeping an eye open
for his purpose. When he learned that
Lisa had been transferred to the Free
Command his heart beat high with
hope. He ut once expressed desire
to inspect this portion Of the institu
tiOn and was given permission to dc
SO. On his arrival there Lisa's cabin
was pointed out to him, and, going to
the door, he knocked. A woman keep
er answered the summons, and upon
his showing an order to inspect any
portion of the institution he was adj
mitted. Lisa was sitting at window
sewing She looked up at the visitor
and recognized him at once, but he
did not change countenance himself
and she restrained hers.
81 desire to question this prisoner
he said to the keeper, ''she being free
to tell me what I wish to know"
The woman read his permit careful
ly, then went into the other Of the
two rooms which composed the cabin
and shut the door. Champlin, having
satisfied himself, or, rather, Lisa hav
ing assured him, that he was not spied
upon, spoke freely in low tone. Lisa
overwhelmed that he should have come
to Kara in her interest, seized his hand
and kissed 1t. But that time should
not be lost he proceeded at once to
question her with view to laying u
plan for her escape
His first query was, Can your keep
err be bribed" Lisa told him that she
could If the bribe were large enough
IL she permitted Lisa to escape, she
remaining, it would go hard with her
She must be paid for that.
Presently Champlin went into the
room where the woman was, and wher
, he came out he had left with her 40,
900 rubles ($2O.OOOD, which she at once
buried under the floor of the hut. Fol
, this she was to resign her position
stating that she desired to go to hel
: home I'm Russia.
Leaving the hut, Champlin visited
the officer in charge Of the entrance
to the Kara establishment.
Colonel" he said, zone of the keep
ers I'm the Free Command has resigned
her position and desires to return will
me to Russia. | fear you may thinl
that | am taking a prisoner instead
Lest you should feel bound to della,
me till the matter can be investigated
! leave with you little present con
tanned I'm this package"
The colonel took the package int
another room, examined II and fount
a hundred thousand rubles. His eye
stood out of his head. but when h
returned to Champlin he merely said
II will not delay you
The next day the journalist complet
ed his inspection, and in the morning