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

return and keep returning I'LL lt oc-
Cured to him that he possessed one
element of success that was not to be
despised, especially in Russia. He had
plenty Of money, and Russian officials
were 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 permits
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 newspaper. Immediately its
columns contained bitter attacks upon
the Russian government for the treat
ment Of prisoners at Kara. Champlin
saw to it that these articles were large
ly copied, and he employed persons to
send clippings to the car. 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 If permission
were given a representative to inspect
the prisoners of Kara an article would
appear In the journal giving true
account Of what he saw.
1t was a 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 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. Lsa's father was a trusted off.
Ger Of the car. His daughter mad not
been convicted Of assassination or in.
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 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
spection-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 at once expressed desire
to inspect this portion Of the institu.
ton and was given permission to do
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 ad-
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.
Il desire to question this prisoner
he said to the keeper, "she being free
to tell me what l 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
plan for her escape.
His first query was, "Can your keen.
er be bribed?" Lisa told him that she
could If the bride were large enough.
II 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 when
he came out he had left with her 40
600 rubles (S2O,O00), which she at once
buried under the floor of the hut. For
this she was to resign her position.
stating that she desired to 90 to her
home in Russia.
Leaving the hut, Champlin visited
the officer In charge of the entrance
to the Kara establishment.
Colonel" he said, zone of the keen.
ers In the Free Command has resigned
her position and desires to return with
me to Russia. I fear you may think
that l am taking prisoner instead.
Lest you should feel bound to DELAY
me till the matter can be investigated
leave with you a little present con.
tanned In this package"
The colonel took the package into
another room, examined it and found
hundred thousand rubles. His eyes
stood out of his head, but when he
returned to Champlin he merely said:
I will not delay you"
The next day the journalist complet.
ed his inspection, and In the morning.
just before break Of day, he drove out
fh.r r.v-fe