The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-14

| to look about him and judge whether
he dared risk recognition. He would
| take Stepan with him, of course
When he informed his servitor of his
intention and Stepan found that be
could not dissuade him the valet pro-
| posed that after passing the Russian
border, until they were satisfied just
how dangerous Russia was for the
count, Stepan should play master and
Dmitri should play man.
This proposition struck the count ia
vorably, and he made arrangements to
carry 1t out. He procured the clothes
Of a gentleman for Stepan and provid-
ed him with a name and title. He
was to be Count Sergius Arkadyevich.
and the real count was to be bis valet.
Peter.
Count Sergius and his valet entered
Russia by way Of Caucasia. going by
the Black sea to the extreme eastern
end Of that water
Now, Stepan's idea Of the greatness
Of a count illustrates the adage "Put
beggar on horseback and he will ride
| to the devil" Instead Of initiating his
masters uniform kindness to him, he
went to the other extreme. This was
because he did not approve Of a great
parsonage treating one Of lower sta
ton with any forbearance and feared
that II he showed consideration for his
master their true relative positions
would be given away.
No sooner had they set sail from
Constantinople than Stepan became
seasick. Dmitri was good sailor and
was able to wait on his supposed mas
ter. Whether 1t was that seasickness
makes one careless as to what hap
pens or Stepans ability to play his role
properly was marred by NAL de mer,
he ordered his valet about, directing
him to do all manner Of mental serv-
ices not only imperatively. but with
curses for his remissness.
On the same vessel with this false
count and false valet were couple of
American globe trotters who, having
tired Of civilized lands, were striking
out In paths usually unfrequented by
tourists. They were going to what
was then st. Petersburg by the same
roundabout way as Count Sergius
Arkadyevich and his valet. The Amer.
leans were Mrs. Henderson Of Chi
cago and her daughter, JaQuelin.
When the ship began to pitch and
the spurious count sank upon a sofa
in the cabin and began to abuse his
supposed valet Miss Jaquelin's ideas
Of proper consideration Of servants
by masters received shock. All those
who were sick were calling Steward"
and the young lady, pretending to mis-.
take the counts valet for a ships at
tendant, sent him for glass Of water.
The valet, having noticed her favora bly,
was not slow to respond and devoted
himself exclusively to the girl
During the rest of the voyage there
was struggle between Miss Hender
son and Count Sergius for the atten
lions of the latter's valet 1t was
from the count peter, a towel, and
be quick about it," and, from Miss
Jaquelin, Steward, wish you to
take me on deck" Peter preferred to
attend the lady. who loaded him with
tips and other kindnesses, including
smiles. She asked him why he re
manned in the service of such brute
as Count Sergius and offered to ask
her mother to give him the position OF
courier If he would accept it.
Dmitri said that he was bound to
his master by bonds that he could not
break. Jaquelin inferred that there
was some dark story connected with
the service and begged to know what
1t was. Dmitri, in order to satisfy
her, told her that he had been a valet
to the counts elder brother, who had
tyrannized over him so fearfully that
cape his present service without being
turned over to justice.
This only added to Jaquelin's inter
est in the unfortunate man. SO fasci-
mated was she with him that she drag
ged her mother over the same route
the count and the valet were travelling.
When the two men reached point
near where they were known they sud-
denly disappeared.
The real count, when he learned that
the car had granted the people con-
stitution, through friend made over
lures to the government for permits
sion to resume his identity without
fear Of persecution. He was promised
immunity and announced himself a
candidate for the duma, TO which he
was elected.
One day Mrs Henderson and her
daughter visited the duma and saw
the valet of their former travelling
companion sitting among the mem
bers. Great as was their astonish.
ment, it was far greater when they
saw Count Sergius Arkadyevich enter
dressed as a lackey and respectfully
hand his valet his mail.
Miss Jaquelin Henderson was both
pleased and miffed at having been i'm
posed upon. Curiosity came in as to
why nobleman was travelling as n
valet to his valet. Not willing that the
deception should be all on one side.
she sent her and her mothers cards
to Count Sergius Arkadyevich and
waited to see who would appear, the
real count or his valet
Count Dmitri, thinking that it would
no good finn 70 koar, nm tho Ionap+io,