The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-06-13
CHAPTER l
MIR. MazaroH


me in .Ouch with the man whose mys-
ferrous murder, while in my company,
formed the basis Of what came to be
famous in three continents as the
MaZaroff affair. Harker and l were
old schoolfellows; we entered the
army together as subalterns; we were
In the same battalion throughout the
great war; we were wounded on the
same day, anG in the same scrap-a
fortnight before the armistice; we
were sent to the same home hospital
and were eventually discharged from
1t at the same time, each unfit for any
further military service, but for
tunately in possession of our full COM
plement Of limbs. Harker walked
into my rooms one morning while 1
was still at breakfast, and flung down
a copy Of the Times, indicating blue
penciled advertisement in the "Per-
sonal" column.
That's your job, Mervyn," he said
fin his usual direct fashion. sect
busy %
l took up the paper and read the
advertisement before making any re-
mark.
"The advertiser, who has recently
returned to England after prolonged
absence, and is DESTROYS of making
an extensive tour through the north
ern shires, in his private automobile,
desires the company of a bright, So
ciable, well-educated, and well-in-
formed young gentleman, preferably
an ex-officer, invalided out of the
service. Applications. with full and
addressed Box NJ. 5343, the Times,
EC.4"
/ think it was more out Of curl
osity than anything that l replied to
that advertisement, setting forth my
qualifications and detailing my refer
ences. Yet / never expected any re-
ply: l knew well enough that there
were hundreds of men whose qualifi-
cations and references would be just
as good as my own-why should l be
singled out? 1t was therefore with
a good deal of surprise that, about
fortnight later, l received and read
the following letter:
"Hotel Cecil,
"Sth September, 1919.
my Dear Sir, l am much obliged
to you for your letter of the 23rd Au-
gust. | think you and would get on
together very pleasantly, and l shall
be further obliged to you If you will
call on me at this hotel tomorrow
morning about half past twelve
O'Clock so that we may have a little
talk. I remain, my dear sir,
"TTuly yours,
"SALIM MAZAROFF."
l walked into the Hotel Cecil next
morning at precisely twelve-thirty.
Evidently Mr.. Mazaroff had already
given certain instructions about me-,
for as soon as | inquired for him, l,
I'm my turn, was asked if | was Mr..
Mervyn Holt, and on my asserting,
was handed over to an attendant who
whisked me off to a private-and
paIatial-suite of rooms. He installed
me in an ante-chamber, tapped at an
inner door, murmured my name to
somebody within, closed the door, in
formed me that Mr.. Mazaroff wouldn't
keep me one minute, and went away.
And | discovered at once that Mr..
Mazaroff was really man of his
word, for before minute had gone,
the door opened again, and he stood
there with outstretched hand.
| took a good look at him as went
forward. l judged him to be about
six feet in height; his breadth cor
responded; altogether he gave one the
impression of bigness and solidity
His age It was difficult to estimate !:
his brown hair and beard were griz-
zled. and between his eyes and his
mustache there was good deal of
seam and wrinkle; he looked like a
man who has weathered storms, and
been under fierce suns and drying
winds. There was a distinctive air Of
good nature, good humor, even OF
benevolence. about him, but it was
somewhat discounted by long, sharp
nose and closest, small eyes, and
further by a cast in the left eye. But
his smile was pleasant enough; so was
the twinkle of his eyes, and there was
nothing cold nor formal about his
handShake.
''GIad to see you,' he said. almost
brusquely.
was certain that wherever or how.
ever Mr.. MaZarGff Rad come by his
un-EngliSh name. he himself was a
Scotsman: there was no miStaking
his accent.
81 hope you're feeling quite well
again after your wounds?" he asked.
quite tit. thank you," | answered.
Fiji for light work, anyway"