The Argosy, August 1905 — page 182: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

172 : cap of an officer, and another in the dress of a moujik—were plunging blindly and half-stunned through a great snowdrift near the railway. Three of them soon recovered, however, and were supporting the two others when four moujiks went to their assistance. Three sledges were at hand, and in a few minutes the whole party was safe in a hut well back from the railroad and out of the town. A quarter of an hour later, Captaim Sinoff, of the Twelfth Riazans, was standing on the platform of the station when he was approached by Colonel Crieff, the commanding officer of the regiment. The colonel’s face was drawn and hag- gard, and there was a look of horror in his eyes. “My God, Sinoff, it is awful!” he ex- claimed. ‘In Heaven’s name, what does it all mean? “ asked the captain. “What does it-mean? Why, it means that, right in the midst of eight thousand Russian soldiers, Count Sviokon and a party of Grand Duke Casimir’s friends have been assassinated in Casimir’s private car by revolution- ists!” “ Revolutionists! ” “ Aye,” answered the colonel. “ This unhappy country, affected by our Far Eastern reverses, has gone mad.” As the agitated colonel hurried on, Captain Sinoff stroked his long mus- tache to hide a smile. “It was work well done,” he mut- tered. CHAPTER XIV. THE RIGHT OF WAY. Ar six o’clock on the morning fol- lowing the destruction of Sviokon’s car the Kinel station-master stood beside one of the telegraph operators in the station. His face was pale and drawn and the hand that rested on one of the shoulders of his subordinate trembled visibly. The operator had just repeated to the master a message that he had received over the wire from Moscow. The mes- ee rac as follows ss, a ? a _ hen he added — THE ARGOSY. Westbound Red Cross train leaves Buzuluk at 6.10. Keep line clear, The division mentioned had only a single track, and the station-master was sorely perplexed. He hesitated for a few moments before he spoke. “Tell him,” he said, “ that ten thou- sand troops for Harbin, short of rations, which cannot be supplied this side of Buzuluk, are waiting here at Kinel.” The operator nodded and fingered his key. When he had finished there was a pause. Then the receiver began to click. The operator spoke the words as they were sounded: The Red Cross train has the right of way to Moscow. By order of the Czay. “So be it then,” the station-master Sarg. He opened the door of the telegraph office, and standing on the threshold he repeated the words to a score of anxious- faced officers who were assembled out- side. There was a discontented murmur and a shrugging of shoulders, then the group dispersed. Among the first to go was Captain Sinoff. “Seventy miles—two hours,” he murmured with a chuckle. Suddenly his face grew graye. “ Aye, God loves liberty, and these Americans are in his keeping,” he said. And as he spoke he made the sign of the cross upon his breast. A few minutes afterward the Kinel operator sent to the colonel command- ing at Buzuluk this message: Are nurses needed on the Red Cross train that has just left your town? The answer came: Yes. Supply four if you can. The written answer was placed by Colonel Crieff in the hands of Captain Sinoff. “T only know of the two that IT have mentioned,” the captain said when he had read the message. comicbooks.com