Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

206 Those were nightmare days for Jim Her- ring. He did not know whether he would remain alive from hour to hour. His face was blanched, but stern when three Cos- sacks who had been captured were disem- boweled while tied to a rail fence on the edge of the village. Two days later a sol- dier of the experimental Siberian govern- ment at Omsk was brought’ in and shot within twenty feet of the Yankee. The mutilations of the man’s corpse afterward were as disgusting as they were senseless. Jim had to shut himself away in his house, where he buried his face ih his hands to re- cover from the nausea. Another day, a veer of public sentiment, a suspicion of two-faced play, and he and the Czech might follow. He prayed that the telegram might reach Wheeler somehow and that the man might answer something— if only a word to show Jim was working and acting in apparent good faith—some- thing in which he might build an excuse for more time. For time was needful to his purpose. On the fifth day it came, by what route being one of the mysteries of that mys- terious country. It read: HERRING: Cannot understand your wire. Where are you? Last report Red Guards had cut hne your last heard location. Money will start Vladivostok soon as surety received line is again open. Advise, WHEELER. Again for a time was the American’s life saved. They knew then that the Yankee could tell the whereabouts of the money— that he was working for them. Jim called for the interpreter. this message transcribed: He had WHEELER: Mistake somewhere. Line O. K. Wreck obstructing track. Will be held up two , weeks, Join me Chita Junction. HERRING. « Five days more of grace,” breathed the Red Triangle man when the messenger had departed with the Bolsheviki leaders, highly satisfied. ‘‘ Oh, well, empires have been lost and won in less than five days.” At noon of the following day a horse- ~~, THE ARGOSY. man came flying across the steppes. Into the village, his pony foaming, he swung with hoarse shoutings, and cast himself from his saddle before the commandant’s door. The entire village was appraised of his coming. They turned out ex masse—peas- ants, soldiers, filthy, evil-looking Chinamen, Khirgese and Tatars. “The Czechs!” they cried. ‘‘ The Czechs are coming!” Among all of them only the American preserved his poise. He went hurriedly to the commandant’s office, dragging the in- terpreter—who was an overworked man of late, growing more and more tired of his job—along with him. The big, stolid-faced Russian received him impatiently. ‘““Let us hold counsel together,” urged Jim Herring. ‘I have been with these people, | know them—their strength and their weaknesses. We have naught to fear from them. There is no force hereabout large enough to cause us serious damage. They are desperate men, hoping against hope for supplies and reenforcements from the capitalists. Let usstrick them and add vast numbers to the people’s army.” “ Da!’ growled the big leaders when the proposal had been translated. And he de- manded to be told the modus operandi. “ First,” declared the Yankee, “let us make capture of their leaders. Then let us demoralize them by spreading our docu- ments and doctrines among them.” “Tt cannot be done,” rejoined the dogged Russian. “T, the American, can do it,” affirmed Herring. ‘I know these people. I hold their confidence. I will send a note to their leader. He will come to me and you shall capture him.”’ ‘“‘ And who will take this note that can get through their lines?” ‘““Ah! You see why I saved the life of the dog of a Czech with me until this mo- ment. He will carry the message through.” “A fine scheme,” returned the com- mandant sarcastically. “‘ There is too much room for treachery. He will get through his lines and never return. He will not betray his own people.” ‘“] will stand sponsor for him.” ce How?” Gomichbooks Eom)