CHAPTER XIV.
FRANK TAKES A JOURNEY.
"Whew!"
Frank dropped his heavy coat on the bed and turned to Jack with a wrysmile. Jack smiled back at him.
"I recognize your feelings," he said. "Pretty close and no mistake."
"I should say. Wonder if our good friend the count has returned yet?"
"I don't imagine so. Guess he'll be up half the night seeking some traceof the intruders who were so unkind as to disturb his meeting and shootup some of his henchmen."
"Hope he doesn't look here for them," remarked Frank. "I want to getsome sleep."
"To tell the truth, I wouldn't be surprised if he hunted us up themoment he comes in," said Jack. "He'll want to tell us what is comingoff to-morrow, so that we may be on hand. Nice fellow, the count. Seemsto like us quite a bit."
"So he does," was Frank's rejoinder. "Can't say that I return thefeeling, however."
"No. Well, we'll turn in, anyhow; perhaps the count won't be so unkindas to disturb us."
"Hold on now," said Frank. "There is something else to be decided onbefore we can sleep."
"What's that?" demanded Jack.
"Well, we haven't communicated with the Czar yet, and he will arrivehere to-morrow. How are we going to warn him?"
"Say! That's not such an easy question, is it?"
"I guess not. The count and his crowd will meet the Czar at the station,I suppose."
"Well, we can be there, too."
"Yes; but if we try to give the warning there it will spoil everything."
"Then what are we going to do?"
"That's the question. Let me think a bit and try and do a littleyourself."
The lads became silent, considering the situation. It was Frank whofinally broke the silence.
"I've got it!" he declared.
"Well, let's have it," returned Jack.
"All right. It's very simple, too. It's still early. There is a train toPetrograd at midnight."
"So there is," said Jack. "But you forget that it won't get you there intime to catch the Czar before he leaves Petrograd."
"Oh, no, I don't," said Frank. "I have been studying maps and thingssince we have been here, and I have found a certain town that is arailway division point. All trains stop there to change engines. I'llget off there and wait for the Czar's train to come through."
"Hm-mm," said Jack. "That will be some time early in the morning. If theCzar has arisen, all well and good. If not, you'll have a hard timegetting to him."
"Something must be left to chance," returned Frank quietly.
"So it must," agreed Jack. "Well, in lieu of a better plan, that willhave to do. Now will you go, or do you want me to go?"
"Seeing that it's my plan, I guess I'll go," said Frank.
"All right. Then you had better hurry. I'll tell the count that you havedisappeared. It wouldn't do for him to find you here to-night and not inthe morning."
"Right you are," agreed Frank. "Well, I hate to go, for, to tell thetruth the bed looks awfully inviting. However, it's got to be done."
He slipped into his overcoat quickly and extended a hand to Jack.
"Just in case anything happens," he said quietly.
Jack grasped the hand and squeezed it.
"I'll bide here quietly," he said. "I'll probably be at the station whenthe royal train pulls in to-morrow. You'll probably come back with theCzar. If you get a chance, tip me the wink."
"I won't get a chance," said Frank, "for I will keep very much out ofsight. If the count should see me in the Czar's retinue he would smell amouse immediately."
"By Jove! so he would," agreed Jack. "Well, I'll find you some placewhen the excitement is over."
"Right. Now I'll have to hustle or the estimable count is likely toreturn before I make my disappearance. I'll have considerable time tokill at the station."
"I'll go to the door with you," said Jack.
"Better not. Just sit tight where you are." Frank moved toward the door."Well, so long," he said.
"Good-bye and good luck," said Jack.
"Thanks; the same to you. Your position is more ticklish than mine.You'll have to explain my strange absence."
"Oh, I guess I can do that."
"So do I. Good-bye."
Frank closed the door behind him and hurried from the house.
Left alone, Jack immediately prepared for bed. There was nothing that hecould do now and he had determined to get what rest he could, for herealized that the events of the morrow were likely to be very strenuous.He put out the light and climbed into bed. Five minutes later he wasfast asleep.
How long he was asleep he did not know, but he was awakened by apounding at the door.
"Come in," he called sleepily, when he was fully awake.
Count Blowinski entered the room and switched on the light.
"Oh, in bed?" he said. He glanced at the lad and then added: "Where isour friend Lieutenant--Lieutenant Depree?"
He smiled at the name.
"By Jove!" said Jack, sitting up in bed and looking around sleepily. "Hehasn't come in yet. Wonder what can have happened to him?"
"Oh, I guess he'll show up in the morning," was the count's reply. "Heis probably out looking about the town."
"Probably," agreed Jack, with a laugh. "However, he's old enough to lookout for himself. Did you want to see me about anything particular?"
"Why, yes. I wanted to tell you that the time for action has come."
"Good!" Jack exclaimed eagerly. "When?"
"To-morrow."
"To-morrow? You mean the Czar will be here to-morrow?"
"Yes; and if my plans do not miscarry I shall be master of Moscow beforethe sun has set--and within the month Russia will have declared peacewith Germany."
"That is indeed good news," declared Jack. "But you are sure there is nodanger of your plans going wrong?"
"That," said the count, "is why I have stopped in your room to-night."
For a brief moment Jack's heart stood still and he thought to himself:
"Can he have discovered anything?" Aloud he said: "I shall be glad to doanything in my power for the cause."
"I was sure of it," said the count, and Jack's fears fled. "Now thesituation is this: To-night we--myself and the men who are with me inthis undertaking--held a meeting, where I gave my instructions toproceed with the coup to-day. Just after I declared the meetingadjourned, I decided that I would have a look at the face of every manpresent. They were passing before me when there was a shot and the lightwent out. A fight followed. There were two spies in the meeting."
"You don't tell me!" exclaimed Jack. "And have you any idea how theygained admittance?"
"Not the slightest."
"Well, it doesn't matter, I suppose," said Jack deprecatingly. "They aredead now, aren't they?"
"No," said Count Blowinski slowly; "that is the trouble; they escaped."
"Escaped!" Jack repeated incredulously. "What! you allowed them toescape?"
Count Blowinski grew somewhat angry.
"We didn't let them escape purposely, you may be sure of that," hedeclared.
"Possibly not," admitted Jack, "but how many of you were there in theroom?"
"Well, enough to have taken them," returned the count, his face somewhatred, "if that's what you are driving at. There were possibly fifty ofus."
"Fifty of you and you let two men escape?" ejaculated Jack. "Count, Ifear for the success of your plans."
"But this was unavoidable," protested the count, apparently thinkingmuch of Jack's good opinion. "They acted so suddenly and they had us ata disadvantage."
Jack decided that he had wounded the count enough. So he said:
"I can see, count, that you were at some disadvantage. But now thatthese men have escaped, are you not afraid that your plans may bebetrayed?"
"Not at all," was the reply. "I have taken all precautions. I haveordered that no messages be accepted
by telegraph companies; I havethrown a cordon around the town through which no man could pass; I havenotified the railroads that no man without a passport signed by me beallowed to leave the city."
"You have done well, count," declared Jack. "But your man may slipthrough. Take me or my friend for example. We both carry passportssigned by yourself. Why not another?"
"Because, besides the passports held by yourselves, I have signed noother."
"Then your plans are in no danger," said Jack briefly.
"Of course not. But the reason I have disturbed you to-night is that Iwould give you the privilege of being on my staff when I go to meet theCzar to-morrow."
"I shall be delighted, count, and I thank you for your thoughtfulness.It will give me pleasure. But, by the way, count, supposing the Czarcomes in force?"
"Ah, but he will not."
"You cannot be positive on that score. He may send thousands of troopsahead of his special train. How many men can you count on?"
"Enough, I believe. Say five thousand."
"Hardly enough to seize the Czar if he comes properly attended," saidJack dryly.
"It is enough," protested the count. "It must be enough. I cannot failnow. To do so would lose me favor with the German emperor, as you know.And I should be discredited here. There would be nothing left for me inRussia."
"Nor any other place, count," added Jack.
"No, nor any other place," said the count slowly.
He turned and left the room without another word.