CHAPTER XIV.

FRANK TAKES A JOURNEY.

"Whew!"

Frank dropped his heavy coat on the bed and turned to Jack with a wry smile. 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 trace of the intruders who were so unkind as to disturb his meeting and shoot up some of his henchmen."

"Hope he doesn't look here for them," remarked Frank. "I want to get some sleep."

"To tell the truth, I wouldn't be surprised if he hunted us up the moment he comes in," said Jack. "He'll want to tell us what is coming off to-morrow, so that we may be on hand. Nice fellow, the count. Seems to like us quite a bit."

"So he does," was Frank's rejoinder. "Can't say that I return the feeling, however."

"No. Well, we'll turn in, anyhow; perhaps the count won't be so unkind as to disturb us."

"Hold on now," said Frank. "There is something else to be decided on before we can sleep."

"What's that?" demanded Jack.

"Well, we haven't communicated with the Czar yet, and he will arrive here 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 little yourself."

The lads became silent, considering the situation. It was Frank who finally 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 to Petrograd at midnight."

"So there is," said Jack. "But you forget that it won't get you there in time to catch the Czar before he leaves Petrograd."

"Oh, no, I don't," said Frank. "I have been studying maps and things since we have been here, and I have found a certain town that is a railway division point. All trains stop there to change engines. I'll get 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 the Czar has arisen, all well and good. If not, you'll have a hard time getting to him."

"Something must be left to chance," returned Frank quietly.

"So it must," agreed Jack. "Well, in lieu of a better plan, that will have 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 have disappeared. It wouldn't do for him to find you here to-night and not in the morning."

"Right you are," agreed Frank. "Well, I hate to go, for, to tell the truth 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 when the royal train pulls in to-morrow. You'll probably come back with the Czar. If you get a chance, tip me the wink."

"I won't get a chance," said Frank, "for I will keep very much out of sight. If the count should see me in the Czar's retinue he would smell a mouse immediately."

"By Jove! so he would," agreed Jack. "Well, I'll find you some place when the excitement is over."

"Right. Now I'll have to hustle or the estimable count is likely to return before I make my disappearance. I'll have considerable time to kill 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 he could do now and he had determined to get what rest he could, for he realized 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 was fast asleep.

How long he was asleep he did not know, but he was awakened by a pounding 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 is our friend Lieutenant--Lieutenant Depree?"

He smiled at the name.

"By Jove!" said Jack, sitting up in bed and looking around sleepily. "He hasn'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. "He is probably out looking about the town."

"Probably," agreed Jack, with a laugh. "However, he's old enough to look out 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 before the sun has set--and within the month Russia will have declared peace with Germany."

"That is indeed good news," declared Jack. "But you are sure there is no danger 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 do anything in my power for the cause."

"I was sure of it," said the count, and Jack's fears fled. "Now the situation is this: To-night we--myself and the men who are with me in this undertaking--held a meeting, where I gave my instructions to proceed with the coup to-day. Just after I declared the meeting adjourned, I decided that I would have a look at the face of every man present. They were passing before me when there was a shot and the light went out. A fight followed. There were two spies in the meeting."

"You don't tell me!" exclaimed Jack. "And have you any idea how they gained admittance?"

"Not the slightest."

"Well, it doesn't matter, I suppose," said Jack deprecatingly. "They are dead now, aren't they?"

"No," said Count Blowinski slowly; "that is the trouble; they escaped."

"Escaped!" Jack repeated incredulously. "What! you allowed them to escape?"

Count Blowinski grew somewhat angry.

"We didn't let them escape purposely, you may be sure of that," he declared.

"Possibly not," admitted Jack, "but how many of you were there in the room?"

"Well, enough to have taken them," returned the count, his face somewhat red, "if that's what you are driving at. There were possibly fifty of us."

"Fifty of you and you let two men escape?" ejaculated Jack. "Count, I fear for the success of your plans."

"But this was unavoidable," protested the count, apparently thinking much of Jack's good opinion. "They acted so suddenly and they had us at a 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 that these men have escaped, are you not afraid that your plans may be betrayed?"

"Not at all," was the reply. "I have taken all precautions. I have ordered that no messages be accepted by telegraph companies; I have thrown a cordon around the town through which no man could pass; I have notified the railroads that no man without a passport signed by me be allowed to leave the city."

"You have done well, count," declared Jack. "But your man may slip through. Take me or my friend for example. We both carry passports signed by yourself. Why not another?"

"Because, besides the passports held by yourselves, I have signed no other."

"Then your plans are in no danger," said Jack briefly.

"Of course not. But the reason I have disturbed you to-night is that I would give you the privilege of being on my staff when I go to meet the Czar 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 Czar comes in force?"

"Ah, but he will not."

"You cannot be positive on that score. He may send thousands of troops ahead 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," said Jack dryly.

"It is enough," protested the count. "It must be enough. I cannot fail now. 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 in Russia."

"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.