Part 4 (2/2)
”He doesn't seem to be at home,” remarked Ned, as they descended and approached the dwelling.
”No, and it looks quite deserted,” agreed the young inventor. ”Say, all the doors are open, too! He shouldn't go away and leave his house open like that--with the valuable platinum there.”
”Maybe he's asleep,” suggested Ned.
They knocked on the opened door, but there was no answer. Then they went inside. To their surprise the house was in confusion. Furniture was overturned, tables and chairs were broken, and papers were scattered about the room.
”There's been a fight here!” cried Tom.
”That's right,” agreed Ned. ”Maybe he's been hurt--maybe burglars came for the platinum!”
”Come on!” cried Tom, making a dash for the stairs. ”We'll see if he's here.”
The house was small, and it took but a moment to show that Mr.
Petrofsky was not there. Upstairs, as below, was the same confusion--the overturned furniture and the papers scattered about.
Tom stooped and picked up a sc.r.a.p that looked like a piece torn from a letter. On top was a seal--the black seal of Russia--the imperial arms of the Czar!
”Look!” cried Tom, holding out the paper.
”What is it?” asked Ned.
”The hand of the Czar!” answered his chum. ”It has reached out from Russia, and taken Mr. Petrofsky away!”
CHAPTER IV
THE SEARCH
For a moment Ned could scarcely understand what Tom meant. It scarcely seemed possible that such a thing could happen. That some one in far-off Russia--be it the Czar or one of the secret police--could operate from such a distance, seeking out a man in an obscure house in a little American village, and s.n.a.t.c.hing him away.
”It isn't possible!” declared Ned breathlessly.
”What difference does that make?” asked Tom. ”The thing has happened, and you can't get out of it. Look at all the evidence--there's been a fight, that's sure, and Mr. Petrofsky is gone.”
”But maybe he went away of his own accord,” insisted Ned, who was sometimes hard to convince.
”Nonsense! If a man went away of his own accord would he smash up his furniture, leave his papers scattered all about and go off leaving the doors and windows open for any one to walk in? I guess not.”
”Well, maybe you're right. But think of it! This isn't Russia!”
”No, but he's a Russian subject, and, by his own confession an escaped exile. If he was arrested in the usual way he could be taken back, and our government couldn't interfere. He's been taken back all right. Poor man! Think of being doomed to those sulphur mines again, and as he escaped they'll probably make it all the harder for him!”
”But I thought our government wouldn't help other nations to get back prisoners convicted of political crimes,” suggested Ned. ”That's all Mr. Petrofsky was guilty of--politics, trying to help the poor in his own country. It's a shame if our government stands for anything like that!”
”That's just the point!” exclaimed Tom. ”Probably the spies, secret police, or whoever the Russian agents were, didn't ask any help from our government. If they did there might be a chance for him. But likely they worked in secret. They came here, sneaked in on him, and took him away before he could get help. Jove! If he could only have gotten word to me I'd have come in the airs.h.i.+p, and then there'd be a different ending to this.”
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