Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-02

4
self on being a perfect gentleman.
also saw TO it that we had plenty of
fresh linen His brigands procured
il as needed from native women. and
while the garments were uncomfort-
able enough, we could not have done
without them and retain our self
respect and health.
The men were so kind To us all
through that | never for a moment
feared we would meet death at their
hands. My companion was not so
sure. though. We had the New les
lament, but the brigands were deaf
to our prayers for newspapers.
On Thanksgiving day we had an
excellent turkey and plenty of berries
and other fruit. / felt sad as our
national holiday approached and
showed. | suppose, that | felt the alb
sence of our loved ones doubly hard
The chief asked me what was the
matter with me. and | told him. He
at once ordered the good things that
no good American can do without on
Thanksgiving.
AT all times the brigands gave us
the best that the country afforded.
AS soon as the baby was born. milk
was procured at regular intervals.
though to get it the brigands had TO
make long detours and sometimes
send messengers many miles out of
the way.
The only real hardship we suffered
was the enforced presence of two bri-
gands night and day. Like the revo-
lutionary guards placed near Marie
Antoinette, they never left us
Miss Stone was of the opinion that
they went over all the Macedonian
mountains and that they also crossed
the frontier and went into Bulgaria
During the whole six months"
she said, I'VE never saw town or
village or even house or hut. We
rested in dugouts or in shelters made
from twigs and branches. We trav-
eIed N night and rested during the
day.
The robbers used To put wooden
mantle such as the BuIgarians wear
on the ground for us to sleep on. and
they gave Il second mantle for cover
ing. They asked us politely to sleep
as much as possible.
There was always a big fire kept
robbers were afraid we would catch
cold. They had the greatest regard
for our health and life. When we
were troubled or i'll at ease the rob
beers showed much concern.
Always we had plenty to eat
bread, cheese, eggs. often chicken or
other meat cooked on Il spit, sugar
and tea.
The worst time we passed through
was when Mrs. TSilka's little daugh-
ter was born. but the robbers could
not have been kinder, and all passed
off satisfactorily.
after this child was dressed. /
called the brigands. Each one step
ped forward. kissed the tiny baby
and congratulated the mother. They
seemed to look upon this birth as
very happy event.
Mrs. Tsillka and | were very much
pleased and surprised when we got
milk for the baby. Mrs. Tsillla re-
ceived the most nourishing food that
could be procured. The baby was
healthy and strong. and Mrs. Tsillla
also mended quickly. although she is
naturally delicate woman.
I'm the evening of Saturday. Feb
ruary ~. the robbers took us to the
nci"h borhood of village and said:
"If you go in that direction for one
hour. you will come to a village.
Half an hour further on is a town
Then they made MS comfortable
under big tree. and gave us quilt
against the cold. We remained under
the tree all that night and when day
came | took the baby and Mrs. Tsillla
went to the village to get horses"
The interest Miss Stone created was
extra ordinary. All through Turkey
and Servia the crowds waiting at the
stations pressed around the car in
the hope of seeing Miss Stone. Some
of those who knew her came in. talk
ed with her and bade her farewell.
II will be long time before Miss
Stone RECEIVERS from the effects of her
captivity. She scarcely slept until
she reached Ostend. and is still very
nervous and slightly lame. as the re-
suit of fall from her horse while
N fI,p ban1C ,f the b,.icr1 D1S |