Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-04-15
DAILY SHORT STORY
GIRL OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.
lOriginaL-1

Russian noble. began her revolutionary
career by simply teaching the peasants.
Finding that she could not do that I'M
der the present system of government,
she Joined those who are trying TO
overthrow that government
One day Vera received an order from
the revolutionary society of which she
was a member TO go 10 Il little shop in
st. Petersburg in the rear of preten-
tious buildings 10y which il was nearly
hidden. get bomb and carry II 10 Il
certain house at the other end OF the
city. She secured the bomb. made her
exit and as she did so saw man
watching her from A window. hurry
ing along she mingled with the crowds
i'm the street before the watcher could
emerge from his position. She judged
at once that the shop had been watch
ed and the man who had seen her
come out was one of the police. The
bomb. which she carried in her pocket,
she could not get rid of. Revolutionary
documents she might have dropped,
but TO drop u bomb meant an "eXplo-
sion She did not doubt that if the
man whom she was trying 10 evade
searched. For this reason she kept to
the most deusely crowded streets. NOV
ing in tortuous course. Finally. turn
ing, She looked back, and the very mar
row Of her bones froZe al seeing her
follower but 4 short distance behind
ON the other side of the street. He
looked away. pretending not to have no
ticed her Then she knew that he not
only wished 10 capture her. but to dis
cover the place 10 which she would go
At this very time the guardian spirit
that presided over the destiny of Har-
old WillettS. a young ChIcagoan, led
him to emerge from the building where
he occupied apartments and stand In
the doorway looking out on the street.
swinging his cane meditatVely. A
Young girl who was passing surprised
him by suddenly turning and making
straight through the dOYr into the hall.
There was suppressed excitement on
her face, which led him to follow her.
As soon as they were both inside she
locked the door. then said something
rapidly 10 him III Russian, which he
did not understand. He told her in
French that he spoke that language.
aud she at once adopted it.
You are not Il RuSsian?" she said.
What nationality are youE'
American"
All foreigners consider Americans as
sympathizers with any one struggling
for liberty, and the girl ut once gave
him her confidence.
Il am Il revolutiouist. and | am fol
lowed. In Il few moments man viii
be here TO arrest me. | would care
nothing for that, but l carry bomb.
Help me to get rid of III
WillettS had been noted for his def
erence and chivalrous treatment Of wo-
men. but this appeal staggered him.
Here WAS girl. a very pretty one, who
was asking him 10 mix himself up i'm "A
revolutionary matter from the couse-
QuencpS of which even the president of
the United States could not save him if
caught red handed. Nevertheless he
had in him the blood of those who re
sisted the tyranny OF King George Ill,
and lie rose To the emergency.
Give me the bomb" he said, land go
out by the rear door
She handed him a glass globe. ran to
the rear door and passed out just as
there was knock at the door in front
! WilettS. instead OF opening ii. hurried
up to his room. He knew that he had
/ but little time to select n hiding place
! for the bomb and different receptacleS
| passed in review with lightning speed
/ y pair of riding boots stood in Il closet
and he carefully laid the explosive III
/ one of them. Then he started down
stairs. A man was in the hall talking
! to Il servant who had just admitted
] him. He at once recognized Willetts
/ and asked what had become of the girl
who had gone back into the house with
/ him. Willetts, not understanding the
Russian language. could not reply, and
the man, hurrying upstairs, searched
the house, at one time standing directly
over the bomb. Fooled. he at last went
! away
/ Willetts placed the bomb in his trunk
and waited to hear from the girl. Aft
er waiting several weeks without any
/ communication he wrapped the bomt
/ in paper. tied a stone TO it and dropped
/ il in the river Neva.
The next winter found the young
/ Chicagoau again in St. Petersburg
and. being on intimate terms with the
! American minister, lie received many
invitations through that officials in
. tiuence one evening at n ball giveI
/ by one of the uncles of the emperor
being presented to the hostess, vii
/ let's saw among the ladies of her sui
/ the girl whom he had relieved Of the
/ bomb and saved from Siberia. The
moment she saw him the roses left hel
cheeks, but with an effort she regaineC
/ her compoSure without having attract
ed attention Later WillettS was leo
up 10 her and formally presented. Aft
or dance with her he led her to &
window seat.
Vera told him that she had neither
! dared 10 90 to him nor write to him
She felt that she owed him more thar
/ her life and had regretted that she
. had not before been able TO expires:
her gratitude Willetts. who haC
( Of hay ot-ay- ~.