The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-29
THE EVENING STOR
An international Complication.


Emily Thorburn and Emily Kent
were two Americans of the new woman
type. Being bosom friends and each
possessed Of q good income, they joined
the innumerable caravan that IN the
spring traverse the desert OF water be-
tween Europe and America, unattended
by any escort whatever. In Egypt they
fell in with two young Russian noble
men who were finishing their educatlon
by travel. Dimitri Maragom devoted
himself to Miss Thorburn. Peter Ne
vanski was happy when in the society
of Miss Kent. When the two young
couples parted the men urged the girls
to visit st. Petersburg, promising TO
give them an opportunity to see the in
ner side OF Russian high life. The girls
declined the invitation, but the next
spring found them at the Russian capi-
tai
They sent their cards to the address
given them and waited. A week pass
ed, and no answer came. Then one
morning a note was found slipped I'M
der the door Of their apartments. 1t was
from NevanSki and said he ana MS
friend had been active in the revolu-
iton. Maragoff was in prison, aWalLlnS
transportation to Siberia, and he lNe-
vanski) was hunted by the police. II
would be impossible for him to call up
on them without great risk of implicat-
ing them.
Nothing could be more effective in
arousing the sympathy of these TWO
| ElIlS, VINO were nedIL anu SO0A WIN
the Russian revolution. The ancestors
of both had more than hundred years
before acted in a revolution OF their
own, and the girls had inherited the
sterling Qualities evolved In the StruS-
gle for American liberty. Nevanski in
his note named an address where re-
ply might be left mot sent by malD'
and the girls, not needing his warning,
wrote him to come and see them, even
if he must come in disguise. He came
as a peddler.
Now, these two American girls of the
new woman type, finding that the young
Russians were not in position to1ntro-
duce them, as they had promised, 70
Russian society, laid plans to take tne
unfortunates to the land of liberty ana
| introduce them to American society.
Both women were strong characters and
weighed well what they proposed 10 90.
They were sensible of the fact that they
were .risking a residence in Siberia and
| that they had but one advantage-that
of being American citizens. They acted,
not on impulse but on the generosity
of their American natures.
| Nevansiki had bribed one OF mara
goff's keepers to pass communications
between them and had made some ef-
fort to secure his friends freedom by
/ the same means. What the girls coniu
not obtain through the American min
lister, permit to visit the prison Wnere
Maragoh was confined. they obtained
by the method most effective in Russia.
bribery. They bribed a keeper, and
when his superior was absent ne TOOK
| them through a party of tourists, all
they pretended to be. They We're on the
lookout for Maragoff, and when they
saw him a frown from Miss Thorburn
| checked an expression or pleasuraoIe
recognition. AS they passed she Jagged
and slipped into his hand a code com
posed of commonplace sentences) per-
| tanning to matter of escape
| Maragoff's cell overlooked the prison
wall. One day the official Nevanskl
had bribed handed Maragon note
to transmit noncompromising mes
sages. this one was in the code. 1t ad-
monished the prisoner to obtain a
string and throw it the next night over
the wall. He did so ana Grew up a
bundle of clothes, which proved to be
! the uniform of a prison official. 'Ihere
were also making up material and
instructions to make himself like his
keeper. A knife and some rope COM
came round for the last time during
the night Maragoff, who was in bed
feigned illness and called the man in
Then he threw off the bedciothes
pushed the astonished keeper in his
bed, covered him with the bedcothes
and after getting a gag in his mouth
bound him. Taking the keys, he
locked the cell and walked down and
out of the prison. A carriage was III
waiting. He stepped in and was driver
laway, changing his outer garments
and his makeup by the way, to the
apartments of the American girls.
The next move must be to get the
men out of Russia. The question Of
their using the girls passports, in dis
guise, was considered, but the pass
ports would not 1T them, even with
the best feminine makeup At any
rate, it was thought best for them tC
run the gantlet to the border, and
after making Berlin a rendezvous a.
which all were to meet, the quarteI
separated.
The place of meeting was in ar
apartment house in which the girls had
lalready spent some time. On the
morning of the appointed meeting they
stationed themselves at a window
where they could see any one coming
At the appointed hour the two friends
arm in arm, came down the avenue
and as soon as the girls caught sight OF
them they threw up the sash an6
waved their handkerchief, a welcome
that was answered in kind by the Rus
lsians In another minute there was E
Joyous reunion.
Police and prisoners being dispensed
with, the girls extended cordial in.
vitation to the men they had rescued
to visit America and become acQuaint.
ed with American ways. But they
were both too much interested in the
liberty struggle in Russia to go on {
pleasure tour.
4 The reports of a coming double wed
ding have not thus far been confirmed
Morris Wynne.
--S--------~-