Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-23
DAILY SHORT STORY
AN APPLE FROM sT.PETERseURe
IOriginal.1

~ dispatches 10 W aSulDSiOuf NHllAtE
l was going 1 accepted the commits
sion and left on the night train 1t was
overloaded with people aiming to es-
cape the terrible events transpiring In
the capital. A railroad official tapped
me on the shoulder and offered to show
me to a seat He took me TO a car
where there was room for but one per
son, put me in. shut the door and was
of before 1 could fee him. This aston
ished me- for had supposed n fee was
the object Of his attention.
At every station on the route one or
more of the passengers in my conpart-
ment got out till at last there was but
one left. a young girl. l had settled my
self for a nap. but was still half awake,
when l was conscious that this girl
was rummaging my satchel. ! was
about to start up to prevent her when
curiosity changed my intention. and
feigned to be sound asleep. The girl
found my passport and seized upon it
eagerly, evidently much relieved to find
it in the satchel. Then she threw off a
mack intosh. took q soft hat out of Ler
pocket and appeared as q man. Rolling
her caStoh clothing in bundle, she
lowered the window and threw ii out.
1t was not long after this that the
train stopped. the door opened and an
officer put in his head and called for
passports. TWAS critical moment with
the girl. and she turned pale as death.
Opening my satchel. l hunted for what
l knew she had taken and, not finding
il, endeavOred TO explain TO the officer
that l had left it behind. Meanwhile
the girl lad produced it. The officer
was sufficiently absorbed in my case TO
hand it back TO her with but a hasty
examination.
Your passport he demanded of me
severely.
Il think l can satisfy you" / said,
and, taking the envelope bearing my
dispatches addressed to the secretary
Of state at Washington. also the seal of
the American embassy, l showed it to
him. After some words he agreed to
telegraph to st. Petersburg for iLstruc-
tions. which should arrive before we
reached the frontier Then he locked
the door and in few minutes the train
started on
l expected the girl would thank me
for what l had done but l had played
my part so well that she really believed
l thought l had left my passport be
hind. Presently l said to her in French:
"Mademoiselle, you Will pass the Dor
der safely. l shall probably be detain-
ed. May | ask that You will wait for
me at-well, suppose l meet you at
Bromberg for return of my passport"
Without word she came over to
where | sat, knelt before me and kissed
my hand
Monsieur. you have saved me from
death or worse than death-Siberia''
You are very fortunate in availing
yourself of my passport"
1T is not luck. y clerk in the Ameri-
can embassy Informed our club that
You were TO depart tonight. You were
shown into this compartment by a
railway official who is also a member
of the club. The compartment was
filled with other members of the club
10 prevent any one else from riding in
it. The plan was laid for me, in the
hope that l might steal your passport
Had l not found it in your satchel l
should have drugged you"
why are you leaving Russian
Just now it would not be best to
tell you"
'You are right. 1 would rather not
know"
When we reached the frontier the train
stopped, and the officer appeared and
said that he had received a telegram
that at the request of the American
minister l was to be permitted to go on
without a passport As soon as he had
withdrawn 1 looked at the girl She
had tainted. l revived her with Il
draft from my flask.
We had not gone far beyond the Dor
der when from under a shawl on the
seat behind her she produced an apple.
lowered the window and was about to
throw the apple out when ! stopped
her
'I think / deserve your confidence"
I said. What does this mean?"
Il must get rid Of IT," she gasped, |
looking ut me apPeaIingly. 1T is n
bomb"
Taking it from her, I hurled IT with |
al my strength into a field. There was |
IN explosion. The train came TO stop. |
2nd every head was thrust out of the /
windows. After examination. the Off |
cialS. finding that no injury had result |
ID. started the train.
Arriving at Berlin. the girl gave me 1
her address on my promise not TO re-
veal il. and tie next morning I called /
On her She confessed the reason for
her sudden departure from Russia.
Il was deputed by our club" she
said. Ito kin that terrible man. the
Grand Duke Vladimir. I am the daugh-
ter Of a noble, high official in the gov
and have access TO all except /
tie emperor. The day I left St Peters
burg l had offered basket OF fruit TO
he grand duke containing two apples.
both Of which We're merely apple skins
HE'D with a glass bulb. the bulb filed
With an explosive He chose one Of the
lpplcS, and l brought away the other.
The one he took he lail on his desk