The San Francisco call., 1907-02-17

propaganda of revolution among the
people. Now / want you to know that
the Spanish Government. which is us
ually severe, at times has lapses from
this severity and becomes--what shall 1
call it?-laY. That is to say. there are
periods when the Government feels like
permitting socialists and anarchists to
go to the end OF their rope before
pounciug upon them with the strong
arm of the law
I've heard of such things" said the
Count. nodding his head knowingly.
This seemed TO be one OF the oc-
sions, continued Barnes, watching
Velasquez narrowly. The woman went
by the name OF Louise de Mally, al
though no one believed that this was
her real name. She affected an ec-
centricity in dress which attracted uni
yersaf attention. wearing a biood-red
dress and a straw hat, with a red rose
on each side. In her arms she invari-
able carried big, overfed Maltese cat"
The Count blinked at this, as il the
recital affected his eyesight.
In the beginning said Barnes, "she
delivered lectures to her followers, in
which she did not hesitate to suggest
assassination as a remedy for political
inequalities. Indeed Il was said that
she had from her very youth devoted
herself to the cause OF anarchy and
that only lack OF opportunity had pre-
vented her from putting her doctrines
into practical effect. Her theories were
so dangerous than many who had gone
with her at first gradually withdrew.
She never lacked money, and one OF her
receptions was attended by the dis
tinguished foreigner who was so singu-
Nlarly connected with the strange ship
ment Of the foreign books. Indeed, all
the odd people of the locality par
ticipated in the affair. They included
believers in socialism, poets, noveiists
whose books were frowned upon by
the Government, men of genius who
never appeared to utilize their gifts,
and, finally, some rich and influential
Spaniards who thought the Kingdom
was naisgoyerned and who had the
courage to proclaim the belief of their
presence at this odd function. But the
lion and the lioness of the occasion
were the Italian book man and the
woman with the red dress. OF course.
! speak from hearsay--fronl what has
been told me---for ! never met this re-
markabie woman and was as ignorant
OF what she actually looked like as |
was OF the personal appearance of the
curious man who figured in the Italian
book episode.
meeting, she worked her hearers UP to
perfect frenzy. She said there was
always work for pure hearts and will
ing hands, and as an Illustration OF
this told in a rnslodramatic manner the
story of the Paris commune. After
that meeting the woman In red was
carried about the crowded parts OF the
city amid the shouts and cheers of the
multitude. Imagine this person--taIl
thin, wiry, with coal black hair care
fully parted in thy middle; the straw
hat with it's red rose on either side
and the big Maltese cat under her arm,
All that night she harangued the mob;
but. as IL proved. she had gone q ster
too far. The police learned of it, and
before midnight a warrant for her ar.
rest was out.
EARLY next morning four members
of the police force with loaded mus
kets proceeded to her residence for the
purpose of eseorting her to the neares,
magistrate. who was waiting to ge
through the formaiity OF consignine
her to Jail. The door was locked. They
pounded on it, but received no reply
They burst 1t open, and found an
empty house.
THE bird had flown. But the pc.
culiar part of it, to my nind, was tbs