Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-08-20
6he Signal Gun.
[Original.l

~
[Odginal.l
When I was left a widow l took the
only means of making a living offered
me and went to Russia to introduce q
typewriting machine, intending also to
do copying. 1 hired a small il
st. Petersburg and advertised.
One morning a young woman came
to my Office and room and asked for EN-
ployment, saying that she was a type
writer. She was about twenty-three
years old, comcly, but shabbily dress.
ed. She seemed eager for work and
offered in lieu of wages to take q COM
mission on what work she would bring
in herself. If there was not much in
this for me to gain there was certainly
nothing to lose. I engaged her.
The next morning she came to the
Office with manuscript sufficient &c
keep her busy for a week. She didn't
ask what 1 intended to charge for the
copy, but sat down at the machine an0
went to work. I found at once that she
knew very little about typewriting
AS to this she had deceived me, and ]
had a mind to send her away, but ]
didn't wish to lose the Job she had
brought in, and, as she said there was
plenty Of time in which to do it, I bore
with her, showing her how to manage
t1,o ~o~oAs-o --L(1l --1 L. ~
While doing this I noticed the white
ness, roundness and delicacy Of he1
hands. I complimented her on them
and noticed afterward that she per.
sisted in getting them smeared with
the ink of the ribbon and the dust and
oil Of the machine. From her hands ]
was led to notice her complexion, her
figure and especially her foot, which
was very dainty. Her ears, too, were
small, a reliable token Of breeding. Be
sides these features, there was a re.
fnement of manner about her that did
not accord with her cheap clothing. 1
told her she looked too a%ristocratic for
her dress. and l was much puzzled at
the way she received the comment. In.
stead Of being pleased she seemed dis.
tressed.
Since she said there was more copy
ready for her 1 worked evenings my
self on the manuscript and at the end
of the week it was finished. I made
the charge 20 rubles, which she gave
me before taking it away, and I hand
ed her back ten of them. She seemed
perfectly satisfied and the next morn
ing was ready with more work.
She said she wished to work nights
and to be near the machine rented q
room In the same building as mine,
in which she put q cot and a little
cheap furniture. She cooked her meals
in her room and after once being es-
tablished there never left the building
except at night.
One morning while I was typewrit-
ing I came upon q paper between the
leaves Of the manuscript I handed it
to the girl and as I did 50 the blood
left her cheeks, and she gave a little
frightened gasp. She went on with
Ao1 WoIh WltuOuS d WOiu, DuC present.
~ turned to me and said:
you expect an explanation about
the note. There is none. The secret
is mine, but I am going to ask you to
refrain from any mention Of me or it
to any one. Will you?"
certainly" I said.
On another occasion she said she
had a headache and went to her room.
She had not been gone FIVE minutes be.
fore, wishing to ask her something
about a manuscript I was copying, !
followed her. I turned the knob, but
found 1t locked. I raped, and after
some time she opened the door. She
was white as a sheet. I did not ask
for an explanation, and she offered
none.
I used to talk with her about the
tyranny Of the Russian government
and contrast 1t with our liberty In
America. She said that there was as
much liberty In Russia as the people
were fitted for and did not seem in.
terested in American freedom. But
one evening when w were together q
complete change came over her.
"You have been very kind to me-
she said. land / am going to give yor
aOmo advice. know can trust Won