Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-16

was thrust through my arm.
"The boy said a few words in Russian to someone
who stood by the door.
"'Now,' 1 thought to myself, you looking for
adventure, and you certainly in the midst of
what promises to be one, probably with consequences
SUDDENLY there was frightful pounding on the
~ door beside US, and my heart stood still. The boy
muttered something and dragged through door
way. There still no sound from the doorkeeper.
In an adjoining room could see the faint gmmer of
artificial light. The boy pulled me toward it, and
entered to find coffin, the upper half of which
open, revealing the body of a man. There were two
watchers in the room and the light came from couple
of candles at the head of the bier.
"The boy snatched the baby from my and, lift
ing the lower half of the coffin thrust in and replaced
the lid
"He took from chair nearby long, heavy black
cloak with hood and, whispering to me to kneel at
the foot of the coffin threw it about and the hood
over my head, obscuring me entirely: Meanwhile the
blows upon the door became violent.
"When | placed to his satisfaction he muttered,
Heaven send the dose is strong enough and gave
peculiar groan or catcal In second there was the
sound of footsteps going noisly toward the door, and
funblng of heavy chains and bolts, and then the sound
of angry inquiries, and sort of stupid msunderstand
ing reply. Suddenly footsteps came Closer and num-
Der of burst into the with noisy violence.
"If had any lucid thought at that moment it was to
echo the boys prayer Heaven send the dose strong
enough!
the presence of DEATH the doorkeeper following them
"Iher one spoke to him roughly in Russian, and he
whined back in French that ne did not understand the
Russian tongue. One of the other pushed for
ward by the first speaker. Had the doorkeeper hap
pened to see woman, carrying child and led by
boy, pass that way?' he said in very bad French.
"'And how could poor servant from the South, who
had just lost good master, be expected to note what
manner of persons passed by such day, let alone
night s1tf.a 80. o.,,n c,rr,,;na child and lad hv
bow, lust been admitted by him.!
"'As he lived but the persons in the room had
entered that day. saving only the Angel of DEATH and
they could see for themselves who were there!
a'And who might be the persons in the room?
a'Two relatives of the dead man watching with his
widow
"The first speaker laid his hand roughly upon my
shoulder but the doorkeeper threw it off, saying Was
he such beast to interrupt the widow in her prayers
for the welfare of the soul of the departed one?
"The skunk back, and with further parley they
drew toward the door, the spokesman asking if the
doorkeeper sure that the widow did not have
child hidden under the cloak
"'If Madame will but hear and stretch out both
hands, to show she has child in her arms, she may
be rid of the viainous son of perdition who per-
sisted in interrupting her ntercesslons.
Taking my cue, stretched out both hands thanking
God that was clad in black and then withdrew them
into the shadow of the cloak
"The men, only half satisfied LETT the room explain
ing the doorkeeper that they Secret Service
searching for escaped from gang OF convicts
about to be sent to Siberia
"The man again feigned misunderstanding, and the
speaker cursing him for fool, spoke few words to
his companions in Russian, and they all withdrew.
KNELT, trembling, for what seemed eternity
after the bolts had been sprung in the door behind
the Every nerve was on tension, and my knees
began to shake so that afraid should fall
against the coffin. knew, though, that must summon
all my strength to keep quiet till another cue was given
me. The whole thing seemed to be SO thoroughly plan
ned out! did wonder, though at the quietness of the
baby. Even when the men were all talking nolsily,
there was no sign from the coffin was beginning to
think the poor child would be sufocated we did not
soon take out when the boy appeared from the shad
ow and whispered to that we must be Oft; TOR the
men were sure to return. He helped me to rise, and
then opening the coffin, restored my charge to my arms
and hurried of the room by door opposite the
had entered