Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-28

not be allowed TO 80 and that she
would be searched. She gave Vera a
look, lowering her eyes to Vera's peck
ct, which Vera understood as well as
If it had been words-"whatever is in
your pocket must be transferred to
mine"
The problem before these girls. com.
municated by look from the one to
the other. must be worked out indi.
rectly-that is, by duplicity, and the
most perfect master of these smaller
arts is woman. Anna began the work
thus:
Il ask one favor of you" she said to
Orsky. IF you intend to search me and
let me so. provided you find nothing
discriminating upon me. beg OF you to
have the work done at once in order
that may return 10 my home. where.
1 assure you. l am greatly needed.
came here to see Vera to ask for 4
remedy she once recommended in case
Of sickness. and 1 should go back at
once to an invalid"
Orsky told the woman OF his party to
take Anna into another room and
search her. The two women went out,
leaving Vera with the police. When
they returned and the searcher report
ed nothing found Anna asked permis-
sion to withdraw. 1t was granted, and
going to Vera TO say goodby the two
locked themselves in each others arms.
"Oh, my dearr said Anna. God
grant that you will come through this
unseathed- 1t cannot be that you,
whom 1 have considered so steady a
person. can have mixed yourself with
these horrid revolutionists"
So great was the speakers emotion
that she became quite hystericaL. The
others were much moved by her emo
ton, except Orsky, who seemed the
same sphinx as before.
81 assure you, my dear Anna" re-
piled Vera, that your fears are
groundless. l desire these good per-
sons who are doing their duty by the
government to make a thorough search
SO that they may exonerate me com
pletely from the charge OF disloyalty.
Let me know as soon as possible how
your dear one is getting on, and sim
cerely trust that the remedy 1 have
recommended will be effective"
While this dialogue was going on
the skirts. of the two women were
pressed one against the other. They
were the full skirts of years ago in
which there was plenty Of room for
| pockets, and the women Of that day
used pockets That side in which the
| pockets were the girls turned away
from the others. Anna kept up the
expression of her fears for her friend.
and Vera continued to reassure her till
Anna had contrived to get her hand
into Vera's pocket, seize a paper. crush
it in her palm and transfer it to her
own pocket. Then, after one long en-
brace, Anna took her departure.
AS soon as Anna had gone Vera's
work in preserving her equanimity
was much easier for her. Had she
-! not suffered under the shock that the
man she loved had won her heart to
betray her she would have felt buoy
ant under the removal of the terrible
danger from which she had escaped.
| AS it was she took no more pains TO
make Orsky think that she admired
him for doing his duty, but when he
looked at her she flashed him u look
| of contempt. 1t seemed TO have no
effect upon him whatever, for he con-
tinued to direct the men in their search
! till every nook and corner had been
ransacked, then sent Vera out with
the woman who had searched Anna to
undergo a similar process.
When the two returned without any
thing criminal being found OrsKy
| showed the first irritation he had
manifested since he entered and or
dered the searcher to take Vera out
| again and make another trial When
this was done and still nothing was
| found, bowling tremendously to Vera,
he withdrew with his party. The
whitening look Vera gave him had ap-
parently no effect upon him, for he
retired as carelessly as a custom house
inspector who had examined the bag
gage of stranger.
That evening Vera heard a footstep
on the staircase, a knock at the door.
and in walked Orsky. Looking about
him cautiously, he said:
81 used you for blind on the gov
! eminent"
She pointed to the door.
81 can convince you in a few words"
he continued with perfect self posses
sion. II saw your friend thrust her
hand In your pocket, then thrust 1t In
her own"
Vera started.
81 sent her brother to her that she
might warn you. | took every pre-
caution for your protection. but have
been In terror lest some incriminat
ing paper might fall into my hands
/ had been reporting to the govern
ment certain circumstances about you.
and suddenly | was orderCz to 10 AT
once to search for evidence against
you. I had only time TO send the
warning. as / did"
Vera saw It all Orsky was playing
Sne Of those double parts so common
in the secret service and especially In
Russia. She threw her arms around
her lovers neck and. yielding TO a nat
urai reaction, burst into tears.