The Meeker herald., 1913-02-01


you for the sacrifice you are making In
this distasteful work.
Orsky gave her cold glance without
reply. showing NO effect whatever
from the words she had uttered In.
deed. he directed the search himself.
now and again repr0ving the searchrrs
for want OF thorOughness In the
work.
He seemed more like man of stone
than one Of nesh and blood.
ANN. rs soon as the raiders came In.
asked II she might leave. but WAS told
to remain. She knew very well when
she asked the question that she would
not be allowed to go and that she
would be searched She give Vera u
look. lowering her eyes to vera's peck.
ct. which Vera understood as well ms
IL IT had been worls-"whatever is in
your pocket must be transferred to
mine.'
The problem before these girls. com.
municated by hook from the one to
the other. must be worked out indi
rectly-that ~, by duplicity. and the
most perfect master Of these smaller
arts IN woman. Anna began the work
thus:
II ask one favor Of you." she said to
Orsky. IF you intend to search me and
let me 90. provided you find nothing
discriminating upon me. beg Of you To
have the work done ut once In order
that | may return to my home. where
assure you. am greatly needed. I
came here to see Vera to ask for u
remedy she once recommended in case
Of sickness. and should go back at
once to IN invalid"
Orsky told the woman Of his party to
search her. The two women went out
leaving Vera with the police. When
they returned and the searcher report
I'd nothing found Anna asked permits
sion to withdraw. II was granted. and
going to Vera to say goodby the tw"
locked themselves in each others arms
"Oh. my deurw said Anna. God
grant that you will come through this
he'd II cannot be that YOU.
whom have considered SO steady II
person. can have mixed yourself with
these horrid rcvolutIonists."
So great was the speakers emotion
that she became quite hystericnl. The
others were much moved by her emo
ton, except Orsky. who seemed the
same sphinx US before.
II assure you. my dear Anna" re-
piled Vera. that your fears are
groundIess. desire these good per.
sons who are doing their duty by the
government to make thorough search
SO that they may exonerate Inc com
pletely from the charge Of disloyalty.
Let me know ns soon MS possible how
your dear one Is getting on. and sin
cereiy trust that the remedy 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 ngo IN
which there was plenty Of room for
pockets. and the women of that day
used pockets. That side III 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 vern's pocket. seize paper. crush
1t In her palm and transfer 1t to her
own pocket. Then. after one long EN-
brace. Anna took her departure.
As soon MS Anna had gone vera's
work In preserving her. equanimity
was much custer for her. Had she
not suffered under the shock thnt the
man she loved had won her heart to
betrny 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 mt her she flashed him look
of contempt. II seemed to have no
effect upon him whntever. 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 sea rched Anna to
undergo similar process.
When the two returned without any
thing criminal being found OrsKy
showed the first Irritation he had
manifested since he entered end or
dered the searcher to take Vera out
again and make another trial. When
this was done and stir nothing was
found. bowling tremendously to Vera.
he withdrew with his party. The
whitening look Vera gave him had ap-
perently no effect upon him. for he
retired as carelessly as custom house
Inspector who had examined the bag
gage of a strnnger.
That evening Vera heard footstep
OH the staircase. u knock at the door.
and in walked Orsky. Looking about
him cautiously. he said:
II used you for blind on the gov
eminent"
She pointed to the door.
"I can convince yOu in n few words"