Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-20
The Daily Story
THE DEMIDoRF Casey LUCY PETERSON.
Copyrighted 1918 by Associated Literary Bureau
rghted 1918, by Associatel Literary Bureau.

effort TO secure evidence that Petrof
had been seen at or near the Demi-
dorf estate about the time of the muir
der, but failed. The last person TO
leave the premises was a servant maid.
who departed half an hour before her
master.
All Vronsky could do for his client
was to prove his excellent standing,
his genial disposition and his generosi-
ty. He brought forward his theory,
saying that some one had gone into
the room where Demidorf and Ivano-
vich met soon after the former had
left it and, finding gold there, had
killed Ivanovich in order to possess
himself of the money. He proved that
Demidorf had the amount he claimed
to have possessed. a thousand rubleS
($500. and this was very nearly the
amount he owed Petroff. But. while
his theory was well enough. there was
little or nothing TO support ii. His
client was convicted. but since the evil
dence was circumstantial. no one hav-
ing seen the murder committed, in
stead of receiving the death penalty
IBERIA.
The day before the sentence was to
be carried out Demidorf was aston
shed by the appearance of his lawyer
at his prison with an order for his re-
lease.
1.-THE real culprit has confessed" ha
said. "but only after an arrangement
with the government prosecutor. A
woman killed Ivanovich. She had VOW
ed that The should not enter upon the
estate he had acquired, and, entering
by the rear as you went out at the
front, she found him in the library
with the money. She killed him and
took away the gold to make it appear
that he had been murdered by rob-
Der, her own reason being that he had
Tilted her"
"Who is the woman" asked Deml-
dorf as soon as he could recover suffi-
Gent control of himself to ask the
question.
THAT, by arrangement between her
and the prosecutor, is to be kept Sc
cret Besides. she is to suffer a very
short sentence in a Jail in Russia"
won his property in the courts was
dead without issue, returned to his
home He expected to be congratulate
ed by Olga and her parents, but moth
ing came to him from either. He went
| to their home, but was denied admit
| lance. The next day he received q
| message from them stating that the
| events through which their daughter
| had passed had broken down her
health and they had been obliged to
send her to a retreat. 1t would be
some years before her recovery, IL in.
deed she recovered Mt all.
Demidorf's happiness Mt the outcome
of his affairs was sadly broken in upon
by this misfortune of the girl he loved.
He shut himself up in his house. sci.
dom going out of it and never enter
tanning company there. He made re-
quests at different times to be allowed
| to visit Olga, but they were denied on
the ground that her mind was affected
and meeting between them would
doubtless have bad effect upon her
One morning Demidorf was sitting
in a room in his home into which he
had removed his books and papers, try
ing to divert his mind from his loss by
reading. when. glancing out through
window, he saw a carriage stop at his
gateway and girl spring out and run
up to the house.
Great heavens. She was Olga.
Demidorf ran to the door to meet her
and clasped her in his arms.
"Why, except for little paleness,"
he exclaimed. holding her off for bet
ter look, you appear to be perfectly
we'll You are restored TO health and
to me-" And he embraced her again.
When they were inside and the first
transports were over she said to him:
I'VE have all deceived you ever since
You were released. To save you from
going to Siberia |, through your coun-
sci, opened communication with the
prosecutor with a view to making a
confession of having committed muir
der of which both you and were in.
nocent. Vronsky succeeded in secur-
ing q sentence of ten years imprison-
ment for me on condition that would
confess. l did so, and you were re-
leased"
And you imprisoned?"
Yes, but not for long. Petroff was
the real murderer. after all. His con-
science smote him. and his burden was
too heavy for him to bear. Only yes
terday he gave himself up. telling the
story much as Vronsky bad told It
| alphabetically Ia court. / was releas-
ed early this morning and came at
once to you to give you the good news. y
1t was some time before DemidOrf
could find words TO express his rever-
ence and gratitude for the girl who had
sacrificed herself for him. In the mean.
time he held her in his arms. passed
his hand over her hair and with such
caresses expressed what he felt much
better than he afterward did in words
Then. saying that she must visit her
parents. she took him into the car
riage with her. and they were driven to
her home They were received by the
older persons with fervent expressions
Of thankfulness to heaven and with
JOY.