The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-18
A BOMB
1t Was an Elephant Its
Owner Wanted to
Get Rid Of
By JEROME B. TORRENT

Lockwood, q graduate OF teCnnOlOS-
ical institution, accepted a position in
the works of the Plowman's Harvester
company and in time was sent to Rus
sia to establish a plant for the manu-
facture of its machines.
Lockwood occupied a suit of rooms in
a bachelor apartment house in st. Pc
tersburg. One morning as he was GO
ing out young girl who was passing
suddenly turned and, running up the
steps, brushed past him and entered
the house. She appeared to be very
much agitated. There was something
SO incongruous in her action in enter
ing the abode of men that Lockwood
turned and went after her to learn
something more about her. She began
to speak to him rapidly and earnestly
in the Russian language, of which he
had made a study before leaving Amer
lea and in which he had considerable
practice since.
"Oh, mercy" she said. "The mines,
the mines! l wouldn't mind to die.
But Kara! can't endure the thought"
"What is it?' asked Lockwood, as
tonished.
81 have bomb concealed on my per-
son. Help me to get rid Of 1t. Oh do
help me! If it is found on me 1 shall
be sent to those terrible mines."
The girl kept looking at the door
which Lockwood had closed as though
dreading that some one would open it
and come in. So pitiful was she that
ha ta do iCh
thing-that is, relieve her of the bomb
she carried. But he had no mind to go
to Siberia in her stead, and he resisted
the impulse, asking for more informa-
ton. She told her story briefly and
hurriedly:
81 am a member of a revolutionary
circle. Yesterday received an order to
go to a certain place where 1 would
find woman who would give me
bomb that l was to carry to another
place. l went there, received the bomb
and was taking it away when, looking
back, l saw a man whose eyes were
fixed upon me, and l was sure he fol
lowed me. l made a tortuous course,
taking the most crowded streets and
But whenever l looked back the man
was sure to be near, though either
looking in a shop window or reading a
sign or q billboard. He was following
me to see where l would go. Desper-
ate, seeing you coming out of this
house, l resolved to come in. l do not
know who lives here; l simply entered
at a, venture. believe the man who is
following me will be here directly. l
hoped l might get rid of the bomb be-
fore he came"
Lockwood listened to this intensely
spoken statement, his sympathy going
out to the speaker. At any moment a
government official might enter and
find the girl talking to him, bomb on
her person, doubtless intended to kill
some official or possibly a member of
the imperial family. Lockwood was not
a fool; he was man. And here was a
girl whom by taking a risk he might
save from that which would be worse
than death, lifelong Imprisonment in
the mines of Kara. A great struggle
was going ON within him between his
the fate for himself of which the girl
stood in danger
There was a ring at the front door
bell. All color left his companions
face. This and the look of despair and
appeal she gave him turned the scale.
"Give me the bomb" he said.
Thrusting her hand into an inside
Of bn fI1p hn sbo
took out glass globe the size of a
small orange and gave it to him. He
put it in a pocket of his overcoat, say
ing to her hurriedly, "This is a mans
apartment house; you are my sister,"
and, going to the door, opened it.
A man stood outside, and Lockwood
without flinching waited for him to
speak. The girl stood in the hall; but.
having been relieved of the bomb. she
was able to gather her faculties and
appeared perfectly cool, looking at the
man who had been following her with
meaningless stare. He seemed some
what taken aback at this reception.
"Whom do you wish to see?" asked
Lockwood.
"Who lives in this house?" was the
reply.
ut is bachelor apartment house"
"a bachelor apartment house! In
that case what is the young lady doing
here?"
"Are you government officialT
The man hesitated, but finally admit
ted that he was.
"Very well. If you are government
official and have come here for a pur-
pose you are welcome to go about that
purpose. 1 am needed at my place Of
business, being an American resident
of St. Petersburg. If you want any
thing of me beg you to make haste;
otherwise ! will go at once"
II want nothing of you" said the
man.