Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

iCp'ieu tue commander. ave.
will have to find some one else ~ ~
man is needed here" A1s
SO Alexis remained with ri.
companions, Old Nicholas and NJ, nv
and after several other attemns. ~.
been made by other officers at go
times to detach him had failed -
who made them began to wonds, ~
1t was that the general wouId M,
NIT Alexis to be taken for anv ~
duty. One whose attempt had besn 80
interfered with asserted that (,
because Old Nicholas was doino -. -s
damage than any gun in the for,r.s'
Old Nicholas would be useless wi,h...
Ivan. and Ivan would not live : A.
unprotected by Alexis. But. sincn,.,,.
enough, this was considered not to +.
the only reason why Alexis could ~,
be taken away from his post
One day when the general va =.
near an officer carried Alexis avav 4
another part OF the MaIakoff and for.
ed him to pick of some Turks wbo
had silenced a gun by killing ever
gunner who attempted to serve /,
Alexis rid the Russians OF this pess
lential nest and was permitted to "a
turn to the big gun. He found II.
gun cold and the gunner lying dead
under it
Alexis at the sight gasped. dropued
his rife and caught at the supports o,
the gun. Then he bent down and. ont.
ting mis- arms about his friend, moanea
in agony.
There was no trouble after that n
getting Alexis to go to any point wber,
his services were required He bad
but one object-to kill as many as pos.
sible of those who had killed Ivan
Whatever they were. English, Frenck
or Turks, made no difference to hin
He slew them wherever he could catch
sight of them. And after VANS dealt
he began to keep count of the numbe,
he killed Every time he sent bulIg
into a vital part of an enemy be would
put his hat on the end of his rife. hoM
it up above the works and get a hole
in it
The siege went on, the allies COZ.
stantly working nearer. The nearef(
they came the more of them fell underI
Alexis bullets, for, being nearer, they
were more easily distinguished. They
were preparing for the final scene in
the struggle, the storming of the Mala-
koff, and were too intent upon their
work to take much care of their per.
sons.
When a number of the allies had
been killed at single point shgp
shooters would be ordered to observe
whence the fire came and stop it
But Alexis was quick to see that bis
work had been noticed, for he was ac-
customed to keep continually feeling
Of his enemies by exposing some art
Gle to draw their fire. AS soon as be
held an article up on the muzzle Of
his rife and a hole was made in il be
knew it was time to go elsewhere.
AS the siege proceeded the holes In
Alexis hat became very thick. When
be went from one point 10 another
those whom he Joined began TO maze
comments upon his headgear.
1T would make a good lantern
said one. why don't you put can
die in it?'
what will you do when it is all sh0'
lway?" cried another.
mo danger of your head getting too
hot" said a third.
Alexis never noticed these remarkS
Indeed, there was a seriousness, SAD
ness about him that, so soon as Tue
others noticed it. caused them 10 "
frain from any further comment
At last when the allies had approach.
I'd near enough for their purpose ana
had finished their mining operations
hey blew up the walls and storinea
he Malakoff The garrison surrenae'
I'd and the men marched out as prS
,ners of war. Among those who wefe
n line was a woman in the dreSs
Russian peasant. Perhaps ID XXI
hanged dress she might not have osta
had it not been for her sal
face and hat full of bullet holes su'
carried in her hand. A crowd OF ur.
former companions gathered ABOUT y"
WHO was the big gunner! was Tvs
irst question.
my husband"
How many holes are there ~ !O'
iat:' Il
"a hundred and twenty-six.
Each one a Frenchman: A
..Either a Frenchman, an Ens'R
nan or a Turk" -.
Alexis Galieff. or Vasilia 1asno
which was her real name. retnrnsu
It. Petersburg. There the generS. -
lad commanded the Malakou 'oO
With him to the palace. wne'e
vas received and decorated ps
gar. The general had been y
secret of her sex and knew lns
runner was her husband ine
lot only decorated her. but gave
pension that enabled her y No =
for the rest OF per
nd when her children grew
nen and women they were d"
government positions.