The Owosso times., 1915-08-13


his countrT's foes.
But Captain Ivanovich thereafter
kept his eyes and ears open. He walk
ed around the house, looking up at the
windows. The blinds We're all closed,
and there was not a sign of life to be
seen. after ALL" he said to himself,
II wonder If could have dreaIned it."
However, Ivanovich repudiated this
idea. He had seen a figure robed in
white descend the staircase, return
and disappear through the door lead
ing to the floor above. OF this he
was certain, and the absence of any
appearance of life there did not con-
vince him that he was In error.
Soon after the appearance of the
mysterious figure the captains atten-
ton was diverted from its considera-
ton by the appearance Of large force
of the enemy to the southeast. He
dispatched courier to find the gen.
eral, If possible, and later, hearing
heavy firing and seeing columns Of
smoke In the same direction, he dis
patched another courier with another
message.
These matters having been attended
to, the young captains mind again re-
verted to the mystery of the upper
story. He said nothing to his men
about the matter, fearing that II he
did he would excite a desire on their
part to investigate, whereas If there
were any Investigating to be done he
preferred to do 1t himself. One day
one of the troopers came to him and
told him that he had better leave his
quarters, for the man was sure the
house was haunted. He had seen In
the middle Of the night figure clad
In white standing at an upper window.
The superstitiOus Russian, having con-
sidered the third story vacant, natural
ly regarded the figure at the window as
a wrath. Ivanovich told him that the
figure he had seen must have been an
illusion, but failed to convince him.
There was a hillside back of the
house, covered by trees. Ivanovich
went out there with his binoculars and
remained long while, watching what
was going on. The distance was too
great for him to gain much knOwl-
edge of any value, but he kept his
then turned and was emerging from
the wood, when, casting an eye at a
window on the third story Of the
house, he saw standing there a young
girl looking at what he had been OBJ
serving
This time the sun was shining full In
her face, and the captain saw not only
that she was comely, but there was on
her features that anxiety which Is so
touching In the young. Realizing that
If she saw she was discovered it would
add to her distress, he remained in con-
cealment till she withdrew. closing the
window.
That face, once seen by moonlight
and again by sunlight, produced vivid
impression on Ivan IvanOvich. 1t float
ed before him during the day, and at
night he saw the wrathlike figure de-
scending the staircase. 1t was evident
that girl was hiding, and 1t was pos
for suffering than fear of an enemy.
The location was German Poland, and
Peter had told him that the residents
Of the house were Poles. But in war
time one is as likely to be plundered by
friends as enemies.
One night Ivanovich heard quick
footsteps overhead. Getting out Of bed
and putting on some of his clothing, he
went out and listened at the door lead
ing to the third story. He heard signs
Of something happening above. Then
the door was unlocked and woman
this time dressed in ordinary apparel
came out and met him face to face.
She turned to go back, but Ivanovich
said:
You have nothing to fear from me-
Tell me If there is anything / can do
for you"
Having been thus given confidence
the girl revealed the mystery. When
the Russians appeared in the region
! her mother, herself and her brother,
aged seventeen, a wounded conscript
in the German army, expecting to be
murdered. retreated to the third story,
| leaving Peter to deceive, If possible,
whoever might come. They had taken
| provisions with them and would have
got OH had it not been for the wounded
| boy, who was deprived of medical care.
The night she had appeared on the
staircase she was going below for a
| bottle Of medicine which a surgeon
had left for the use Of the invalid. On
this her second appearance her brother
was much worse, and she was trying
| to steal out with view to getting
medical advice as to what to do for
him. She closed her explanation with
pleading that Ivanovich should not
make her brother a prisoner, for II de-
prived of her and her mothers tender
care he would surely die.
The captain, having assured her that,
though an enemy, he had heart, went
below and ordered one Of his men to
find a surgeon and bring him there at
once. Then he went upstairs and found
the mother and the wounded boy.
whose fears he allayed. They were
comfortable so far as their quarters
were concerned, and he ordered Peter
to bring them properly prepared food.
A surgeon arrived in due time and
treated the wounded boy, who began
| af opca fa tpnprova