The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-15
An Episode
In Petrograd
BY ELINOR MARSH

AhthhSs Az hNh HAt Va AAi'A0gs Dli
ting opposite him at the table was
very pretty woman, who was observ
ant of Billy's winnings. Presently sh
said something to man sitting nea
her. He arose and went out. Afte
awhile he returned and whispered
something in the lady's ear which up
peared to agitate her profoundly. Ther
came two men who touched the lady
on the shoulder. With despair writ
ten on her countenance she arose and
was about to accompany the men from
the casino when she turned and cast
an imploring glance at the American
Then she turned and went out will
the men.
Billy hurriedly scooped together the
pile before him and followed her AT
the door the men put her into a car
riage and before getting In themselves
slipped pair Of handouts on her.
She had just time to give Billy one
appealing look when the carriage was
driven away. Billy called a cab and.
slipping handful Of rubles into the
coachmans palm, told him to follow the
carriage and on no account let it get
out Of his sight. Then he got in the
cab.
The carriage drew up before house
that might have been a dwelling or
might have contained offices. The lady
was taken from the carriage and es-
corted between the two men into the
building and the door was shut behind
them.
The young American was uncertain
what next to do The Russian revolu-
ton was then on and many arrests
were being made. Quite likely the lady
was a revolutionist. Billy accounted
for the circumstances attending her ar
rest as follows While she was watch
ing Billy win money she had been cast
ing furtive glances at the entrance of
the casino Doubtless she was fearing
arrest. She had sent the person with
her out to see If there was danger. He
had returned and informed her that
government officials were without. This
accounted for her agitation. Such was
this very natural explanation Of what
had occurred, and Billy was satisfied
with it.
He did not see that he could do any
thing in the matter until the next day.
So he went to his hotel and to bed.
But slumber did not come. He was
haunted by that appealing look.
The next morning he went to the |
house where the woman had been taken /
and stood looking at it for some time. /
Presently the object of his interest I
came to window. Billy was standing
where she could not very well help no.
ticing him. When their gaze met she
gave him that same imploring look
Billy pointed to the door, meaning
"Shall / enter the house?" The woman
shook her head, meaning NO" Then
she went away from the window, but
soon returned and, folding bit of pa
per, she raised the sash and dropped 1t
on the sidewalk below. Billy crossed
the street, strolled past the house and.
as he did so, stopped and picked up the
paper, which he read.
He was informed that the writer
was implicated in the revolution and
would be sent to Siberia. She would
much rather be executed, she said, for
not even death could be as horrible as
Siberian exile. The missive closed
With this statement "Only one thing
an save me-money. The police may |
,e bribed, but, alas, 1t would require :
In enormous sum to tempt them!'
IL money would save her she was as
rood as saved, for money was nothing
O Billy. He had heard that graft per- 4
AIDED all officials In Russia and was
lot surprised a. the ladys statement.
Taking bis winnings OF the night be- [
ore. more than $4,000 rubles (s25,O00), /,
lie marched boldly up to the house !.
where the captive was held and rang
he bell. The summons was answered .
" one of the men who had arrested
be lady. Billy tipped him the wink
nd was admitted Then he said that
q would pay a large price for the
reedom of the prisoner. The man
stened without reply till Billy offered
1000 rubles. The man said that he
lust divide with many others and the
uul WOuiu UOL go hTouuu piily hHdi-
closed with him for 10000 rubles.
II was arranged that Billy was to
all for the prisoner that evening in a
osed carriage She would be releas
]. and he would pay the money. At
he hour appointed Billy called. The
dy. yelled, appeared at the door and, 4
by one of her captors.
ent to the carriage She raised her
FL 20 that Billy could see her face, G
nd Billy handed the man a roll of -
lis. Then the pair were driven
way.
The lady's gratitude was Billy's re
ard She asked to be taken TO a
,use. where she would remain con-
aled till she could escape from Rus
a. Billy was granted permission to IN
} there to see her the next day. III
Billy made the call. but did not gain
mittance. He surmised that the -
1y had found IL expedient TO change
r quarters. "a
He did not see her again for several
ars. Meanwhile he had been to b
nerica and various other countries.
IS second meeting with her was in
= Casino at Petrograd. She was bet
e high. Billy asked who she was n
n r,arca-, he asked raplfcd NTH a u