The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-08-22
A Rescue
Story of an Ameri-
cans Adventure
In Russia.
BY ALAN HINSDALE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Of $5O,OO0fa year and was a globe trot4
ter. He was also an amateur sports.
man-yachtsman and everything else
I that affords amusement out of doors.
One winter Champlin was in St. Pc
tersburg (now Petrograd). Russia was
/ then at peace with all of the world
except herself. Revolution was brew
ing. The government knew it was
brewing, and the Russian secret police
was keeping an eye on all suspected
citizens. Revolutions are generally up
heavals Of the lowest classes. The
late Russian movement was participant
ed in BY persons of first grade, includ-
ing the mobiles, or at least members Of
noble families. Champlin was not
aware OF what was going on-for
everything was done secretly-till one
night when he attended ball given at
i the Winter palace.
The American minister had secured
him his Invitation and had warned him
to exercise the utmost care In avoiding
4 being drawn into dangerous position
Y toward the government.
Tho advice was lost on Champlin,
4 who proposed to associate with whom
he pleased. Being free American
citizen he demurred at being told by
any government who should not be his
friend. However, he went to the ball,
not dreaming that he would fall into
the trap such as he had been warned
against.
He was dancing with a girl, the
daughter of general in the Russian
army. Her right hand was in his left
and held high. He felt something drop
into his coat sleeve The girl brought
the dance to a close, at the same time
looking meaningly at the sleeve. Low
ering his arm, Champlin caught some
thing in his hand. He put it in his
Z coat pocket without looking at it, but
as soon as he could do SO unobserved
he examined it, finding powder wrap
ped in a bit Of paper, as medicines are
put up by druggists.
As Champlin was leaving for his no.
tel he saw the girl he had danced with
passing out. Two men, one on each
side, escorted her. They were evil
IDENTIFY not guests. The girl gave
Champlin a look which he could not
understand, but he inferred that it
was an appeal for something. He pass
ed out of the palace behind the two
men and the girl and saw them enter
q ga rriage. Jumping into his own con
veyance:, he directed, his ,ceachmaa to
follow the one just driving away.
Champlin saw the two men and the
girl alight in front Of a police station |
and go inside. There he lost her. He |
thought Of following her in, but feared
to compromise her by doing so. 1t
was well he did not, for the powder
remained in his coat pocket, and If he
had been searched deadly poison
would have been found on him. This
he discovered later on.
It was evident to him that this young |
lady had been suspected. Doubtless !
spies were watching her when she slip.
ped the powder into his sleeve. His
theory was that she had prepared to
poison some one during the ball.
Whether she had succeeded or failed,
she had taken advantage Of dancing |
with Champlin to get rid Of the Grim
mating substance.
Champlin had an overpowering de. |
sire to learn what had become Of the |
girl. He made inquiries, but learned |
nothing. Persons may disappear in |
Russia and never again be heard of.
Perhaps their immediate friends or |
families know where they are, but few
inquiries are made, and the responses |
are not apt to be definite. At the |
same time, there are breaking hearts.
Champlin believed, Notwithstanding |
the girl had got rid Of the EVIDENCE
against her, that she was doomed. To1
be suspected in Russia is to be pro-
lnounced guilty, especially at time
when the government is in danger.
One morning when Champlin was
about to open his bedroom door to go
down to breakfast he found a note on
the floor which had been slipped be-
tween the door and the sill. Opening
It, he read:
Pardon my daughter for having used
you to save herself She failed. She was
seen to drop the package in your sleeve
You are being watched. Leave Russia,
secretly II you can.
There was no address. no signature.
Champlin knew the name Of the girl
he had danced with, and instead Of at
once leaving Russia he waited until
IN inquiry had apprised him that she
had been sent to Siberia. Then, in
stead Of leaving secretly, he departed
openly, arguing that he was doubtless /
known to the police as an American
who had no interest In the revolution
md IL he tried to get away secretly
Ie would render himself liable to sus-
,icion. Il
There twas something in this trahst /,
Ion from the festivities of the Winter I .,
alace TO the dreadful Kara prison, ,
nth its desperate hunger strikes, that ;
ffected Champlin deeply. What NOV
i him most was that appealing look
isa Dmitrievna gave him when being
larched away from the hall between
10 officials. He had supposed it to !. .
,ean, .If you are questioned do not
I've me away" but as the episode L