The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-07
An Episode
In Petrograd
By ELlNOR MARSH

BIN 0-ftAAbAlt u a. Az "a e------ -
Petro-rad where the high disA!tallei
of the capital were wont 10 "bU la-
tiger" and. since he had unlimitt z
meals. he Won ! .lc OF mc ncy Sit
tin. opposite him at the table was
very pretty WON %. who was ".se.N
ant of Billy's winnings. Prc .t.s sae
said something To man sit la lea
her lie arose ami went ol.t A-,es
aw e he returned ANA wills PC
something IN tie Ia ; ear "A. b al.-
peared to asitate Aer PROFOUNDLY. III u
came TWO men " .o tpu he the d. I.
Oh the shoulder. Wiih Il >.Eir N..t
ten on her countenauce she al, e ;.s.
was about to accompany the mtu II al
the casino when she turned AM Cas-,
an imploring glance at the Ameri Ii
Then she turned and went out witt
the men.
Billy hurriedly seooped together th
pile before him ami followed Aer. Al
the door the men put her into cf
riaee and before getting in thcms .Te,
slipped pair of handouts Oh her
She had just time to give Billy oue
appealing look when the carriage was
driven away. Billy callel ID 80. J.
slipping q handful of rub!cs info The
coachmans palm. told him 10 follow iAs
carriage and on no account let ii Get
out Of his sight. Then he got in the
cab.
The carriage drew up before "a h"ll~,'
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 revoiu-
tion was then on and many arrests
were being made. Quite likely the lady
was revolutionist. Billy accounted
for the circumstances attending her ar
rest as follows: While she was witch
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 il 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
came To a 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 be did SO, stopped and picked up the
paper, which Ne read.
lie 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
can save me-money. The police may
be bribcd. but, alas, it would require
an enormous sum to tempt them
IL money would save her she was as
good as saved. for money was nothing
! 10 Billy. lie had heard that graft per-
vaded all officials in Russia and was
not surprised at the lady's statement.
Taking his winnings Of the night be
fore. more than 10000 rubles CS25,Oo0l.
he marched boldly up to the house
where the captive was held and rang
the bell. The summons was answered
by one of the men who had arrested
the lady Billy tipped him the wink
and was admitted Then he said that
he would pay large price for the
! freedom OF the prisoner. The man
listened without reply till Billy offered
$1,000 ruhles The man said that he
must divide with many others and the
sum would not go around. Billy final
/ ly closed with him for $1,000 rubles
1t was arranged that Billy was to
call for the prisoner that evening In a
closed carriage She would be releas.
ed. and he would pay the money Al
the hour appointed Billy called. The
lady. yelled. appeared at the door and
accompanied by one of her captors
went to the carriage She raised her
veil so that Billy could see her face,
and Billy handed the man a roll of
bills. Then the pair were driven
away
The ladys gratitude was Billy's re
ward. She asked TO be taken to a
house. where she would remain con
cealed till she could escape from Rus
STA Billy was granted permission I,