Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-07-21
I h g u a ilv
Short Story
HOW PETER ALEXIEF WAS sAyFn
FROM SIBERIA.

Az q A+tt# AAAA ~ ~ - y INV CA &ANN@l&
there lived a peasant whose daughter.
Anna, was a very pretty girl. Peter
AIexief. q Young farmer. wooed and
won her. and it seemed that a happy
future was before the young couple.
That was before the revolution which
deposed the Gar Nicholas. and the
government was keeping 8 sharp eve
on all persons who were suspected of
plotting against it. A large force Of
secret police better named spies-vvas
scattered all over Russia.
Not only those who were really 80
minded reported 10 the minister of the
interior at the capital, but II one per
son had q private grudge against an
other there was liability that he would
take revenge by reporting him to the
police as 2 reVOlutionist. or what was
then called a nthilisf. This was also
true Of the spies themselves. II a snv
chose TO condemn a person he wished
to get rid of, that person was taken
away and nothing was heard of him
afterWard He was buried in the con
Wet mines Of Kara
While Peter and Anna we're mHEfng
their preparations to be married there
came to the province where they lived
q man whose name was Ivan Iyano-
witch. He did not look like Russian,
fer he was dark compiexi0ned. while
the people among whom he had come
had light skins and hair. ivan had
come from the Crimea. which is
southern province, where what is call
ed the Mediterranean race is preya-
lent This race is Of southern blood
and used to q hot climate.
was known TO be a government spy.
He met Anna at a dance In a barn and
conceived a passion for her Anna,
knowing him TO be spy, dreaded him
but dared not refuse TO dance with
him, fearing that he would take re-
venge upon her.
Ivan. becoming more and more enam-
ored Of Anna, began to look about for
some act Of Peters which could be
used as evidence against him This
was shortly before the revolution
whereby the people of Russia wTested
q constitution from the czar. and Pc
ter's neighbors we're beginning to plan
for resistance against the govern
ment's despotism Peter got wind of
the inquiries of Ivan and told his
friends that he feared the spy was
planning To get him out of the way
that he might possess himself Of Anna
Meanwhile Anna. not daring 70 de
cline the attentions Of Ivan, accepted
invitations from him. One evening
the two were walking together toward
Annals house when Ivan left her AS
he turned away a citizen tapped him
on the shoulder and asked him to come
with him. The citizen took him To
house where dozen men were waiting
for them One Of the men said To-
Ivan:
You are suspected Of trying to make
a case against Peter Alexief to send
him to Siberia that you may marry
his betroJhed. You are hereby notified
that if anything happens 10 Peter your
life VIII be forfeited"
II deny the charge" replied Ivan "J
have no need to get rid Of Peter The
girl prefers me to him"
1T was plain 70 all that quite likely
II Anna were called upon to choose
between the two she would not dare
10 choose Peter for fear Of Ivan
4 am ready to fight with my rival
for tine girl I love and who. I believe.
loves me. This proves that I am NOT
planning ne take any undetermined ads
vantage of him"
Now. it was suspected that Ivan.
who had come from a country where
weapons are ia common use would
make short work Of Peter. vino had
been born and grown MP simple
farmer. The spokesman Of the trfhG-
nal before whom ivan was arralg uef
consulted with the others and then
turned to the prisoner.
''f our proposition TO fight YOUR rival
for the possession Of the girl is accept
ed Since you are the challenger ha
viii have the choice Of weapons"
Peter was sent for and c1osefed with
the leader of the citizens who were
endeaVoriDg 10 save him from bis
rival They proposed TO Peter that be
should fight Ivan. choosing weapons
which would give him an advantage
over his enemy Peter could think of
no weapon that he could WELD even
indiHerently, whereupou one was sug-
gested to him. He gave his consent an
once, and it was arranged that the
duel should come of at dawn
The thermometer at sunrise stood az
80 degrees below zero Peter who
was used 10 cold weather. walked ont
TO the yard fin the rear OF the house
where the fray was to take place lr
shirt and trousers Ivan. who had haeu
used TO q hot climate. had on his warm
est clothing. One of those present
banded each Of the dtsputants the
nozzle Of 3 hose Ivan stood aghast.
ae saw at once that he must fight
with cold water.
But Il was too late to recede. A faint
hope came TO him that his warm cloth
ing would protect him He took the
nozzle offered him. the signal was
given, and the two men poured
stream at each other which was as
cold as ii could be without freezing.
Peter did not seem in the least trou-
bled by his cold bath, but his enemy
collapsed in five minutes He dropped
his weapon and ran for thu rouse
As soon as he had put on dry cloth
ing and poured hot drink into his
stomach he was told TO leave the place
at once If he wished to save himself
from the dJspieasure Of rbe citizens
month later the revolution broke
forth