South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-15

Unwilling 10 offend her hostess IN
her own home. she followed. Then
there eEsued a struggle between hyp-
notism and the wits Of a strong
woman. All seemed TO go in favor
Of the Holy One and ne was already
gloating over another victim 20 bs
added 20 his scores when Nile. Smir-
nova broke the hypnotic spell. An
gered beyond control by her mar
row escape, forgetting her sur
roundings and the powerful person
age she was facing she grasped
Rasputin by his flowing beard and
rained blows upon blows on him uu-
I'll he pleaded with her 10 cease II
was only when she was utterly ex-
hausted, however. that she did so.
Rasputin's face was marked almost
beyond recognition when he finally
stumbled out Of the conservatory.
When asked now he came 20 be
marked as he was, he explained thlr
he had just been wrestling with
some evil spirits who were cH.-
trolling a poor girl.
Prince Gousoupov. the daring
youns man whose name viii 800
down i'm history as the one man who
freed Russia from the rule of Ras-
putianism was one Of the intimate
friends OF Mile. Smirnova. His wife.
the Princess Irene, who had eXper-
fenced a similar affair with the
Holy one, was her closest woman
/ friend. The morning following
Nera's experience with Rasputin.
Vera phoned 10 the prince and told
him in detail her narrowing exper-
fence Of the night before.
The prince was enraged beyond
words at this latest outrage The
] limit has been reached said he.
Wait IS hours and your revenge
will be complete. for within that
time the Holy one viii have be-
come the Dead one"
The true significance Of the mes
sage did not dawn on Vera until the
historic day when the shot that
startled all Russia was fred. some
say by Yousoupov himself. some say
by group of daring men OF which
the prince was a member. and the
life Of Rasputin was snuffed out az
is the life Of mad dog when II is
killed by a well-directed shot
In a small circle Of selected ones
il was known that two shots were
fired at the end Of a festival whe.s
Prince Yousoupov and Rasputia
were the honored guests. When the
soldiers entered the salon OF the
beautiful home where the murder
was committed they found the dead
body Of Prince YousoupOv's favor
Pinned 10 the body OF Rasputiu was
a note in Russian. so die AN mad
dogs" Whether or not Prince
YousOupOv's dog had suddenly be-
come mad no one VIII ever know
until the prince himself throws light
on the subject
Within two hours OF the death ~
Rasputin the prince had teIephoned
10 Mile. Smirnova and informed her
OF the death Of the Holy one. This
was exactly IS hours after he had
told her that her revenge would -
complete within that time
With the death OF Rasputin came.
just as he had f0retold the over
throw OF the old Russian govern
ment There were MANY in Russia
who had heard % Mile. Smirnova's
encounter with Rasputin. Life soon
became almost unbearabie for her
N Petrograd. 30 she gathered I'd
her chatteis and made her way. bv
way OF Siberia 20 the Land of the
Free and the Home OF the Brave.
Here. with her guitar she has ap-
peared at a number OF Red Cross
benefits where her remarkable voice
brought many dollars 10 the Golfers
OF the Russian Red Cross. She Is
dev0ung herself 90 war work ex-
clusvelv now. and hopes soon 20 ia
able 60 gave "a number OF ~oireev az
which she viii sing her loved rvrsv
songs IN her massive tongue.