Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-06-01

RANDALL PARRISH
hide arms for shipment. Whatever
doubt l may have felt regarding my
venture vanished in the presence of
that unusual name. This was unques-
tionably the place named in the letter
as Il rendezvous; here was where the
recipient Of that letter was to go and
receive Instructions; where he was to
use the mysterious raps. and the cOun-
tersign "Cervantes," in order to gain
admittance. The knowledge that |
was actually upon the threshold Of
such a discovery brought with it a de-
termination not to lose the advantage.
But what could do? What further
steps might be safely taken alone?
The night was dark, a slight drizzIe
In the air. no one abroad except from
necessity. No sign of life was visible
for the full extent of the block. until
the saloon on the further corner came
into view. Its cleaning hospitality in
vited me. and / strolled along the OPP
posite walk, my coat collar turned up
to shut out the drizzle, and finally
crossed over to where could peer in
through the dingy windows. The man
behind the bar was Enthusiastically Pol
ish, and of nc high type, and at first
| saw no other occupants of the place
except two roughly dressed men at
table just inside, who were playing
cards silently. The room was clean
annarrrh raf I tn
nation to enter. Those were not fell
lows II would be safe to question, and
! would have turned away, but at that
instant | perceived the indistinct fig
ure of young wOman in the further
corner, sitting beside table alone.
Her presence stimulated my curios-
ity. She appeared 20 be young, not
badly dressed, and her being in such
o place unattended rendered her of
some interest. 1t surely could do no
harm If ! dropped In for a sandwich
and a glass of beer. | crossed to the
bar. furtlveIy watchfuI, but no one
except the proprietor apparently paid
the slightest attention to my entrance.
The two men never glanced M from
their cards, and the girl-for she was
scarcely more-merely turned her head
and stared at me without interest. /
spoke to the bofman in English. We ex-
changed a few wOrds-his own speech
very broken--while he prepared the
sandwich, and the only thing unusual
! noticed was the passage of slight
signal between him and the woman
across the room. | could not be sure
even as TO that, but gained the impress
sion that he shook his head negatively,
as though to some mute question.
Unless It might be the intense bru.
nette blackness of hair and an ex-
tremely clear complexion, there was
nothing typically Spanish In her APP
pearance. indeed she impressed me
as thoroughly American In features,
dress and manner, somewhere in the
twenties | should judge. with brown
eyes, and face decidedly pleasant to
look upon, although with firmness
TO 1t, expressed by mouth and chin. not
TO be mistaken. | noted these things
hurriedly, never venturing to stare mt
her, though she apparently gave me
no attention whatever. Somehow the
girl seemed strangely out of place in
that dingy saloon--she did not in any
sense belong. She was evidently not
there seeking company, nor was she
drinking; and yet there must surely
be some meaning to her presence,
The proprietor approached me. lean
ing one hand on the table.
There is nothing more?" he asked.
mo. this will answer very we'll"
He fingered, tempted to question me.
"You have not been in before? Per-
haps you do not live near?"
y do not" l replied frankly. 81
travel ont of Boston, aud sell lumber.
l have been doing some business with
the yard down below"
Il see. You are not from New York.
l make III"
NO; Boston has always beca my
home"
"once | live there. too; when l first
come north from Rio. What you think
about this war? We lick Germany
hey?"
"Oh, don't know; she seems 70 be
more than holding her own"
Zach, yes. But now this country go
in; what then?"
l looked up quickly into his face,
with a swift desire to test his real
sentiment
"rhis country! Why should 1t go
in? There are Germans enough over
here 10 stop that"
Not Germans-no. But interna-
tionals, reyolutionaries. They are
more than you think. It's time FOR
them to strike great blow"
You are Polish. are you not?"
Yah, from Warsaw. l come over
six years"
"NaturalizedT'
Il have first papers-why you ask?'
SuSpiciously.
Il merely questioned from curlos-
ity." My eyes wandered once more to
the girl across the room, aud he no.
ticed the glance.
You wonder what she DO In hereT"
he asked. Il tell you. She was my