Evening star., 1924-10-22
BY JACOB SPOLANSKY.
CHAPTER VI.

Tho woods were still shadowed
with the gray Of dawn when 1 and
another agent turned of chicago
avenue IN River Forest and made for
the circling drive through the roresl
preserve leading to the open meauo"
beyond which, near the river, the
reds" had scheduled their nrst
underground" convention.
We had arrived early in order TO
escape possible questioning by guards
who were sure to be posted about the
spot selected for the meeting, also IN
order that we might hide ourselves
safely away among the bushes at the
edge OF the convention grounds. But
early as we were, the red guards
were earlier AS we were starting
across the open fields toward the
woods near the river man stepped
out from the shadows ana approached
us. He wore white carnation with
a splash of red in the center. His
ancestry clearly was Russian. When
within about yards of us he bowed
tow, one hand to his breast.
Passing the Test.
"wbere did you come from, COM
rades ?'' he asked in Russian. 1t was
the question agreed upon to test arr
walls If they did not understand.
then they were sure TO be transienf
picnickers who would simnly consider
The ouestfoner some eccentric tramp
laugh at him and pass on. II, now
ever, the correct answer was given
instructions would be forthcoming
AS it happened. ! knew the answer.
I bowed low In return.
moscow" I answered whereupon
. the guard greeted us effusively and
the conversation was continued in
English. ] told him We had arrived
. on an early train: that we merely
wished to make sure Of the location
before starting our search for break
fast This seemed to him re"son-
able explanation. He pointed out the
exact spot set for the meeting and
said the time agreed on was 10:30.
Thanking him and making break
fast our excuse, we turned and MADE
our way by another route to the
place pointed out by the guard. 1t
was not difficult to find. The ground
was covered with leaves and the
bushes were thick, so all that was
necessary for us to do was lie down,
cover ourselves with leaves and re-
main quiet.
Fist Fights EnIiven Meeting.
At about O'Clock they began to
arrive. Through a crack in the
foliage we could see them as they
drove into the open area, some in
cabs, some in private automobiles.
The orders had decreed this so that.
in case attention was called to such
large gathering, II would have the
appearance of an organization picnic
of some sort. However. there was
no hitch in the program at any point.
There were other groups of picnick-
ers who had arrived early to establish
themselves in choice locations for the
day, and no one paid the slightest
attention to the crowd Of foreign
looking persons who seemed to greet
each other with such courtesy. Nor,
later in the day, did any one pay
attention to the angry tone In which
the meeting was carried on, nor to
the arguments which at times led to
fist fights. Such distur Dances are
common enough at foreign gather
ingS in the forest preserve.
Once assembled, the convention"
progressed much as any other meet
ing, with the only difference that
this one was In the open instead of
within walls. Several times speeches
were delayed and interrupted when
one of the guards reported a stranger
approaching. At such times the large