Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-02-28

which several solled coverings Of iuai-
tatiOn lace had been thrown. The
room itself was large and lofty. but
scantily furnished There was huge
undeeorated stove in one corner,
which, Notwithstanding the heat Of the
day, already exuded fumes Of burning
coke. The polished floor was innocent
Of any rig or carpet. and covered with
stains and fragments Of cigarettes and
| Ggars. There was plano, Uttered
/ with soiled and torn copies Of music,
/ In a distant corner, q small gramO-
phone with black enamel mouthpiece,
blistered by the continual heat OF the
room. The walls were hung with the
/ faded remains Of some former attempt
at decoration. The windows were Gov
! cred with sort Of wire netting, which
/ kept out alike light and air. There
was everywhere an odor OF stale to-
bacco smoke, mingled with a strange
smell Of cheap incense or crude per
fuIne Of some sort. Gerald, exceedingly
/ sensitive 10 surroundings, felt a mo
lmentary famtness as he sat and
waited for the woman whom he had
come to visit He began TO idget In
| his place lie walked up and down
/ He was even meditating an attack
upon one Of the window fastenings.
| when he was aware of the sound of
heavy footsteps outside. The door was
/ opened A woman entered and came
toward him with an inquirlng ex-
I preston upon her face.
1t seemed to Gerald that the new
conner alone was needed to complete
the squalor Of his surroundings. She
was a big woman, coarsely built. and
with indications Of obesity She wore
dressing gown of some red material
trimmed with soiled white fur and
fastened round her waist with a girdle
Her hair was bright yellow. album
| dant but badly arranged 1t lay In
loose coils upon the top of her head.
fastened with some famboyant orna-
ment. Her features were not NJ
shaped but were partly concealed
under thick coating Of powder. She
had eyes Of peculiarly light blue
shade, large and saucer-uke when she
first entered the room. but with
| habit Of narrowing at intervals. She
spoke In English with a strong Ger
man accent.
you wish 20 see me, sir? l am Elsa
Francis
Gerald rose 10 his feet and bowed.
Madame" he said, Il have found
| my way nere under the name OF Har-
mon r. Cross / have told every one
that am an American, looking for an
opportunity to invest money. That
story is not true. 1t is my wish, II
| you vii allow me, to be perfectly can
did with you
lou Gao sit down." she invited, re-
garding Gerald with suspicion not un-
mixed with favor 81 will hear what
I you have to say"
She threw herself in {. lump at the
| far end OF the sofa, and pointed TO a
| battered horsehair easy-chalr.
'Brlng that to the side of me-" she
! continued Il do not hear very well
and II is some time since / listened to
English. Tell me what you wantTo
Il have further confession to
make" Gerald began. 81 am an Eng.
| lishman."
There are Englishmen and English
men," she said indulgently. Some are
different from others. You are not
| like those whom our officers have had
to correct in the streets and cafes Of
Berlin. Now what is your business, !
please2"
1T is very difficult TO state" Ger
aid admitted frankly. "and / am only
emboldened to approach you because In !
these difficult times. and in Russia es-
pecIally. one needs money II you win |
do me a service, can find you great
deal Of money.
Gerald's methods had AT any rate
succeeded IN exciting the interest Of
the woman he had come to visit. Her
! becarmined lips were parted: her pale 4
eyes were filled with the light of Gu
pidty
There IS not much we would not
Hu iVE HlphtNt HpWauANS, over mere,
she declared laughing hardly. you
are very interesting man. Go on"
Major KrosSneys is a friend Of
yours Gerald said.
"Ho, no" the woman laughed. so
YOU dabhle in politics. eh? Never
mind. krossneys is my friend. What
Of itY"
"He Is the governor Of the fortress
here Gerald went on. "He has a
great number OF prisoners under his
care"
zone hundred snd thirty.seven,"
Elsa Francis replied promptly. q /
see some Of them exercising when /
am ri the fortress. What he keeps 1
them alive for, cannot imagine They |
crawl about the yard like lice. What /
about these prisonersT"
Gerald moved his chair a little
nearer The woman smiled at him
graCiogsly.
III one Of them should escape" he