Evening star., 1928-02-24

Seli inovn ku..ian .sory.wE,ter. Among
he iss Pos.as.,er. snd ' ,he present. rss famous i
Story-l
A tradition got about Moscow in the
old days that q certain old countess
knew q gambling secret. Women were
wont TO play at cards at the time. and
this countess was supposed to know
three consecutive cards. which If played
as she knew. would always win. Her
never revealed the secret TO any of
them. But a young gambler heard Of
Il and determined to get the knowledge
out Of her.
The old countess had dependent upon
her young companion. pretty dam
sel with the pretty name Of Lizaveta
Ivanovna. The lot OF this poor girl
was unhappy. indeed She was sup
posed to get q regular salary, but she
seldom received II. The filssy fiuctua-
t.ans OF the old countess were very try
ing, and Ltzaveta Ivanovna really
wanted q handsome deliverer, but she
saw none among the frivolous and con-
cetted young men with whom she came
IN contact.
Then, one day, when Lizaveta IVAN
ovna was seated with her embroidery
by the window, she happened to look
out into the street and see q young
officer standing quite still there, look
ing up at her window. She looked
down at her work Immediately. but five
minutes later. when she stole another
glance, the man was still there. Two
hours later he was still there, though.
not being In the habit Of giving officers
any attention, she had thoroughly ig-
nored him.
Two days later the officer was there
again. AS a matter fact, he was the
gambler who had vowed to discover the
gambling secret OF the old countess
but Lizaveta Ivanovna did not know
that
After that not day passed without
the young man appearing for his vigil
ss q regular hour beneath the windows
Of the great house. A relationship OF a
sort grew up between these two. She
knew his approach and looked up to
see him. She fancied she saw q flush
spread over his face every time she
recognized him. In week she smiled
at him.
Then one day. as she was going for
o ride with the countess In her car
fcer near by. He stepped UP and ter
he WAS gone IN an iastant-he had left
. note in her hand. The note. when
the gtrI had returned home and could
read. proved 70 be an eloquent declara-
ton Of loye-taken word for word from
some German novel. But Lizayeta
1Yanozna did not know that.
Che decided 70 reply. She decided
that this had gone far enough, and she
told the man as much, in kind way
But he waS not 70 be put Of. He con-
tr1ved 10 have her receive note ol
some kind from him every day He
demanded at least q meeting. Finally
I-izsveta Iyanovna found herself grant
Ing mis- request.
The Old countess was 10 be away all
evening AZ q ball. This would be- the
ofsoer's chance. In q carefully worded
note Lizzye.a Ivanovna told him how
% enter the mansion and find the way
10 her room, where ne Was 10 stay until
the coUntess had returned and gone N
bed. Then she would see him-~they
would meet. BY now Liayeia Ivan
cYna was thrilled and excited over the
whole intrigue,
The man entered the house all right
He found the little stairway leading "
the room u LizAVeta fTanoYna~~cirectiy
out of the becroorn of the old countess
He also saw study, a small room just
below TIE girls room. Lizayeta Ivan
ovna knew her lover wak In the house
lie went into the little study. But
.azayeta Iyanovna thought he was In
her little room.
The Old countess came home. The
giri hsiped her 10 hsr roam. Then
she had W leave for something The
Of1cNf peeked ou. and saw the old
woman. seli1w snd sickiy--~for she was
no less than 81 years 0f sge. Suddenly
she wsx amazed W See q strange man
standing befOTs her. II wss the offIcer
Fear noti' hs whispered. I'm nDi
harm you. ] merely want 10 ssk q
favor. You can make my fortune. You
can make me happy without its costing
you anything. know that you know
three cards which II played"
The man stopped. T'hs countess was
about 70 reply.
,,,, =: |. W. W.. !. . 's''i" 'A' said, Nothing
mo. ! know better" said the man
"You can tell me three winning CARDS
Way do you guard the secretT Mons
Of your heirs needs the money. ! do
Tell me"
The countess made no reply. Ths
man begged her. even went down oT
his knees 70 plead. Etill no reply, II,
cursed her Etiii no reply. He drew
a reyolyer~~eIs rec0iled. threw hack he
head, rai6sd her arm, fell back uncen
seiouE She Wa dead
There Was nothing the ofncer coult
DO lie went up 10 the room o
LaEsysta Iysnoyna. She was there,
Where have you bee13" shs sAied
ssNith tia nQxntHSG" h AakVngnd