Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1914 — IN THE CZAR’S SECRET SERVICE [ARTICLE]

IN THE CZAR’S SECRET SERVICE

Story of a Strange Duel In Environs of Paris.

At a case in one of the principal boulevards of Paris sat Aleksei Lu kitch, a Russian gentleman, twirling his mustaches. He had good reason for self congratulation. High in favor with the exar. be had long been employed in the work of hunting down certain persons suspected by Russia. He hftd just followed one of his master's bitterest enemies to Paris, secured his arrest and, by permission of the French government, was on the mor row to take him to Russia. A gentleman and lady entered the case and glanced at the occupants, and the woman, who was veiled, seeing Lukitch. though he did not notice her, said something to her companion, and they took seats directly opposite the Russian. When for the first time he looked at her his eyes rested upon her curiously as if there was something about her figure—he could not see her face, which was still veiled—that was familiar to him. He continued to regard her. studying where he could have seen her. till her companion called out In a voice that every one in the case could hear:

"I will trouble you. m’sieu. to cease your insulting stare.” The Russian apologized, but the other grew more and more violent till it was evident that he was Intending to force a quarrel. His insults came so thick that there was but one recourse for Lukitch—he tossed his card at the man and turned his back. Meanwhile the lady had retired to a distance, and her escort, having produced his own card, joined her. Before midnight friends of the two men had arranged a meeting. Day was dawning and the bells of Paris at a distance were striking the hour of 4 when two. carriages, soon followed by a third, drew up in a road in the environs and a party from each passed to an open space beside a stream. The man who the night before had forced the quarrel advanced to Lukitch and said:

“Permit me, m’sieu, to apologize for my Insulting language last night, or, rather, to explain it. Early in the evening a lady .asked me to escort her In a round of visits to the restaurants in a search for some one she wished to find. When she saw you she asked me to take the course I did. promising that the affair should be taken off my hands. M’sieu. I have the honor to present your real antagonist.” A figure, smaller than the others present, who had been standing back, advanced, threw aside a cloak and revealed that she was a woman. She was dressed in a tight fitting costume, with a short skirt, such as girls wear in a gymnasium. The moment Lukitch saw her he started. “Yttriahe exclaimed. “A aria Ivanovna, at your service, Aleksei I.ukit' h." “What does this mean?” he asked in a tone that indented he knew it meant a good deni to him. “That the day of vengeance has come." The others of both parties drew near, intent on this strange turn in the affair. The woman continued: “You are a faithful servant of your master, Aleksei Lukitch. He rewards you for your service to him; it is my part to punish you for your treachery to me. You made love well, Aleksei, so w’ell that you won my heart. You had fine revolutionary sentiments, so fine that they won my confidence and I revealed our purposes to you. Do you see these shrunken cheeks, these prematurely white hairs? Well, these come from prison life in Siberia, where you sent me. It was during these bitter days in that dark wintry country that 1 conceived this purpose, and every day. except when 1 took part In a hunger strike In which we were trying to end our sufferings by death. I renewed my vow of vengeance. That vengeance was to have been murder. I have changed it to death in a honorable way In the eyes of the world. On guard!”

The woman spoke as though not for a moment did she doubt the Issue of the combat. To her enemy her words seemed prophetic. The hand in which* he held his sword trembled. He heard the wall of the victims he had sent to Siberia. Above this wail came faintly the words “On guard!" spoken sharply by his second to call him to himself. It failed to rouse him. Those looking on wondered. His condition was so pitiful, he seemed such easy prey, that both parties looked to see the woman throw down her sword and give him his life.

“On guardl" shouted the men of both parties h's matadors strive to anger a drooping bull. Aleksei Tgikitch heard and roused himself to die. A few minutes later the woman threw down her sword and walked quickly to her carriage. There was i womanly reaction, siie did not shm. der: she did not weep. This phase <»t woman’s nature—at least for this one man whom she had killed—had long ago been eliminated Alone she had come on to the field, and alone she drove away. She had sprung from whence no one knew and went no one knew whither. No angel of vengeance appointed by heaven to avenge sorrows heaped on its suffering children could have struck more mercilessly and with less shrinking