Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26
A Story of Russian Intrigue, Love and Adventure.

on eking out the remains of the recovered
| treasure. Then the waving posters caught
his attention.
! "Well of all the queer things!' ran his
| comment. "Old Demidoff here!'
| In bold letters of red, on the frontal pla-
| card, were the words: Souls on Fire!' 1t
| was {, catching phrase. 1t meant people to
| gaze at the procession and it succeeded. On
| the back one learned that at the Anarchists
| Club on such-and-such street, Tottenham
Court road that evening, Prince Demidoff,
| 1.-The famous Russian exile" would lecture
on the tortured condition of his oppressed
fellow countrymen."
Anarchists Club! Tottenham Court road!
Was there ever such a mad association of
! ideas? And old Demidoff "a specialized
scientist, white-haired visionary who
| would not hurt a fly! Armstrong knew his
Russia well enough to appreciate the dumb
tragedy which lay behind the printed words;
but just now he could only grin at the hui
NOR of it. Anarchists!-with staid London
policemen plotting their out-at-heel heralds
across the Circus.
Suddenly hanson pulled up, and out
sprang tall, slight youngster, boy with
a bright, pleasant face and self-possessed
air not often seen in English youths of his
age. He appeared twenty or twenty-one at
the most.
you, Armstrong; he cried. well, of all
the jolly surprises!'
You don't mean to say you are in town,
Jimmie?" said the other, with that fine dis
regard for the meaning of words displayed
by people when they are taken by surprise.
Rather! The whole gang is in Charles
street, Berkeley Square. We've taken
place there for the season."
And how is everybody
"Valletort is all right, and the mater Is
becoming a true British countess. Ernie Is
| out presented last court, and fearfully
stuck on herself. Anyhow. come along to
| lunch"
| "Well-er-"
'In with you. Right in front cabby."
Lord Carlingham's mother, in her youth,
was a belle of New York society, so his re-
mark about the mater was clearly irrev
| erent. ''Valletort" was his father, with the
| omssied formality of 1.-The Right Hon. the
| Earl Of" and Ernie was his sister, Lady
| Ermyntrude Grandison-for in such wise do
| the names of the British aristocracy puzzle
| the benighted foreigner.
| Armstrong evidently was favorite with
| the whole family. He had met them in st.
Petersburg the previous winter while he was
studying the language, and chance threw
| him good deal in their way-more, per-
| haps, than the countess (whose republican
| traditions had weakened under the pressure
of five-spiked coroneD wholly approved Of
Therefore, the maternal eye was critical,
| if friendly, as it watched the meeting be-
tween her daughter and Mr." Armstrong.
But Ermyntrudes pretty head was in the
clouds Good-looking. well-bred "eligibles"
were plentiful in> ner sphere as August
| blackberries on a moorland lane, and she
greeted the young subaltern with just suffi-
| cent dignity to remind him that If ever his
| arm had encircled her waist during risky
| sleigh drive the incident was forgotten.
II suppose you can talk Russian like ma
| tive now?" said Lord Valletort genially to
| Armstrong He himself spoke little Eng
| fish, people said.
| the modest answer.
| ''That-er-means promotion. and-er-that
sort of thing, eh?'
| Not exactly. OF course, 1t is good for
an impecunious lieutenant to be classed as
an interpreter and 1 most rejoice in the
added grant which makes my language
| leave end in burst of glory
The countess nodded her approval He ex-
pressed highly proper sentiments. 1mpe-
cunious" was the right word.
"What are you doing this EVENING"" asked
Birmingham, whose eyes sparkled with fun
as he read the soul of mamma.
II was poised on the pinnacle of uncer-
ttainty until / saw some sandwich men cross
ing Piccadilly Circus. AS it is, am half
resolved to go to an anarchists meeting"
Valletort seemed scandalized. Her lady
ship lifted pair of mounted lorgnettes.
Even the butler tilted his nose a trifle
higher.
But Ermyntrude said: How delightful
And her brother chimed In: Capital! I'll
go with YOU"
did you say 'anarchist?'" inquired the
countess in amaze. The expression remind
ed Armstrong of a fox terrier when rats are
mentioned.
Eyes; but please let me explain. They
must be a harmless variety. Prince Demi-
doff is lecturing them. He is a real prince.
too, true descendant of Rurik, believe
"Oh, outrageous
Russia is a queer country" said Arm
strong. blissfully unaware of the corns he
might tread on. 1T has no real aristoc-
racy, as we understand the word. Peter the
Great worked as a shipbuilder. you know.
Count Devrier. one OF his ministers, was q
Portuguese cabin boy: his commandment.