The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-09-11
CHAPTER XVI.
The Russian Ferment.

The Russian Ferment.
"Theres something very wrong"
said Norman Forde excitedly to Philip
Joyce one day in their Shaftesbury
avenue Office Il cannot understand
why it is that neither you nor l hear
from your sister. There must be
something radically wrong"
Il must admit" replied Philip, hard
~ less excited, that it does look very
queer. Since she went to Russia
you've had only one letter and have
had only one. and she's been gone for
quite two months. And it's two weeks
since sent her that telegram asking
what was the matter, and there's been
no reply. 1t certainly is most peculiar.
don't know how to account for It,
unless these disturbances of which we
read in the papers,
YES" interrupted Norman; "these
troubles might partly account for her
silence now, but month ago we did
not hear of anything of the kind. They
seem only to have cropped up within
the last fortnight Or So"
"Oh. l suppose there are lots of
things always going on in Russia Of
which we never hear in England. It's
only the big things that get into the
papers, I fancy. Still, as you say,
Norman" returned Philip. Russia
seemed quiet enough month ago.
And it's deuced odd that she did not
answer my telegram. Shall send an.
other?'
Il should" said Norman, with de-
eision. And you might inquire if your
hast was delivered. The papers don't
appear to have any difficulty in getting
their kilograms from Russia. l looked
in the Times this morning and saw
their was long dispatch from Odessa
dated yesterday OF course she won't
have the same facilities that a great
Journal will hava at its command; but
there's no doubt that the wires are
working and your telegram ought to
get through, and so should a reply
from her"
81 shall go TO the telegraph Office
myself" said Philip, make inquiry
about the last message l sent to her,
and dispatch a fresh one. What shall
say?"
Il think l should say that you are
very anxious about her. as you had
received nothing from her for two
MONTHS
That's it," said Philip, and he
scrambled hnrriediy away.
AS Norman said, he could net under
stand why NO news came from Chris
label, good or bad, and he was half
frantic with anxiety. She had prom
fsed to write to him, and he was sure
she was not woman who would
break her promise. Yet she did not
write; it was most extraordinary,
most perplexing. Besides, Philip had
not heard from her either. His let.
tiers and telegram had remained un-
answered; it was most disquieting.
Norman could not know that Christa-
bel had written replies to letters and
telegram. and that these had gone no
farther than the hands of Dmitri Ana
tovitch. All he knew of that gentle
man had been learned from a SEN
tence, or two about him contained in
the only letter he had received from
her-that written Immediately after
her arrival at Sulja; Norman never
thought twice about the man.
It was perhaps fortunate in way
that both Norman and Philip were ,ex-
tremely busy during these two
Montha. for more work than they
could undertake was simply being
thrust upon rnem, and another drafts.
8 80 had to be added to their staff.
- Norman's anxiety had grown and
owA With the mounting up OF the
49, ~ silence. and he felt that soon
~ wonA - completely unable to con.
eGntrate his attention. 7 on. his work.
Philip was anxious, too. but naturally
his anxiety was not 30 deep as that Of
Norman. In the past there had been
! long intervals when circumstances
y Had prevented Christabel from cor.