The Spectator., 1915-07-16
CHAPTER x.
l Show My Hand.

oH lily lctuAA tO AOAuOu hCAt uoy made inquiry at the admiralty and learned that the battleship Bulwark was lying at Palermo therefore tele- graphed to Jack Durnford, and late the same afternoon his reply came at the Cecil:
 Due in London twentieth. Dine with me at club that evening.-Jack-
 The twentieth! That meant nearly a month of inactivity. In that time l could cross to Abo, make inquiries there. and ascertain, perhaps. if Elma Heath were actually dead as Chatter had declared.
 Two facts struck me as remarkable: Baron Oberg was said to be Polish, while the dark-bearded proprietor of the restaurant in Westbourne Grove Then I recollected that pretty little enameled cross that Mackenzie had found in Rannoch Wood. and it sud denly occurred to me that it might possibly be the miniature of one of the European orders of chivalry. In the club library at midnight found copy of Cappelletti's Storia degli Ordini Cavallereschi, the standard work on the subject. and on searching the illus trations l at length discovered pic ture of it. It was Russian order the coveted Order of Saint Anne, be- slowed by the czar only upon persons who have rendered eminent services fD be cfo fa tp En fact was now certain, namely. that the owner of that tiny cross. the small re- plica of the fine decoration. must be a person of high official standing.
 The autumn days were dull and rainy, and the streets were muddy and unpleasant. as they always are at the fall of the year. Compelled to remain inactive. l idled in the club with the recollection of that pictured face ever before me-the face of the unfortunate girl who wished her last message to be conveyed to Philip Hornby. What. I wondered, was her secret? What was really her fate?
 This latter question troubled me until could bear it no longer. felt that it was my duty to go to Finland and endeavor to learn something re- garding this Baron Oberg and his niece.
 Duty-the duty of man who had learned strange facts and knew that defenseless woman was victim called me- Therefore. with my pass port properly vised and my papers all in order, one night left Hull for Stockholm whence on the following day l took the small steamer which plies across the Gulf of Bothnia to Korpo. and through the intricate channels and among those low-lying islands to the gray lethargic town of Abo
 It was not the first occasion on which l had trod Russian soil. and knew too we'll t:se annoyances of the bureaucracy. Finland. however. is perhaps the most severely governed of any of the czar's dominions, and had my first taste of its stern. relentless officialdom at the moment of landing on the half-deserted quay.
 In the wooden Passport office the uniformed official. on examining my passport. discovered that at the Rus. sian consulate general they had forget ten to date the wise which had been impressed with a rubber stamp, It was signed by the consul general. but the date was missing, whereupon the man shook his head and handed back the document curtly. saying in Russian, which understood fairly we'll. although l spoke badly;
 This is not in order. It must be returned to London and dated before you can proceed"
 But 1t is not my fault" protested "It is the fault of the clerk at the con- sulate general"
 You should have examined it be- fore leaving. You must send 1t to Lou don. and return to Stockholm by to- nights boat"
 But this is outrageous!" cried. as he had already taken the papers of passenger behind me and was looking at them with unconcern.
 "Enough!" he exclaimed. glaring at me. You will return tonight. or If you choose to stay you will be arrested for landing without a passport"
 T shall not go back!" declared de- fiantly. Your consul general vised my passport. and claim. under interna. tional law. to be allowed to proceed without hindrance."
 "The steamer leaves at six o'clock" he remarked without looking up. If you are in Abo after that remember It will De at your own risk."
 Yes" said menacingly, T shall recollect tt.r And J turned and went