The Washington herald., 1919-05-08

horse started on along the road.
The Bolshevik front was still ahead
of me. But was making progress.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Caught In n Bolshevik Death Trap.
What shall / say to the guards?"
the moujik asked me as we approached
the front positions. Tell them that
you are carrying your sick baba to a
hospital in the city. as she Is suffering
from a high fever" 1 answered. re-
questing him to wrap me in the huge
fur overcoat that was under him. l
was warm enough without II, but 1
thought that 1t would raise my temper
ature even more. and was not wrong.
Under all the covers I resembled more
a heap than a human form. When the
battle positions were reached l began
to moan as IL in pain.
Where are you going?" l heard a
voice ask my driver sharply, as the
horse stopped
ITO a hospital in the city," was the
answer.
What are you carrying?"
My baba. She Is dying. I am TAX
ing her to a DOCTOR" the peasant re-
piled.
Here 1 groaned louder than ever. I
was suffocating. Ny heart hammered
from fear Of sudden exposure and dis
covery. Every particle Of time seemed
an age.
The sentry who halted US apparently
talked the case over with some of his
comrades. to the accompaniment of my
exuberant means. Without uncovering
my face he issued pass to the
moujik.
My heart thumped with joy as the
horse started off at rapid pace. For
awhile 1 still held my breath, hardly
believing my senses that 1 had left
Bolshevik territory behind me with so
little difficulty.
After some time we arrived at the
Kornilov front. The posts along it
were held by officers, of whom his
force consisted almost exclusively. At
one such post we were stopped by a
commanding "Haltr'
The driver was starting to rehearse
the yarn about his feverish baba when
1 surprised him by throwing of the
fur topcoat. then the shawl and Jump
ing out of the vehicle, issuing a deep
sigh of relief. 1 could not help laugh
ing. .s\
The moujik must have thought me
mad at first. The officers at the post
could not understand 1t either.
What the devil" a couple of them
muttered under their breath. 1 pro-
ceeded very coolly to pay out the fifty
rubles to the peasant. discharging him
there, to his great amaZement.
'1 will get to the city from here ail
right" / informed him.
Like hell you will" the officer in
charge blurted out. who are your"
Why can't you see, am a Sister OF
Mercy?" I answered testify.
Where are you going?'
II am going to see Gen. Kornilov,' -
I giggled.
The officers were getting furious.
You will not go a step further" /"
the chief ordered.
-"oh. yes, I will. too!' I announced
emphatically.
you are arrested" the examiner
commanded
broke out in a At Of laughter,
bringing the officers to white anger.
Don't you recognize me? am
Botchkareva," and I threw of the
head-dress of the Sister OF Mercy. The
officers gasped. Immediately crowding
around me with congratulations and
hand-shakes. Kornilov was notified by
telephone of my arrival and the joke
I had played on the sentries.
How do you do. little sister, he
greeted me laughing when I was
brought to his headquarters. My ar
rival and the way got through the
lines amused him very much. He
looked very thin and somewhat aged.
but as energetic as ever.
I reported to him that I was sent
from Petrograd by Gen. X. and other
officers. for the purpose of ascertaining
his plans and exact condition. I also
informed him that the Bolsheviki were
making big preparations for an attack
against him, that I had seen eleven
cars OF ammunition at Zverevo. and
that the blow was due in a couple of
days
Kornilov replied that he knew of
the impending offensive and that his
condition was precarious. He had
no money and no food. while the Boil
sheviki were amply supplied with both.
His soldiers were deserting him one
by one. He was cut of from his
friends and surrounded by enemies.
did you wish to remain with me
and join my force?" he asked me.
NO" I said, IT could not fight
soldier Is dear to me, although he has
been led astray for the present"
1T is also very hard for me to fight
the boys that loved so much" he
declared. But they have turned
beasts now. We are fighting for our
lives. for our uniforms. The life Of
every Russian officer is at the mercy
OF the mob. 1t is a question of organ
izing for self-defense. One can expect
to do little for the country, II the Boil
sheviks are waging civil war when the
Germans are advancing into Russia
This Is a time for peace and union
among all classes. 1t Is a time for
a united front to the enemy
OF the motherland. But Bolshevism
mas ciouded the minds of the people
what is necessary. therefore, is to en-
hghten the masses. We can't hope to
enhgnten them by fighting II It were
possible to organize a counter propa-
gan0a, to convince the Rnos;ap naav-