The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-11-13

Gerald Rose to His Feet and Bowed
you will allow me. to be perfectly can
did with you.
lou can sit down." she invited, re
garding Gerald with suspicion not un-
mixed with favor. Il will hear what
you have to say"
She threw herself In a lump at the
Tar end of the sofa. and pointed to q
battered horsehair easy-chair.
"Bring that to the side Of me-" she
continued II do not hear very well
and II is some time since I listened to
English. Tell me what you wantf"
81 have further confession to
make" Gerald began. II am an Eng
lishman."
"There are Englishmen and English
men," she said indulgently. "Some are
different from others You are not
like those whom our officers have had
to correct In the streets and cafes Of
Berlin. Now what Is your business,
pleaseT
at is very difficult to state" Ger
aid admitted frankly, land I am only
emboldened to approach you because In
these difficult times. and In Russia es-
pecially. one needs money. If you will
do me service. can find you a great
deal of money.
Gerald's methods had at any rate
succeeded in exciting the interest of
the woman he had come to visit. Her
becarmined lips were parted; her pale
eyes were filed with the light Of Gu
pidity.
There is not much we would not
do for money, nowadays. over here"
she declared. laughing hardly. "You
are very interesting man. Go on"
Major Krossneys Is friend of
yours" Gerald said.
"Eo, how the woman laughed. $50
you dabble In politics. Ell? Never
mind. Krossneys is my friend. What
Of itY'
HE is the governor Of the fortress
here" Gerald went on. "He has q
great number of prisoners under his
care"
Zone hundred and thirty-seven,"
Elsa Francks replied promptly. II
see some of them exercising when /
am at the fortress. What he keeps
them alive for. I cannot imagine. They
crawl about the yard like lice. What
about these prisonersT
Gerald moved his chair q little
nearer. The woman smiled at him
graciously.
eff one Of them should escape" he
remarked significantly. there would be
q great deal Of money"
'What do you call a great deal of
money!"
81 do not bargain" Gerald replied.
II know very well that the escape OF
q prisoner Is a serious thing. I have
at my disposal the sum Of ten thou.
sand pounds"
The woman started so that she nearly
rolled or the sofa. She sat suddenly
upright. She was too stupefied for
emotion
"Then thousand pounds?" she almost
shrieked. "Why, IL Is two million
roubles! Ivan Krossneys would sell
you his whole batch of prisoners for
that, and throw the fortress inl Why.
II Il rested with me-" she went on,
"you could have Krossneys as well. for
a quarter of that Talk sense. please
There Is not an Englishman there OF
that I am certain"
The prisoner whose liberty I de-
sire to buy" Gerald confided. "is q
Russian. I do not know under what
name he passes. but his number 10
twenty-nine."
Elsa Francks rose to her feet, opened
the door and shouted to her maid In
Russian. Then she took up battered
telephone instrument.
II will speak with the major" she
said. 81 am the only civilian In the
town with a telephone. 1t Is q great
favor. You can wait whilst ! speak
with him"
There was a good deal Of delay be-
fore she was connected. and further
delay before the person with whom she
desired to speak arrived. In time.
however. the conversation was finished.
apparently to her satisfaction. She set
down the instrument.
''The governor Is on his way down"
she announced triumphantly. Come.
we will see To this little affair quickly.
You can remain"
The maid entered the room. carry
ing tray on which were bottles of
beer AMI glasses. The woman eyed
them with satisfaction.
You are not Russian" she said. so
do not offer. you the samovar. Beer
every one drinks-the English es'
peciafiy That Il SO. Is Il nof7"
''Thai Is So" Gerald admitted. 7
shall drink to your good health.
madame"
"You may call me Elsa" she invited
graciously. coming over 10 his side
with a glass In her hand. We Will