The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-12-04
) NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ce,yrisht BY LITTLE. Grown end co.

But where is her Lady Mary de-
manded.
HE is safe In the Charing Cross
hospital" the woman replied. "and II
you want to know all about him, you
will give me some wine quickly"
Mary, scarcely conscious Of what
she did, rang the bell. This woman
was certainly the strangest visitor
who had even penetrated the portals
Of Hinterleys house. She seemed
larger and coarser than ever. Her
clothes were snowy, but unbrushed
and crumpled as though she had slept
In them for nights; her hair was yell
low, but untidy. The rouge and
powder were distributed upon her
face in ungainly daubs. She breathed
an atmosphere Of stale scent. Not
withdrawing all these things. she had
news Of Gerald, Gerald who for
seven months had been lost! Lady
Mary waited eagerly for the butler.
who entered the room, full OF the con-
6dent anticipation that he would be
asked to- remove this homogeneous
visitor. -
'This lady would like some wine"
Lady Mary announced. do tell me
what you would PREFER she added.
turning toward her guest.
champagne, If you have it," was
the prompt reply.
Bring champagne, Richards" his
mistress directed. perhaps you had
better tell his lordship. This lady
has brought 10 news of Lord Dom
bey."
The woman held out her hand.
Don't bring any .lordships here"
she begged II will tell my story to
you, ma'am. am very near hys-
terlcs myself. To reach here from
Sokar has taken Us y. VOnth. We
tried at seven places on the frontier
before we could get into Poland"
"PolandT Mary exclaimed. "But
here is the wine. Do. please. help
yourself" t u
The woman was served with cham
payne and dry biscuits. which latter
she scornfully rejected. She drank
three glasses Of champagne. however.
Then she filed q fourth glass for her.
self and began to talk.
"Well. here is my story" Elsa
Francks said, draining the contents
Of her glass and refilling 1t. "Remem-
Der It, for / shall never tell It again
It IL q story would like to forget"
II will certainly remember it,
Mary promised.
Twelve months ago / went to live
at Sokar," Elsa Francis began. ut -
a miserable place. but I went there to
be near my friend Ivan KrOssneys,
the governor Of the fortress. In that
fortress was confined a man whom
your brother went to Russia to res
cue. He came to me to ask me to
help him bride the governor. That
was In the month of October last year.
He was a very different person then.
and I thought that liked him very
much"
The woman slipped her champagne.
The warmth of the room, and the
wine, had moistened her face. A little
streak Of rouge had. spread upon her
left cheek. There were black lines
under her eyes Her voice, however,
was stronger.
HE offered a great deal of money
and / agreed to help. sent for Ivan
and. although he made difficulties, he
was easy to persuade. 1t was all ar
,o~oaA rCIn pp{onnn.-NA ma
called him--walked out Of the fortress
In your brothers clothes and with his
American passport. Your brother
was to take his place for twenty-four
hours. Then he was to leave the
prison in the funeral coach Of an
other prisoner who had died.
"This was seven months ago." Mary
faltered.
The woman wiped her lips. shivered
at the sight Of the color upon her
handkerchief. closed her eyes for
moment and recovered herself
"That seven months" she said de-
liberately "has seemed like seven
years, and each year like a lifetime
In hell! Listen. I 60 on with my
story. Your brother entered the
fortress as arranged, changed his
clothes with No. %, who walked ont
Of the place and came. without doubt
to London. Your brother was to
spend that night in the fortress.
Krossneys came down to me. We were
both excited. 1t was great sum Of
money which we had been paid. and
life In Russia II horrible burden.
We drank a great deal of wine. The
more we drank, the more quarrelsome
Ivan became. He resented having to
part with so large share OF the
money to me. We quarreled. Once or
twice we made 1t up. Then VANS
anger fared out again. In the end.
he declared that he would take away
a part OF my share. We had strug
gle. Somehow or other. his revolver
went of. He went backward with
groan. He was dead"
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