The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-12-04

not know you when you go to see
him. He has forgotten most things.
This mans name was Ahrensein.
told him the whole truth. ] am quite
sure that II he had come into charge
of the prison whilst the real No. %
had been there, he would have found
some excuse for having him shot
within twenty-four hours. He even
told me so. He was furious at the
trick which had been played. But
he declared, the Englishman who has
put himself in No. 29's place shall
suffer for himp / was allowed to see
your brother. He had got over the
first shock Of what had happened and
found him full of courage. We dis
cussed several plans for his escape,
which, however, we never carried into
effect do not believe that any one
could have bought the life of No. %
from Ahrensein for a million pounds.
With your brother, however. it was
different. In the end, / made over to
him one Of your brothers drafts-One
I took back from Ivan KrOssneys after
he was dead-cashed one Of the
smaller ones. and one dark night we
drove away from the fortress"
"But this is all so long ago." Mary
exclaimed wonderingly.
The woman nodded.
1--WE were In the train for Petr0-
grad" she went on, when had .
message from Ahrensein. telling me
that he was superseded. His success
sor had arrived, and was holding IN
inquiry into the escape Of No. %. He
advised me not to 60 near PetrOgrad.
We left the train just as a company
OF soldiers from the fortress arrived
on the platform. The train was held
up and searched. We took car
Rage and drove away, anywhere, into
the plains. We had money but moth
ing else. We bought the carriage and
horses. bought the driver. body and
soul. Driving by night, resting the
horses and hiding ourselves by day,
We travelled a hundred miles south
eastward"
you must tell me the rest another
time" Lady Mary suggested.
swhat I am going to tell you. ]
shall tell you now or never" Elsa
Francks answered nercely. at won't
be much. can promise you. When ]
leave this house, the story Of these
months is coming out Of my mind.
whether have to dull Il by drinking
or even cut 1t out Of my brain. We
were always in danger. always being
tracked. We went short distances
by train Sometimes we hired car.
riages. We even travelled for the
whole Of one day In IN electric car
which crawled between two small
towns. Seven times we tried to cross
the frontier into Poland. and each
time we were turned back. Once they
heard Of rs and we were placed under
arrest Your brother shot two Of the
guards and we escaped. After that 10
was life or death with rs. We were
passed across the frontier ut last In
q spot where the war zone had been.
We were scarcely In Poland before
half q regiment Of Russians was after
10. We were In Poland, however. We
left them fighting. We heard after
ward that the Russians who had
crossed the frontier were wiped out.
We got across Poland, somehow or
other, into Germany. The rest was
all discomfort and misery. but most Of
the danger was past. Your brother
fell Ill In Warsaw. Since then he has
been daxed and weak. with high
temperature, and with fits Of uncon-
scioumess. How / got him here,
don't know. We arrived at Fenchufch
street this morning. I drove to Char
ing Cross hospital and they took him
at once. He was shouting like
madman. Then ! drove here"
She poured out the last glass q
wine from the bottle and drank Il
Then she rose to her feet.
sit is a wonderful story. this" Mary
exclaimed. "You must not 60 away
yet. or, II you do. You must come
back again. Ny father will want to
thank you"
81 do not want thanks" the woman
scoffed. 81 started out on this ad-
venture because your brother had
paid great sum Of money and b.
cause I had fancy for him. have
lost that fancy, but I made up my
mind that would bring your brother
home. and have done 1t. ! do not
wish for any further payment. ! have
spent your brothers money freely. but
have enough left to give me all that
need In life. I do not like England
and am going away today. Is there
any further question you wish to askT
"None that can think Of for the
moment" Lady Mary admitted.
think that II was very wonderful o.
You to run all these risks. You might
have left my brother there and gone
away with the money.
81 very nearly did" the woman con-
fessed bluntly. Many time, on the