Evening star., 1927-03-20
Death Is the Stake in Game of Skill With the Russian Chek
peRenuo tribunal is Followed by Dyo em

happened to my mental condition.
"Oh, please stop.' the Tovaristch
finally cried in despair. covering his
ears with his hands. Women are
strange beings. Where on earth do
they get SO many words?" He turned
for sympathy toward his fellow-men.
X- and the director. He paid
me a higher compliment than I de-
served, for l was really out of breath.
Now give me the key" he con-
tinued.
prised as possible. But l gave It
long ago to one OF your companions"
(Which one?"
II really do not remember. Well, so
YOU won't forget--one has TO put the
key into the keyhole and then e"
| began the explanations once more at
the same pace.
Even X-- gave a sigh.
For goodness sake. enough ! un-
derstand. / understand. Goodbye.
cried the Bolshevik as he hurried
through the door.
happened to me when he disap-
peared, for l nearly collapsed with
what was apparently hystAical
laughter. u worried and amazed.
seized me firmly by the arm. think
ing. no doubt. j had Mysteries.
How are you feeling?" Y anX-
iously inquired. after we were seated
in the drosky.
Splendid, thank you"
What was the matter with YOU
he finally risked asking me, seeing
| that l was now quite composed.
You wish to know why I laughed
so heartily? That is why" and |
opened my hand. i'm the palm of which
rested the key to the safe-depOsit
box.
And then. for the first time through
all this depressing period, i saw the
melancholy " rock from side to
side with laughter. In my turn l be-
gan to be bit afraid for his reason
When all our papers were ready
except that from the commissariat
"for practical cases." the place which
| dreaded the most, / made up my
| mind to have this over with.
The commissariat was located in
one of the prisons of Moscow.
| At first l was not able to see any
| thing, for the room was terribly
dark, owing to the closely woven,
dust-covered wire netting that
screened the windows.
"Where are the certificates Of poll
| tical loyalty given out?' / asked.
Table No. g."
! What if mothers name is on their
| lists?" | thought with a shudder.
How shall | ever he able TO take her
away if they withhold this permis-
sion."
What do you want?" the man
finally asked me.
II want certificate for Princess
III 7
! My mothers name and my married
name began with tite same letter,
but mine came first lin alphabetical
| order There were hundreds of
names beginning with M, and | bent
down to help him look over the list.
Suddenly l was struck as by light
ming, for there was my mothers
name with a notice following it in
red ink in another hand. reading:
Arrested for speculation in sugar.
Fine paid. To be watched"
It was quite evident they would not
| grant permission for mother to go.
you are not on the list | shall
give you the certificate at once.
Then he wrote: Citizen M is
not on the list of those suspected of
political or other disloyalty."
You have forgotten to mention my
mother" / said.
|
my name: then suddenly. as IL wax
| ing up, queried: why do you think
| your mother is not on the list?"
| Because / looked through the
names while you were writing. Look
for yourself" I answered, feeling hot
and cold all over.
| He bent down over his big book. |
| followed his movement and. as II by
accident, put my hand with my UNI
brella in it over the upper line. where
my mothers name stood in startlingly
| large letters.
II do not find anything" he said.
at which a sigh of relief nearly broke
| from me.
The document was completed with
| the final entry. Departure from
Soviet Russia is permitted" and was
ther duly signed and sealed. We
were free at last Never during
those months of trial had l felt so
light-hearted and hopeful as on that
day.
| (Copyright 1927