Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16

pcdb ike the drum IN q reglmenUaI 0an0 the
name of the Parrot Woman, Bahia Papagai
who was witch and demon and the grand
mother of all the devils
She had q familiar spirit this terrible
woman, a parrot, red and gray, in wire cage,
and when it bit you, you were guilty and when
1t didn't, you were innocent; but it always bit
you and so you were always shot
Nobody knew where she came from, but 1t
was said she was the widow of famous revo-
tionary who had worked in factory at Ekater-
inburg and had been shot by the Cars army
in 1906. And now she was president of a"hy-
ing tribunal" that moved about the whole
province judging counter revoutionarieS, and
always she made them put finger in the par
rot'S cage, and always 1t bit them, and then
they were shot. And it was reported that she
lived on the smell of blood and must kill man
every day or she would die, and the devil, her
grandson, would fly of with her. And when
the Soviet knew she was coming to hold
court in the town they were all very frightened,
because there was only victim the ex-
manager of the factory, who twice had tried to
escape from the town and had been prevented.
That one man would never be enough for the
Bahia Papagai She would suspect the Soviet
Of being lukewarm in the cause of revolution
and perhaps put some of them to the trial of
that horrtd parrot, as had happened before
elsewhere, always with fatal results
So four days ago the Soviet held meeting
hastily and in secret, and had decided to sac
rihce their American. They were sorry but
it was his head or theirs, so no argument was
possible.
commandant, felt most uneasy about the whole
affair had come to ask the advice Of the hermit
in the box car. But he had been of no help to
them, and the father had said it would take an
angel or devil to find the way out of the mess,
and just at that second Sergey had knocked
and said at once he was an imp from hell so
what would he suggest?
CERGEY'S Scotch blood whispered caution.
He pulled his mahorka cigarette and de-
clared profoundly that there a solution for
every problem, but this case being extremely
difficult he had better set eyes first on the
woman and her parrot, to say nothing of the
American and the ex-manager of the factory,
before deciding what should be done
Never drive pigs too swiftly" said the an
Gent banging the cork of his vodka bottle hard
against the side of the and burying 1t In
the recess of his greatcoat "Let our Comrade
Imp view the situation for himself, and maybe
he will be able to make plan. For me- am
at Eoss-I admit it freely; the young man
must die; there Is no doubt of it."
Every one must die some day." replied his
son, "and J. as commandment of prison, know
that some die quicker than others. But this
American is a friendly youth and clever with
his hands, and Marfoosha loves him dearly: so
/ want his life saved and no trouble with this
internal old woman If the flame headed Imp
can help us, I, Alexei Petrovich, promise that
he shall have all the food he needs in this cold
country, and warm corner by my fire to toast
his toes till they are red as his hair"
All OF which sounded good to Sergey Nc
lavish as he said good-by to the old man and
accompanied Marfoosha and her father across
the cold white plain to the little town..
The prison was q large house set back among
tall trees whose branches hung glittering inch
thick with frost in the light of an electric arc
lamp. A sentry, bundled to the ears in bear
skin, stood aside with thump of his bayoneted
gun upon the doorstep.
In the high, square entrance hall two men
were sitting before huge fireplace, ablaze with
round birch logs thick as mans body The
younger leaped up as they entered tall and
loose lmbed in q uniform of dark mustard
color such as Sergey had never seen. In two
strides, so it seemed, he was across the room,
lifting Marfoosha right off her feet in his arms.
Enough Mahlinkie, enough" cried Marfoo-
Sha In Stifled voice.
Regaining her feet she flung her arm around
Sergey'S shoulder. This is my American little
comrade; his name is Dim, but that is a dogs
name, not mans, so call him Mahlinkie, the
little one, because he is so tall" She laughed
gayly and pushed the boy forward, pulling OF
his hat with her other hand Look NAH
linkie. it's fire. but it doesn't burn" And she
ran her fingers through Sergey's flaming hair.
"Forthelovamke!"
Sergey McTavish did not understand this
American greeting, but something within him
called forth two half forgotten words in reply
Scottish, gorrd-am-you-sirr."
The effect was startling High in the air
went Sergey in those strong young arms, while
torrent of unfamiliar words beat upon his
ears. What . din they made Sergey, feet
from the ground, beside himself with excite
ment, yelling his new-found slogan the Ameri-
: shouting strange noises, and Marfoosha
dancing around them, half in laugher, half in
tears