The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-19
Chapter 27
SURPRISE FOR cUR

"nAD. no trouble with Nichols; didn't have to go farther than the telephone book to place him." continued Baldwin He's lived here in Vancouver most of his life, find. McGill graduate, staff captain over seas, got VIC. at Vimy. For the last ten years he's been with a city con- struction company Their head archi- tect now. Bachelor quarters at the Frasier Club Nothing out of the or dinary about him that 1 could dig up, and I've been digging some"
 What about the other person."
 i've got you bang up lead to work on. Just talked to a couple of Nichols friends who've met her several times. Her names Volkov, Sonya Volkov. Lives in Victoria, teaches in private school, and's secretary for the Emigre Society of Canada. That's all was able to find out, but I've located party here who knows her very well, and 1 think he can give you a lot of details about her. Shall zip around for you in the staff car? Good, I'll be there in twenty minutes
 Volkov, Sonya Voliov-Curt re peated the strange name to himself as he went back to the porch. At least he knew he name now, and within an hour he was going to find out something about her life, her background. After that she could never quite vanish from him.
 He rejoined Marlin outside While they waited, AK remarked casually:
 "Did you know that Laydon, the head of the Provincial Police. is go- ing to be relieved this coming fall?"
 "Is that so? Who's taking his placer
 You
 Curtis cigarette dropped from his fingers. "I?"
 If you want it. I've been doing some quiet Investigating and know the lay of the lana A dozen political hangers-on are after the job, but the Premier doesn't want that kind. He phoned me yesterday and asked when you could come to see him for a personal conference. can tell you positively that if you want the job I've got enough support lined up to swing it for yous
 No" he waved Curtis interrup- tion "donf thank me. I'm not doing this because you and l happen to be friends but because consider you the best available man for that job"
 Curt wanted nothing to do with the offer, fine as t was. He saw it as another attempt of duty to keep him from returning to the far North; another of the invisible bonds that were being thrown around him. But still he did not refuse it outright, then and there.
 Baldwin came, and they started down town. Parking in section of dingy stores, Baldwin took him up creaky stairway and knocked at an apartment.
 A young man, stocky hazel-eyed foreigner, opened the door, saw them, and bowed politely.
 "Meester Baldween? My fader he expect you and your freund. Kun in, pliz."
 He led them into a small sitting room and stepped out to get his father
 CURT glanced about the room. A Everything in it breathed of imperial Russia-the ikon of Holy Mary, a sword above a bookcase. a cheap Autograph of Nicholas II. Kremlin snow scene, a samovar on the table It was typically the dwell ing of an emigre, living in poverty, futiIely hoping that some day the old order would be resurrected from it's grave and they could return to homeland, estates, ease.
 An old man came in the room, fol- lowed by the son His hair was white, his thin face rayaged with furrows. Curt judged him close to eighty. He was astounded later to learn that the man was only fifty-seven.
 Baldwin introduced: "Feodor Pie khanoy, want you to know my com rade, Mir. Ralston. He is the one of whom l spoke"
 The old Russian bowed graciously and made them welcome. Curt oitied him. His hand was bony, he looked so tired and despairing, and his eyes seemed to hold some great fear in their depths-memories. probably, of that horror trail out of Siberia.
 He broached his purpose care