The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-13
chapter 81
suRPRlsE EoR cuRT

Cnapter ~
SURPRISE FOR CURT
"HAD no trouble with Nichols:
L 4 didn't have to go farther than
the telephone book to place him.
continued Baldwin. Hes lived here
in Vancouver NEST Of his life, ind.
McGill graduate, star captain over.
seas, got VIC. at Vimy. For the last
ten years he's been with city con.
struction company. Their head archi.
tect now. Bachelor quarters at the
Frasier Club. Nothing out OF the or.
binary about him that | could dig
up. and I've been digging some"
"What about the other person?"
"I've got you a bang-up lead Ia
work On. Just talked to g. couple Of
Nichols friends who've met her
several times. Her names Volknv.
Sonya Volkoy. Lives In Victoria.
teaches In a private school. and's
secretary for the Emigre Society Of
Canada. That's all was able to find
out. but I've located a party here who
knows her very we'll. and think he
can give you q lot OF details about
her. shall afp around for you in the
star car? 7 Good. I'll be there in
twenty minutes"
j volkoy. songa volkoy- 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. IL go-
Ing to be relieved this coming faIl?"
SIS that so? Who's taking his
placer"
"You."
Curtis cigarette dropped from his
fingers. az"
IF you want 1t. I'VE been doing
some quiet Investigating and know
the lay OF the lanu 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
q personal conference. can tell You
positively that ii you want the fob
I've got enough support lined un to
swing II for you.
"No-" be waved Curtis Interrupt
tion aside don't thank me. I'm
not doing this because you and |
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 It was. He saw Il 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 II outright.
then and there.
Baldwin came. and they started
down town. Parking In section Of
dingy stores. Baldwin took him up q
ersaky stairway and knocked at an
apartment
A young man. O stocky hazel-eyed
foreigner. opened the door. saw
them. and bowed politely.
"Meesier Haldween? Ny fader he
expect you and your freund. Kun IN.
pliz."
He led them into q small sitting
room and siepped out to set his
father.
rURT glanced about the room.
- Everything in Il hreathed Of
imperial Russia-the ikon Of Holy
Mary. q sword ahavefa bookcase. 3
cheap lithogfaph of Nicholas n. =
Kremlin snoW scene. q samovar on
the table. Il was typlcally the dwell.
los Of an emlgrt, living p poverty.
futIIely hoping that some day the
old order would be resurrected from
Is grave and they could return %
homeland. estates. ease.
An old man came N the room. Col.
lowed By the son. His hair was whita.
his thin face ravaged with fnrrowA
Curt judged him close % eighty. He
was astounded later 10 learn that
the man was only ilfty-sevsn.
Baldwin introduced: "Feodor PIE.
khanov. want yon to know MP com.
rade. Mr.. Ralston. He Is the one oe
whom I spokAn
The old Russian bowed graclounly
and made them welcome Curt pitie6
him. His hand vas bony. Ne looked
90 tired and denpaifings and his egss
seemed 20 hold soma great fear 81
their depths--memorles. probably.
OF that horror trail cut % Siberia
He preached his purpose care,