Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-11-13
CHAPTER 6

"He's saying: May our Little Faith
er the Car reward you when he re-
turns Many don't believe that Mich
olas Alexandrovitch and his family
are dead"
''But what do you believe, Com
rade?"
The girl stopped. "You should not
ask that kind of question, sir" she
said coldly. 81 don't know you and
you cannot possibly be interested in
my opinions. For your own sake,
keep such talk to yourself. The G..
P. U. is everywhere. Here we are
at the Tverskaia."
81 beg your pardon, mademoiselle
My name is Jean Hibeau, an artist,
and am not interested in politics, for
eign politics especially. I hope you
don't suspect me of spying on you.
We Frenchmen have always been in
terested in the history of old Russia"
The pretty girl bowed her head.
"I've often heard that" she admit
ted. "But it is better to let the dead
lie. The formula of loyalty changes,
and I, Sonia Mikhailevna, serve my
country with the same spirit, though
in different fashion, as my father, Of
ficer in the Preobrajensky regiment,
and my grandfather, Michael Strog-
off, courier of the Gar"
michael Strogoff!" cried Jean.
"You're the granddaughter of i. :"
"Will you be still! l am only poor
orphan who, in order to continue her
studies, must labor nights in a work.
shop at the corner of this street. Good
by, Comrade, and forget this. We
probably are not fated to meet again"
81 hope you are mistaken" protest
ed Jean warmly. michael Strogoff's
granddaughter, 1 regret that I must
leave you here"
"Still, you must" said the young
girl smiling.
eyes, I'm afraid so. There's my
friend on the terrace of that cafe over
there"
Sonia turned. Sir Herbert was
seated at table, reckoning to Hibeau.
The girl frowned and her expression
changed brusquely.
81 showed too much confidence,
Comrade," she snapped at the amaz-
ed artist. 81 didn't know that Serge
Narskine was one of your friends"
Jean was about to answer, but she
disappeared in the crowd. He Joined
Frawley, his face preocupied.
"Who was that you were talking
to-" asked the nobleman.
"It was quite romantic. A beauti-
full girl showed me the way here when
] was lost. Her name is Sonia Strog-
off :"
"Strogoff! Singular name. Can
she be related to /. :"
eyes, his granddaughter" answer
ed the young man. Frawley smiled
-thinly; then observed: "You haven't
wasted your day, even if I did. saw
the all-powerful Kamenev, I ate with
the British Ambassador. No one could
or would tell me about my brother,
George. He is unknown in Russia,
and, as you say, Russia is huge
country"
Russia is country of fire and
frost. In winter there are tempera-
lures of forty degrees below zero; in
summer the nights are often Sitting.
The Tverskaia gradually filled with
merrymakers inspired by gypsy and
negro music. The artist and the noble
man looked at the crowded street.
'You haven't told me everything
yet" said Jean. "Why did we cross
Europe to come here? Does the hon
or of your name force you to correct
the misconduct of your brother and to
become the champion of lost cause?
What do you owe the Romanoffs ?"
Sir Herbert put finger to his lips.
"Be CAREFUL" he warned. mention
10 names. Let's walk"
They rose and sought remote sec
ton of the city.
81 am not mad" Sir Herbert went
on, "and Russia's affairs do not inter-
est me. But if George Frawley is
holding in his power someone whom
the world believes dead, he is playing
his own game and not that of the So
Wet. Can I remain inactive before
the misfortune of one who is doubly
menaced-by the Reds who massacred
her family and by the intrigue of my
brother? Placed between two dan
gers, she must throw herself on the
mercy of one to escape the other, I'M
less the only other person who knows