Imperial Valley press., 1936-09-06

\ gIKOLAI IVANOV turned into lane wnere
N street lamps floated in the frig1d night hke
ice-ereen bubbles The heels of his boots ground
into the hard-packed snow with crunching,
hollow sound as he walked briskly down the
narrow street. his eyes searching for the num-
ber &C. Silently cursng the circumstances tnal
had forced him to discharge his droschHy at d
distance from his rendezvous, he drew the as
trakhan collar of his greatcoat ABOUT MS NECK
more closely a bleak, bitter wind from tne
steppes blew through the naked, snow -blanketed
streets of Vladivostok with the cutting sharp
ness of sword It had been necessary pre-
caution Regardless of his discomfort, ne was
much too shrewd to take chances
Reflections of brittle stars sparkled on frozen
pools in the cutters like arctic firefies trapped
beneath blue glass. Ivanov stopped snort In sur
nrise as he reached the house. He pushed MS
tarbosh back from his forehead and glued his
ewes on the number. Yes, this was 1t! Beneath
the pale lemon glow of an incandescent lamp,
Sc showed in bold brass numbers on the door.
But the house had not the expected secretive-
ness, for the front was checkerboard OF
lighted windows, opaque with layers OF wnite
frosty ice He hesitated a moment, indecisive.
Unconsciously with gloved hand, he pulled
the tiny frozen particles from his beard where
his breath had been preserved in ice. A fierce
blast of wind bowling through the electrified
air FASTENED his decision. With shrug, he ap-
nroached the house and, with furtive glance
up and down the street, sounded the knocker
Almost instantly the door opened revealing a
woman whose sleek beauty brought a quicken
ing of the Russians pulses. She stood in the
open doorway tall, poised, a black evening gown
nodded about her slender figure She was fire
in ice. as beautiful and as cold as the Siberian
night.
"Pease come in. have been waiting for
you" she said in a low husky voice.
Al1Jr1- Txro.a naf
move to enter.
The woman stepped pace closer. He caught
her enchanting fragrance as it escaped into the
night Enigmatic eyes held him in hypnotic
spell as she whispered, RED blood flows In
white hearts and yellow in red" She paused for
a moment her eyes still holding his, then
speaking aloud, "Yes, 1 am Nastya Alekseev
Please come inside. am getting cold"
1T was enough. She had spoken the words OF
| the order Who was he, Nikolai Ivanov to
leave so beautiful lady standing in the cold +?
He leaned toward her and whispered, THE
eagle flies back to his nest" There was barely
perceptible nod of her head. Quickly he entered
the house. closing the door behind him.
st am sorry. beg thousand pardons. hao
not meant to be rude I assure you. l only
wanted to be sure The lights, the unexpected
well shall I say the pretentiousness of our rem
devious put me on my guard. Is it wise?" Hi
indicated the house with wave of his glovec
hand.
why not? dislike burning candles and hid
ing in icy garrets. No one bothers me. I have g
passport from Moscow, you know"
perhaps you are right" Ivanov agreed az
he shed his coat, gloves, and tarbosh, tossing
them carelessly into chair, He walked with
her in silence as she led the way to a sitting
room where log fire bazed cheerily. They were
hardly seated before it when a maid entered
with a tray of vodka and glasses Nastyf
caught Iyanovs eyes the woman. With .
soft laugh she explained;
IT can afford only one servant She is French
Marie understands word of Russian. Vol
may rest your mind"
"Then we are quite alone?" He glanced sus
piciousy about the big room.
"Quite" she assured him. Nastya Aleksee,
looked at Ivanov long and hard Presently, she
poured two drinks from the bottle of podka
She passed one to him and herself took tht
other. 80 you are Number Sixteen? Faint
whispers of you have come to me about youl
work in Japan. You have accomplished mucf
for the cause. Since word was brought to me
that you were coming here to Vladivostok,
have been looking forward to our meeting
What news do you bring?"
''The best. When Jeff the Manchukuoar
capital few days ago Japanese troops wers
pouring in like flies The anti-Soviet feeling Il
mounting hourly few more well directed
timely attacks across the border and Sovie
Russia and Japan will be at war. The japanese
are ready, anxious. They mean business. TIL,
bait we threw out week ago when we attacket
the Japanese border patrol was the last straw
Troop boats leaving Shimonoseki ever.
night for Manchukuo The Japanese Grand Flee
is in the Yellow Sea. If strike again, notC
while the feeling is high, believe we shall
ignite the spark that will lead us back t.
power In return for assistance the Japan
ese have promised that Russia shall be ours
"It shall be done, my friend Across the 81
berian border not twenty Uersts from camp o
the Japanese border patrol is determined ban'
load w a former general In the arm