Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-12-04
[&IXTIAMNy 3R GliEK6

given. An investigation will take
hours and the day will be far gone
before they get on our track. There's
only one thing to fear-the tele-
graph"
That's all true" said the newspap-
er man. "Still :"
1--WE are going to separate" Sonia
declared authoritatively.
"Sir Herbert and Jean Hibeau will
return to Kazan."
"Kazan? You must be mad!"
! mo. It's the best way to avert
suspicion and throw the police off our
track" explained the girl. Here's the
coach, and the horse is rested now.
Nobody's on the road. Sir Herbert
and Hibeau are the least suspected /;
there are no witnesses against them
al the monastery. The driver can COM
plain only against me who threatened
him, and the Baron who tied him up"
"I still don't see" Jean began.
"Wait minute" interrupted Sonia.
"You can tell them story of how you
were lured into the carriage, how you
were overpowered-tied and blindfold-
ed. You'll have lots of time to make
UP a good one. Well tear up the
coachman's coat, tie your arms and
legs, blindfold you, put you into the
wagon ID turn the horse loose. He'll
ero hack m tho StahlaS1
us that all" asked Sir Herbert,
nodding.
Eyes, but wait-lend me your mon
ey; Iii need it. Can you get more?"
Sonia continued at top speed.
Surely. The guarantee of the
British Ambassador at Moscow"
"Never mind the details now-hurry
Tell your story so that they will be
as far off our track as possible. Give
them the idea that your assailants
took the train to Moscow, which is
plausible enough"
"The plan is bold one. l must,
however, pursue that -"
"You can't do it standing here
said Sonia impatiently. "At Kazan,
once free, you can take the railroad,
which is the fastest way of getting
to the lower Volga, to point not yet
reached by Serge Narskine. It's
more than a thousand miles from Ka-
IAN to Astrakhan. For a boat it will
take three or four days. Judging
from that, you can see how much time
you have, and reach the river either
at Stratov, Tsaritsyn or Astrakhan.
Far from retarding you, my plan will
gain hours"
"All right then. But if we are de-
layed in Kazan? If Narski-e leaves
the river somewhere along the route
and goes overland?" quizzed Jean.
with a companion, whose photo
graphs have been sent everywhere T?
Whose slightest feature is known to
every mujik? Narskine will stay out
of sight. He has more to conceal
than we have, and is risking his life,
as we'll as the girls. Besides, with
or without other help, I'll catch up
with them, as sure as my name is
Sonia Strogoff!"
"How, in heavens name?" cried
Jean.
81 don't know yet, but I'll know
within the hour"
Sonia, you said you were a soldier
-. soldier, indeed-you're a gen.
eral!" The girl smiled at the young
artist and held out her hand.
"Goodby, Comrade, may Heaven
guide US. Good-by, Sir Herbert, ard
trust me-"
A few moments later the horse was
plodding towards Kazan, drawing a
coach in which lay the two men, bound
and gagged. Thoughtfully, Sonia
watched it disappear Then she turn
ed to her two compa ions. Baron Of
10 had closed his eyes. An old SOL
der, ne could s.eep anywhere, any
time.
Puycassou was not so much at ease.
Your conduct in regard to US is
strange" he grumbied, II don't like
this business. The Baron and l are
the least guilty we are now the
most compromised. You use US and
then abandon u.s."
You're unjust, my friend. You can
see that Pm not deserving you. I'll
either save you or be lost with you
Let's wake your friend; it's morning "