Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-12-11

Everything depended on Narskine's
attitude. How could they, without at
tracing attention in the crowded port,
render the man harmless?
Finally, there was Sonia, coming
down the river with Puycassou. Jean
closed his eyes and saw her clearly
her fine features and strog, supple
body. He remembered her last hand
clasp-firm, yet gentle. How could
he have left her behind? He worried
more about her than about the prin-
cess for whom they were both risking
their lives. Was it two days or two
years since he had parted from Sonia ?
Footsteps sounded on the wharf.
There was the sound of voices, the
rumble of cartwheels. Through a
rent in the tarpaulin, Jean saw Mar
skine with man who was pushing
handcart loaded with rectangular
metal cans. Narskine stopped short.
Seeing that the Hydra was gone, he
frowned darkly. He was far from
knowing what had actually happened,
and a perfectly natural solution came
to him-the girl was escaping. It was
she who, profiting by his absence had
cast off and sailed away.
The man stared at the river, SEEM
ing to ponder on the direction the boat
had taken; then suddenly he decided
that the Hydra had followed the cur
rent. Tatiana Romanoff, in heading
for the sea, was taking her sole chance
of escape. To travel upstream was to
enter the jaws of a trap.
Narskine smiled cruelty and spoke
rapidly with the man who accompan-
led him. Then he took two cans of
gasoline, leaped into the nearest boat
and cast off.
It was the boat in which Baron Otto
and Jean lay hidden, long fisher
mans craft, easy to handle. Selling
the oars, Narskine rowed out into the
stream.
what luck!" thought Jean. "But
he can't expect to catch up with them
like, that"
At any rate, Narskine, alias George
Frawley was going away from the
port. He was alone; there were two
CT them. Hibeau pressed the Baron's
hand. Lilienthal did not answer
seemed to be sleeping.
With throbbing motor, the Hydra
churned through the troubled waters
between the low bank and the muddy
islands. A man was at the wheel,
and behind him, in the cabin, young
woman was half lying on the cushions.
She did not look at him.
Had she been conscious of the stop
at Tsaritsyn, of the mans departure
and return? She did not seem to be.
During the long voyage the incident
had been repeated many times and
held no more interest for. her. For
the man she felt only fear and con-
tempt.
Tatiana sighed and sat up, opening
her wonderful large eyes and stared
at the water. She was at once beau
tiful and sad.
"Sir," she said in Russian. "Isn't
this to come to an end soon? Will
we ever reach the place you say you
are taking me to-"
At the sound of her voice the man
shuddered but did not answer.
"Sir! Pm talking to you'll" She
went on in the voice of a woman ac-
customd to respect.
The man remained silent. Doubt
and fear were written on Tatiana's
face. She said in an altered voice:
"Did you lie to me? You're quite
likely to. I believed that my misfor-
tunes had changed your feelings, that
remorse had smothered your tyranny.
You begged me to pardon you for
your offenses, you offered to conduct
me secretly, at the risk of your life,
to refuge where you said few faith
full friends were hiding my father and
my family. Foolishly, abandoned by
the man who had wronged me so often
and whom tardy repentance seemed
; to have altered. Will you answer
me? Where is my father? Where
are WEI"
Sir Herbert did not turn. He was
leaning over the wheel, his shoulders
shaking.
"You are laughing at me, you cow
ard!" cried Tatiana.
The baronet turned, his eyes full
of tears. The princess was stupefied.
She knew this mans face, but had
never seen this expression on it be-
fore.
"1m sorry, Your Highness," he said
in English, 81 don't speak Russion. Z"