Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-04-23
CHAPTER 9

Noires flirted at his nostrils. "That
was in the winter of '20-'21-at the
end of ten years Bobskine swore to re-
lease me, together with my brother
and sister; they are still in Russia"
$50 they're being kept as hostage?"
eyes. Tonight they are prisoners
at Podolsk on the Polish-Soviet bor-
der"
"And when will they CROSSE"
The girl drew deep, shuddering
breath. Tonight or never. Bobskine
forces me on-but wait. For several
years l was held in Moscow where my
gift for languages was useful to the
Ogpu. 1t was hell, but had to save
Olushka and Feodor and it was bet
ter than the shame of playing the in
ternational adventures.
"A year ago 1 was ordered to as
sumo my mothers title-she was
Grafin Won Waldeck before her mar
rage. l was sent to claim her very
valuable estates in Austria. Every
where 1 went Bobskine was always
with me. Re-established, he forced
me to-this wretched game. At his
command was forced to flirt, to en-
tangle certain attaches, poor souls!
Their blood is on my head"
She bent on him deliberate search
ing glance, as Ian cried incredulously.
"But this devil Bobskine. He can't
be that jolly pink and white little fell
low saw at dinner last night"
For answer Lolita twitched aside
her wide sleeve to expose the red
mark he had seen earlier that day.
"No?" she whispered and her eyes
were like blue ice. "Last night he
did this-when I refused to ask your
friend Leonard for a copy of a GER
tain treaty."
At the sight of that tender white
shoulder marred by the atrociuos red
mark, Ian felt his painfully regained
self-control slipping!
eye gods!" he growled, "just let me
get at that"
"No, no." she painted, wide-eyed
with fear. "You see my despair? If
the Commissar at Podolsk does not
hear favorably from Bobskine tonight
Olushka and Feodor will die such a
death as would make Siberian wolf
shed tears of pity"
"And if he hears that all is well?"
demanded Ian, very thoughtful.
The expression on that lovely, fear
haunted face became lit with an &C.
static joy. "Then my sister and
brother cross the border and are safe.
Bobskine has his faults-a million of
them, but he keeps his word"
'Well," inquired Ian cautiously,
4'did you get the treaty."
Jerkily, the girls head in it's broad
brimmed leghorn hat inclined and she
stared at Ian with eyes that were
wholly tragic.
eyes, and no. will tell you every
thing-mon cher. Last night for the
reasons 1 have told, tempted your
friend, promised him everything and
and" she shot him a sudden
shrewd look, "but I am sure that you
know-you are here to recover the
stolen treaty"
"Yes," Ian admitted, and immed'
Iately cursed his precipitation. "Lat-
er, l have an offer to make-but now
am only interested in helping YOU
And there was to his words the ring
of truth,
"Do you really mean that?" she
inquired very quietly and with evil
dent relief.
eyes. Do 1 understand that your
period of service to the Soviets ends
with the matter of this treaty."
"That is right" she murmured anc
her hands closed spasmodically. 'YoU
who have always been free, cannot
know what freedom means. AS fol
me, II have been slave, worse thar
a slave, since to the world I have
seemed to be my own mistress. Nc
one blames a slave for doing vile
things; everyone knows the choice Of
conduct is not his or hers"
Ian Strengthened, offered his com
panion a cigarette from his silvel
case and, when she shook her head
lit one with great care. He wanted
time to think. The key to success:
lay near at hand. A bit of clevernes.
and he might win. A bit of careless
ness and dark tragedy was at hand
Dare he trust Lolita? He loved hel
in any case he had to have her
Why then, why not gamble on he
honesty? Trust to courage and re
source if a chance came to win-oth