Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-04-09
CHAPTER Z

the ante-chamber OF llya, AlchoIiylS
stately home. Presently she appear
ed darkly beautiful and hands extend
eed in joyous welcome.
GLOW very nice-what a pleasure,
mon Soldat" (she had gotten the NICK
name from Leonard) 81 have not seen
you in a week."
Then from the gravity of his bear
ing she sensed that something was
wrong and her narrow black Drows
rose little.
"But Soldat-qu est ce quill y-a!"
Her eyes, slightly oblique as are the
eyes of so many Hungarlans, wio-
ened and beneath her golden white
skin the color receded little. "What
is wrong? Not Leonard"
Ian forced a reassuring smile that
drove none of the sharp anxiety from
the family Tartar-like features OF
Leonard's fiancee.
observation-disclosures; Will
tell Won about, my dear. but first you
must promise to say nothing. There
are reasons, good reasons, why this
must be kept quiet"
She made brief impatient gesture.
Leonard is in danger?" It was ter
rible how the anxiety and fear became
stamped on Ilya's sensitive features.
"Quick, tell me! You know 1 would
give my life for Leonard ten times
day."
He laid steadying hand upon her
wrist. easy, easy, Ilya, Leonard's
hurt himself"
In the ante-room sounded a little
gasp as the black haired Hungarian
girl Strengthened, pale as tombstone
but very self-possessed.
"How-how badly is he hurt?" She
gripped the back of a chair and fixed
him with tragic regard. "Tell me
is-he-dead?"
Lord, no! He's past the crisis, but
he's still in danger-He was foollng
with his pistol last night and it went
off,"
Into the strained, jet eyes before
him darted joy indescribable. How
she must love Leonard! lit would
kill her if the truth come out. Well,
he wouldn't let it.
"What do you want me to do, Ian?
You know you have only to command"
Ian's heart warmed to this level
headed parliamentary most girls
would have flown into Mysteries and
wept uselessly, she stood erect and
self-possessed. What an utter ass
Leonard was to throw away a fiancee
like this. He must have been out of his
head to expose this splendid vital girl
to ridicule and pity.
"Get your hat and coat" he said
"and make some excuse to be away
this afternoon. DR.. Crane wants some
one to spell the regular nurse"
She was out of the room before he
finished the sentence and came back,
her features tragic as she pulled on
a black cloth coat and becoming little
cloche hat.
"You may rely upon me, Ian" she
said. eve Zichonyis have been SOL
diers and soldiers wives for a thou
sand years. 1 will not faint or do
anything silly. What shall say when
he becomes conscious"
Merely tell him that you UNDER
stand and that you love him. You
do, don't you?"
Proudly the small head went back
-"With all my heart and SOUL"
During the drive back to his apart
ment, Ian emphasized the necessity
for quiet. Although the thing was an
accident. people would talk, and talk
about a diplomat was serious thing.
Leonard was supposed to be in Paris. /
He might talk wildly but she was TO
nav no attention to it. AS soon as ne
was strong enough they would move
him to a little sanitarium in the coun-
trv. Meanwhile, he relied on her to do
her part.
He paused at Cne cufp diu Ai"A5
open the door, touched and admirlng
her self-possesion as she got out and
with short, quick steps hurried into
the building. Then Ian put the big
car in gear and rolled off, doubly de-
termined. 1t was worth a bitter fight
to save the ideals and happiness OF
such a girl.
AS Ian idled about a certain smart
flower shop on the Andrassy Ut wait
ing for a corsage of the florists love-
Hest and rarest orchids to be made up,
he started. A large and suspicious
looking policeman had halted outside