The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-13
Chapter ~
Letter From Russia

4N.9r Letter From Russia
Z oWDEN regarded Petrol for a
~ minute. He grunted. Looking
back over the years he had known
the two MalloneS, he had to admit
mat, up TO the present. she had
certainly helped. rather than him
-oered Peter. Perhaps it might be
aswell to give ner a little sound
advice on his behalf? She was
more likely to listen than he was.
She seemed to have her pretty
head well screwed on. this slender,
gray-eyed girl. whom. he was be-
ginning to like so well. She had
common sense, combined with
imagination. and emotional con-
troll. He had dlscoV her
strength. the day she tlev to Ger
many with such determination.
Since you seem to be serious.
I'll hand you the works. Petrol.
You must know some of the tips
and golden rules for all journal
lists" He took out a pencil and an
envelope. 81 shall write them out
for you. See that Peter digests
them. will you? There are a good
many things"
Like throwing away blotting
paper. and never saying important
things over telephones"
"Yes. and managing to stay in
country. writing politely little, IN
stead of being chucked out. for one
unvarniShed home truth! know
they sound like secret service
melodrama But you'll do we'll to
keep them in mind. BY the way. !
checked uE on your Rene Howard.
and the Baroness Won CratZ. Inter
esting coupled Your instinct was
right. Petrol. Heavens knows how
you women do it, Now this is con
fidential. mind YOU You were
helped by one of our secret
agents."
I'm NO, really surprised"
The old girl. 'eur Won Crat7
was a great beauty IN her day. A
French actress who married INTO
the PruSSian ariStocracy. She had
a lot of friends. But she lost every
penny in the time of the initiation
Rene Howard saw the advantages
of her connection. her reputation.
and her mental simplicity. He
adopted her as his aunt. uses her
facade as a screen. Let's the world
think he is her playboy. Actually
he pays her a good salary on the
nail every month
Petrol nodded so that was it!
I couldn't help liking him. Poor
Renel Surely his secret ought to
be guarded very carefully"
"Yes."
sought you and / to know"
"His chief told me He's a friend
OF mine. An old friend, Pet ell. He
let Rene help you. because Peter
is my man. But ! thought you
might like TO have the information
some time Rene plays pretty
lonely hand You may run into
him again. He helped you. you
may be able to help him. I'm glad
you realized. before explained to
you. that his secret mustn't be al
lowed to stray"
Il may tell Peter but probably
not. Certainly no one else"
That's right When will you
leave for Vienna?"
"The day after tomorrow won
der-how long it will be before we
move into the cottage?" she sighed.
halt laughing. Where do you
think. Mr. RoWdon we're hkely to
60 next? Peter is terribly keen to
get to Russia. He speaks Russian.
We have some relations" Martin
Rowdon cooked an amused eve al
her.
''He believes in asking for
trouble, doesn't he? Later on, per-
hapsI But not just yet. He is mex
perienced. 1t is very tricky coun-
try; seething with conspiracy"
Keep Clear
"IT SOUNDS scary Often. won
a der what my mothers fam
lily must have gone through |
have never seen them My moth
er's brother and two cousins live
somewhere near Kiefi Their
mother died soon after the war.
They wrote. about four years ago,
saying they were coming to Eng
land. We answered. Aunt Maisie
offered to have the girl and boy to
stay. But they never CANT"
III / were you, I'd keep ex-
tremely clear of any Russian rela.
tiens." advised Martin Rowdon.
But although he did not wish to do
so. he found himself pigeon holing
the information she had given him
in his mind. It might be useful. at
some future date.
81 think you will find it health
Ter. and much more beautiful in
Czechoslovakia," he smiled at her.
They spent the following Christ.
mas in England. at the cottage.
Petronella returned home two
weeks ahead of Peter. She left him
insYugoslavia. She wanted to put
the cottage in order. Her move to
their little home at the gate of the
re-occupied "Forest House" had
beer. twice prevented. First, by
her joining Peter in Vienna. Next,
after the operation in London.
which had put his troublesome
shoulder right again. when he was
sent to Madrid. James and Mrs.
Randall had had to come to the
rescue. and supervise the final re-
decorations, and the addition of
the bathroom. Now she stayed
three days with them, while the
rest OF the furniture was at last
moved H.. Once more, she spent
busy days sewing curtains.
She had plenty to engage her