The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-13

glad to be at home again. Strange,
the way travel changed your idea
of travel. When you accompanied
a war correspondent, she qualified
the thought. Before she saw Spain,
the name Seville" had vaguely
suggested sunshine on the old
stone of castle walls. white, dusty
roads, castanets. the light music
of guitars, orange groves. Now it
conjured up anxiety for their
friends the MataXa's, heat, dust,
fear, firing. When she thought of
Spain. Petrol saw in her mind a
little old woman in black running
across a Sun-scorched street. She
saw her throw up her arms and
fall. to lie in spreading pool of
her own dark red blood. She had
lain in full view of their hotel
window. like that, long after Peter
had gone out, to make sure that
she was dead.
Before she accompanied Peter
to Eastern Europe, she had imag-
med colorful, comic opera coun-
tries Now, she remembered drab,
angry little soldiers in shabby
uniforms, shouting absurd insults
at one another, across the neck of
neutral road between their from
tier barriers. She saw a Bulgarian
civilian. angrier than the rest, be-
cause he found himself compelled
to live among his enemies, sud-
denly whip out an old-fashioned
revolver. and fire a wild shot
which hit the headquarters of
an inoffensive mule. Sufficient!
Thanks to Peters gift for being
in the right place at the right mo-
ment. she no longer associated
YugoSIavia with music, footlights,
and Drury Lane. She remembered
how, for five miles. inWardly hyS-
terical. outWardly calm. she had
held i sopped handkerchief to the
face of young man. who looked
like losing the sight of his right
eye. They had driven him in the
car to the hospital.
Ransom
4 WEEK before Christmas,
n James asked her to spend a
day shopping in town. and to meet
him for dinner, and a theater, in
the evening.
She wa: Just about to start the
car, to drive herself to the station
to catch her train, when she saw
the maid from the Forest House."
She was running down the path.
She waved. she was carrying a
letter Petronella waited. She had
been to dinner with the new peo-
pie who had taken her old home.
Their name was Harringay. They
were kind, middle aged couple.
with no children, They had taken
Mary on as cook, Hodgson as their
gardener. This girl was their new
kitChenmaid.
Good morning, Miss Petrol.
This letter come-look! Cook Won
dered if she might have the
stamps. Russian. she says they
are" The envelope was addressed
Miss Morovitch."
Petrol looked at the letter. She
took an instant dislike to it. She
tore it open. and gave the girl the
heavily postmarked stamps,
She read. Her first reaction was
anger, her second, fear. The Ogpu
had arrested one named Boris
MorCvitch. and were holding him
in custody until his relatives in
England paid eight hundred rubles
ransom. How much was that?
What had this cousin done? Why
had he been arrested? If they sent
the money, would he be allowed
to leave Russia? Petronella went
slowly into the house again. She
telephoned the Daily NeloS office,
and was put through to Martin
RoWdon. He greeted her gladly.
Can | come and see you today?
I've had a letter don't like. or
understand 1t is from the Soviet
Government. I'd like to show it to
you. 1t was sent to my aunt
She heard his exclamation. Il
can't manage lunch. Can you dine
at my home? My wife wants to
meet you "
I'm sorry. the tair haired young
man Is taking me to the theater."
Sensible girl. Glad to hear it.
You'll enjoy it. Come straight
along here, then. Petrol. as soon
as you get to town."
On more she sat in Martin
RoWdon's outer office, waiting to
see him. But this time, she waited
only few moments. He rose from
his desk He shook both her hands.
He sat with the letter smoothed
out before him. scowling at it. He
raised his rough gray head.
ITS lot of money. Can you
afford it? You've been selected as
a sufferer from the Ogpu traffic in
ransoms. They simply arrest citi-
zenS having relatives abroad, and,
without accusing them of any
thing, name the amount of ran
som. If you don't pay, your cousin
will remain in prison While you're
about it, it would probably be
cheaper to pay little more. and
get him out of the country. Other
wise, he may be imprisoned
again"
But it's simply scurrilous!"
Personally. should ignore it
It's a pity you gave cook the
stamps. 1t might have been re-di-
rected back address unknown
But the poor wretch would be
kept in prison."
81 expect So"
I've never seen him, but he is
my cousin His father was mothers
brother. We shall have to pay. The
trouble is. both his sister and
father are living. 1t may COS. us
more. believe my father will con-
tribute as much as he can afford
When he hears about it. He was
very fond of mother" Martin