Show 40 ra I 1 CHI ANAN GEE AL 9 T IDY HERBERT QUICK AMID ELENA chuc MACMAHON copyright as r the th BOBBS merrial CO W S E a THE STORY commissar soviet quad aad invades the home of kras mn aln aristocrat at kazan walli toe ine purpose of requisitioning the place for or government use insults the daughter mu bills bia commissar loris lons Is urged to confiscate the home the family C consists of judge kra bin mrs birs krassin ilya former officer and musia borla promises promise to investigate vladimir former ormer officer ricer oi Is Mus lati flance mrs birs grassl expresses fear for her sons safety ilya recognizes in Vl linsky a former df di ste steward viard CHAPTER IV continued 7 even mrs krassin sitting in state on her divan and fazing gaeng on them in ID indecision perplexity and fear attracted no more attention than a single sharp glance from Vl linsky as it if he were wondering whether or not he were recognized ile he took its his stand in the middle of the room feet wide hands on his hips he inspected the premises like a buyer at ain an auction or a prospective tenant looking the place over critically and as he walked about the alie little clerk followed with a portfolio and notebook trotting about his master first on one side and then on the other like a little dog likely to run between leg and be rebuked or struck tor for it his back bent in servility they talked about the room hillosky Vill Vil losky pointed to the windows with the remark that the curtains were too dark this room bill do for the reception room said he be put cut it will have to be alter altered ed according to your notes and hive have more mirrors I 1 like mirrors and those other things I 1 told you about haie hae you the memoranda this conversation did not sound like the talk mrs krassin had expected from a man in a peasants blouse but bat on second glance the man did not look like a peasant it was a perceptible cep tible length of time before she was impressed with the sense of insult and degradation which swept over her at their insolence and then her face flushed and her hands clenched the blood of a thousand years of lew flew in hot rage to tile very ends of her fingers and flooded her brain she partly rose then sank back into her chair as her caution returned where was ilya and as another inspection spec tion aroused her suspicions that this was that very thievish steward who had had ilya hya followed to his home perhaps she put her pride under her feet quickly way may I 1 ask said she approaching Vl linsky what it Is that you desire here bere did not take even the trouble to t look sneeringly at her ile he was a master of insult ile he threw a alarce at t her over his shoulder and resumed ted his inspection of the lie palace they said the clerk using a servile form of espres expression slon and bowing with admiring pride toward the commander are looking at this house for themselves 1 I scarcely understand said she to Vl linsky what your clerk can mean if they like the house suld said the clerk after Vl linsky had indicated that he be meant to pay no DO attention to the ladys question you will have to move out within eight hours exclaimed Vl linsky promptly but ve e have no place to go 1 protested mrs krassin still incredulous as to the genuineness of the threat aana and I 1 could not move my belongings in III so short a time your belongings belongIng sl I 1 said eald Villus kv with his back toward her you won t have to move your be belongings loDgIngs as you call them I 1 Tova risch Vill said the clerk will choose what ile he needs you can then take away what Is left if there Is anything lut mrs ri raWn began to protest but I 1 Is shouted Vl Vil linsky lusky in mimicry enough of youl bloodthirsty parasite I 1 you have lived lived while lille better people have bine been blin starving irving or in prison 1 now Is our time to live and to choose choom I 1 have no time to argue with you I 1 it you are to get out went on the clerk you will receive an order our house registry book said mrs krassan la in her most diplomatic tone lone has just been returned from the militia I 1 request you to look at it fco that you may see how many people are living in this house at tile ont time 11 its not worth while snapped linsky Vl with an impatient motion mollon my time Is too precious now this rooms room s addressing tile the clerk put down as my illy private office and this but this Is a rown room le e have seen before nho ho can show us this ahls house so we may not flot lobe time by getting lost aur our beaves eel Bel ves its I 1 1 I shall be glad to show chow you said mrs krassin Krass ln still diplomatic and with all her hostess dignity looked at her with something like amusement lead on said he with large jocularity maybe well keep you on as housekeeper I 1 should like that 1 I and then began that strange tour through the old and labyrinthine establishment the end ot of which we have seen it in muelas suite always mrs krassin Krass ln tile like the hen pheasant con COD bealing her nest and her fledgling sought to evade the necessity of surprising pirl sing ilya in his room she thought of protecting DO one else she entered the rooms of vladimir and the young men the discovery of whom would have been like the unwAr unearthing thing of a treasure to with no attempt to give naming arning and finding them deserted she merely explained that they were occupied by members of their exten extensile she family who had bad taken refuge in kazan all the time she was vainly seeking some way to convey a message of warning to ilya in III his room sometimes linsky Vl opened the door to a room which mrs krassan said he had seen to find out whether or not she was dee deceiving elving him film always ne found that she had told him the truth all the time she glie vias as forced nearer Y enough of you bloodthirsty par agite and nearer to the necessity of going eing into inta 0 her sons room and of thus bringing him and this terror face to face it filled filed her with dread Vill bad shown his ferocity in his behavior to her and she remembered what ilya had said when slie she asked him dim if had recognized him as one of the family at whose complaint he had gone to prison so long ago yes I 1 believe he be knew me mel I 1 I 1 am sure he did P was there in her mind the secret thought that if illinsky once was introduced trod into her daughters room he would forget this dreadful quest for ilya which she suspected she could not have told you it if she had tried probably and she would not have tried whatever may have been la in the mind of that agonized and perplexed mother she now played tile card site she bad been holding back as she reached ilyas door she achet calmly past it and stopped at eslas Mu Ns las how about tills door old lady asked Vill pausing at the entrance to ilyas suite again slie she was diplomatic she allowed a slow smile of half contempt as if at his ignorance and stupidity to curl her lips TO CE BE 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