e to obtain the money for her expenses? She
had nothing of her own except the few roubles which she was paid for her
work and which she had forfeited when she undertook to care for Sonya
Valesky. In all probability when Mildred Thornton knew her mission she
could borrow the money from her. But then this would mean a delay so
long that she might be of no service to Sonya. For Mildred kept only a
small amount of extra money with her and would be compelled to write her
father for any large sum. Weeks would pass before Judge Thornton could
receive his daughter's request and then there would be more time
required for the transmission of the check.

However, besides Mildred there was Eugenia who could be appealed to for
aid. There was no doubt of Eugenia's assistance, once she learned Sonya
Valesky's story and realized why she had seemed a suspicious character
to all of them in the days of their meeting on board the "Philadelphia."
But Eugenia was away off somewhere in France nursing in a Red Cross
hospital near her husband's line of trenches. It would also take time to
reach Eugenia. Nevertheless she was the best person to whom to make a
request.

"But what connection have you with Sonya Valesky? Why should you not be
willing to leave her to her fate?" Lieutenant Orlaff had to ask the
second time before Nona heard him. "You have done what you could in
nursing her through a dangerous illness; friendship could expect nothing
more. Besides, you are an American girl and can have only a slight
acquaintance with Sonya."

Again Nona Davis did not reply immediately. How much or how little
should she take the Russian officer into her confidence? However, it
did not seem to her of much importance then.

"You are mistaken. I am not simply an American girl," Nona explained
quietly. "My father was an American, but my mother was a Russian. She
and Sonya Valesky knew each other as girls, although my mother was the
older. There is a stronger tie between us than you imagine. And I have
reason to believe that my mother once thought as Sonya does about many
things."

"Your mother, impossible!" Michael Orlaff exclaimed, with more
consternation and regret in his voice than was reasonable. "But you,
surely you cherish no such ideas?"

The American girl shook her head, although she seemed to be pondering
over her companion's question before replying.

"No," she returned at last. "I have no such ideas and I believe never
will have them. Ev