Cossack cap of lamb's wool and held it in
his hand as though he had been a young American meeting a group of
friends upon an ordinary thoroughfare.

Barbara was struck by the incongruity of his appearance and his
behavior. He looked like a half-civilized warrior of centuries ago, and
yet his manner was the conventional one of today. However, it would not
be wise to expect him to remain conventional under unusual conditions.
Barbara could see that the young Russian officer was a son of the east,
not the west. He had a peculiar Oriental pallor and long, slanting dark
eyes, and his small black moustache scarcely concealed the thin red
lines of his lips.

Nona was frowning at him in a puzzled fashion.

But the next instant she bowed with an expression of recognition.

"Thank you, we will do as you suggest. It is odd to see you so soon
again after our unexpected meeting the other afternoon. Lieutenant
Orlaff, this is my friend, Miss Meade."

Barbara inclined her head, too surprised to do more. But as the Russian
officer continued to walk beside them with his horse following, she soon
understood where he and Nona had met each other.

"Yes, she is an old friend, Sonya Valesky. I knew her years ago and then
she went away into other countries."

The young Russian hesitated. Barbara and Nona were both watching his
face closely, so that they could see the cloud of doubt, even of
struggle, that swept over it.

"You are strangers in my country, but you have come here to help us in
our need," he protested, almost as if he were thinking aloud.

"I would not have you doubt my friend. I cannot explain to you, and
yet I wish to warn you. Do not be too intimate with Sonya Valesky.
Russia is not like other countries in times of war or peace. She has
many problems, tragedies of her own to overcome which the foreigner
cannot understand. Forgive me if I should not have spoken."

Then before either girl could fully grasp what the young man's confused
speech could mean, he had bowed, mounted his horse and ridden off.

CHAPTER V

_Out of the Past_

But circumstances afterwards made it impossible for Nona Davis to follow
the young Russian officer's advice.

A week went by at the hospital without a decision on the girl's part
and without another word from her former friend. Sonya Valesky she must
remember was her Russian name. A beautiful name and somehow it seemed
to fit the personality of the woman whom Nona at once adm