THE LAST COMMAND

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 40, 25 September 1928, Page 3

THE LAST COMMAND

REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA. The following is the first part of the story of; the Russian Revolution, entitled "The. Last Command." It is adapted for the Paramount picture starring Emil Jennings. THE PRISON PULE; Next morning a small crowd was gathered in the hallway; while at tii.o table in the centre ;i group of officers sat examining their papers. Ruthless measures were being resorted! to in an effort to check the rising tide of revolution, and the prison of the town was- already full cf suspected persons. In. the crowd stood Leo Andreyev and Natalie Dabrava. Natalie, beautiful, calm, and seemingly unconcerned with what was going on around her; Andrew very nervously lingering !u'.s cap, his shifty eyes straying rouiicj the room, but always coming back to small group of men at the table. An'orderly called their names, and they walked slowly to the table. The Adjutant raised hJ° eyes for an instant, and regarded them narrowly. •"Your passports please," he said. Ho took them without a word), and 6r|iminied them carefully. "Kindly wait here," he ordered rising- from the- table, ho strode across the room, and disappeared up the stairs. Entering the office he found His Imperial Highness lolling in an easy chair while his servant held a match to a long Russian cigarette. ; EXAMINING PASSPORTS. "Ah! Michael!" said Sergius, rising, "you have brought the passports, I s ee. Let us take them, to the table, and examine thiem." The adjutant handed him the documents, and for a while .the. Grand Duke studied them silently, then, looking up with a cynical smile, lie remarked': "Let's, have them up—he's dangerous enough); and—she's pretty enough to merit my;personal attention." The Adjutant] smiled, and turned to leave-the room. He was arrested, however, by a curious sight in the adjoining apartment, the door of which stood slightly ajar. Alexisi, tile dark man servant, wasi standing in front of a mirror, with the Grand Duke's great-coat wrapped around lijis shoulder s and one" of his cigarettes between his lips. .The Adjutant flung back the door, and the man sprang round, an expression of fear on his ihe'e": He stood" rigidly at attention, as- the Grand Duke, who bad risen from his table, walked slowly i into the room. *'This is the second time this week you've worn my coat and smoked my cigarettes," 3\3 said striking with. his. whip the cigarette, which still tremHed on the man's lip. SHOOTING ORDERED. "Jf he does it again, remove the coat and shoot the contents," he ordered turning to the Adjutant. "Very good, sir," said the latter, as he followed the Russian Commander from the room. In a few minutes the door of the office was opened to admit Andreyev and! Natalie Dabrova. The former was obviously ill at ease, his dark eyes betrying a -concern that he strove an vain to conceal. Natalie, however, still preserved that contemptuous reserve that' had characterised her former attitude'. Sergiu s ' did not m much as raise hig, eyes on' their entry, and it was some while before he looked up and glanced inquiringly at the Adjutant. The latter' indicated the passports,, and' with a; half-smile the Duke took the' papers, and scrutinised them for some time.

At last he spoke, slowly, «s though weighing every word. "So you two are serving your country by —acting, eh?" He paused for a moment, and critically surveyed] Andreyev through half-closed lids. FIGHTING* FOR HER LIFE, "A fine patriotic service when Russia i 9 fighjting for her life! Why aren't you in uniform?" Leo Andreyev moistened his 'lips, and replied! in a surly voice, "My lungs, are Weali." "Perhaps it is your courage that is weak." said Scrgius contemptuously. The revolutionary flushed, his eyes Mazing. "It does not require courage to send othersi to battle and death," he said. There was a dead silence in the room as the Russian Commander rose slowly to his feet, gapping his riding switch that lay across the table in front of him. Ho was white with anger a,q ho raised his whip, and struck the revolutionary a cruel blow across his face. Andreyev startet! backward, and recoiled against the wall, a crimson weal showing on his cheek. "Put him under arrest," Sergms commanded as he sat down heavily in his chair. Two. soldiers stepped for-

ward, and taking Andreyev by the ami led him from the room. PART 2. There was silence in the room for some timo and then the Russian Commander looking up) with a, smile, waved Natalie Dabrava to fi chair. lb was a swift, change of mood but was characteristic of the man. Quick to anger and stern as a soldier, he was at hear.t a man of genii disposition. Reaching out for the box of cigarettes which lay among the litter of papers on his desk, he rose from his chair. "You would at least honour me so far as to accept one of my cigarettes?" A pair of keen black eyes regarded him narrowly for a moment, as the woman took one from the box and leaned slightly forward as Sergius held tho match. "Tell me," sad he, "What is this man to you?" She shrugged her shoulders—— "Why—nothing at all. You have heard of him iu> doubt. Ho is Leo' Andreyev, director of the Imperial Theatre." ■>. (To be Continued-.)