Bobbie ran to the kitchen. "Mother . . . Daddy isn't . . . isn't dead, is he?"
"My darling, no! What makes you think of something so horrible?"
"I . . . I don't know." Bobbie didn't mention the clothes she'd seen in her mother's suitcase.
Mother gave her a quick hug. "Daddy was quite well when I heard from him last," she said. "And he will come back to us one day. Don't think such horrible things!"
Later Mother came into the girls' room. She was going to sleep there, in Phyllis' bed. Peter was also there.
"Now, Mother," said Peter, "tell us about the Russian gentleman. We have been patient. Make a nice long story of it."
"I can't make a long story of it tonight," said Mother. "I'm very tired."
Bobbie could tell from Mother's voice that Mother had been crying. But the others didn't know.
"Well, make it as long as you can," said Phyllis, and Bobbie snuggled up to Mother.
"Well," began Mother. "This man, Mr. Schepansky, wrote a book about how to help poor people. In Russia, criticizing wealthy people is against the rules of the czar. So Mr. Schepansky was sent to prison for three years in Siberia."
"But Mother, that can't be true," cried Peter.
"It is true, my dears," Mother said. "He was sent to prison because of his ideas. He had not done any crime. The prisoners work in the mines in the cold winters. If someone is sick, they are left to die."
"How did he get away?" asked Phyllis.
"He escaped," Mother said. "His wife and children left Russia and came to England. But he doesn't know where they are. When he finds his family, maybe they can live together here." Then Mother looked sad and said, "Let's say a prayer for all prisoners." They did that and went to bed.
But Bobbie stayed up for a while. She had decided to write a letter to the old gentleman. She asked him to meet her the next morning:
My dearest Old Gentleman,
I really want to ask you something. I do not want you to give me anything. Mother says that is wrong. I only want to talk with you about a prisoner. Please get off the train tomorrow so we can talk.
Your little friend, Bobbie
The next morning Bobbie was waiting when the old gentleman got off the train.
"Well," said the old gentleman, tapping Bobbie's shoulder, "what is it?"
"Oh! You came!" replied Bobbie, turning round. "Well . . ." And she told him the story of the Russian.
"Oh!" the old gentleman exclaimed. "I've read his book. It's translated into every European language. It's a noble book. I'll do my best to help him."
"I was sure you could help!" said Bobbie excitedly. "Thank you."
Ten days later the three children sat on the hill watching the 5:15 steam past. When they saw the old gentleman get off the train, they ran to meet him.
"Good news!" he said. "I've found the Russian writer's family! You run and tell him."
Bobbie ran home ahead and told the news to Mother and the Russian. The Russian man cried with happiness. That day he left for London and was reunited with his wife and children.