British Agent (Warner Bros.) (1934)

BRITISH AGENT The story of First National’s film hit fictionized by Arthur Zellner, inspired by R. H. Bruce Lockhart’s book. THE STORY THUS FAR Despite their love for each other, Stephen Locke, unofficial British agent in Russia, and Elena, whose life he had saved in a street riot, find themselves opposing each other’s work. Locke wants to prevent Russia from quitting the Allies. Elena is an agent of the Secret Police. Locke and other representatives of the Allies plan a counter revolution. CHAPTER VII ITH the Government moved to Moscow, Stephen Locke realized that there was no possible use for him in Petrograd. He sent a short note to the home office and with Evans followed the Soviet administration to Moscow. He went straight to the consulate, where he had formerly worked and made this his headquarters. His few effects were soon in place and he was settled again. “Well,” he said to Evans, “Here I am until the Cheka asks me what the blazes I’m doing in Moscow.” “If I might ask sir, what are you doing here.” Locke shrugged. “I’m not exactly certain, but the Soviet Government is here and I have a hunch I ean establish some sort of contact with them; maybe wheedle, coerce or tempt them back into the war.” A few minutes later, with a great din of shouting and banter—Medill burst into the room, followed by Del Val and LaFarge. “Greetings” said Stephen, “How long have you fellows been here? “About a week” Medill anred. “Sit down FiM-have BHvans dig up a drink.” “We’re in a hurry” said Del Val. “You know” said LaFarge, “The Czar has been assassinated.” “Yes I know” said Locke. “Horrible—horrible.” “Did you know,” asked LaFarge, “that an attempt is being made to reorganize the White Army ?” “By whom?” asked Locke. “A Lettish officer named Zvobodu—he has control over the eadets here in Moscow.” Locke thought this over and LaFarge added details. “He is in contact with Kormuloff in the North and Shubin at Kiev—if he can unite them, there would be a fighting chance to_overthroz:-the Soviet and oct _ Russia back into the war.” “Even if you are right, we _ Must be careful not to compro mise our position.” “I could ask my government __badu_ Their countries would never sanction it—to fail means certain death! To succeed means that England, America, Italy and France will rejoice—(Plotting a counter revolution in First National’s screen story of the life of a “British Agent,” starring Kay Francis and Leslie Howard. The film will be shown at the Strand Theatre soon.) for five million franes” said Del Val. “Tf I did anything about it” said Locke. “It would be on my own responsibility. My country would never listen to a scheme to help a revolution. Could I talk with the Lettish officer?” “We have him in a cozy little garret, where the spies haven’t yet found the keyhole. Come on and talk to him.” For the next several days, Stephen spent most of his time in the little garret, helping check off the guns and ammunitions which he had help purchase. Zvoleft_on his mission to consolidate the forces of the North and South. Meanwhile one morning, Elena appeared at the office of the Cheka and was shown at once to Pavlov’s private den. As she entered, Pavlov motioned two of his guards outside and as soon as the door closed joined her in front of his desk. “You sent for me, Pavlov” “You look tired.” He said ignoring her question. “A little” she admitted, but it doesn’t matter. It’s Lenin, I’m worried about. He’s not a man, he’s an immortal.” “When you follow a man like that,’ said Pavlov, “you must forget all your personal emotions. You know that. It makes it easier for me to speak to you now. It’s about Locke.” “Locke,” she repeated mechanieally. “We have reason to believe he is supporting the White revolt. We want sufficient evidence to arrest him.” “What do you want me to do?” She tried to repress the terror in her heart. “T have a check here I want you to give to a certain Lettish officer named Zvobodu. Give him this check and ‘tell him it is from Locke and demand a receipt in full for all monies paid to Zvobodu by Locke so far. If the receipt is over the amount of this check, it will prove that Locke has contributed money to him. Your knowledge of Locke and the gift of this check should convince him you are an accomplice of Locke.” * sit “You will have it” said Elena, without raising her eyes. : “Tonight?” asked Pavlov eargerly. “No,” said Elena her tone dead and expressionless, “Tomorrow morning.” That night, Elena did not see Stephen. He remained in the garret awaiting news of Zvobodu. At the telegraph instrument, Medill was trying to establish contact with other secret headquarters. Finally, there was an answer to Medill’s patient calls. He grabbed a pencil and wrote as_ he listened. Locke waited. until Medill finished writing and took the paper from him. The news was not one blow but two. Kormuloff had been able to get through and the White Army at Kiev had deserted. lLaFarge came in and they told him the news: “Our only hope” said Locke “Ts that Del Val is able to find Zvobodu who is holding the ¢adets in line.” A half hour later, Del Val returned. He asked for a drink and sank into a chair. Locke handed him “a grass or ~pranuy~ which he gulped down. Then he spoke :— “Zvobodu is dead.” (To Be Continued Tomorrow) BRITISH AGENT The story of First National’s film hit fictionized by Arthur Zellner, inspired by R. H. Bruce Lockhart’s book. THE STORY THUS FAR Although Stephen Locke, British consular agent in Russia, knows that Elena, the beautiful young aristocrat whose life he had saved mm a street riot, is a spy for the Russian secret police, he returns her devotion. Locke and his friends plan a counter revolution, but their schemes are thwarted through the agency of Elena. CHAPTER VIII | ee the moment Locke was beaten. His volatile nature was naturally subject to depths of depression to balance his mountains of hope. When he left the arsenal, his mood was of weary disappointment. At the Embassy, Evans sensed that something was wrong when Stephen even waved away Evan’s attempt to speak to him. In the twilight of the sitting room, Elena rose from a chair to greet him. “IT wanted you to be Elena.” He said tiredly. “Don’t say that until you’ve heard why I’ve come.” “Please, Elena, no _ politics.” le. said. “Tt can’t be avoided this time.” She answered. “It doesn’t matter now—” He told her. “It will matter terribly, Stephen, if you don’t understand how a woman can love a man and still fight against him.” “The fighting is all over, Elena. I’m licked. Everything, that stood between us is gone. There’s no place for me to go, no duty, no obligation to anything or anybody but you.” It oceurred to Elena that perhaps in his present state of mind she could show him a way out for both of them, and she leaned here. to take his hand as she said hopefully, “Yes, Stephen you have an obligation to me. And this is to leave Russia.” “With you?” He asked. “I still have work to do — yours is over. There’s nothing to hold you.” “There’s our said. “That,” said Elena, “is why you must go! The Cheka knows you supplied money to Zvobodu.” Locke was not surprised that She knew of this, nor that the Cheka had found it out. Somehow, the knowledge put him on his mettle. The old love of a fight tingled in his veins. His depression fell away as though he had slid a weight from his shoulders. “IT shan’t run” he said. “And love,” Stephen I shan’t say good bye to you, Elena—our love is the only thing left out of the rotten failure l’ve made and I mean ‘to hold on to that.” “If you go tonight Stephen, our love will live’ she was now more tenderly serious. “There may be hope for us when this is all over, but, my darling, believe me when I tell you that if you stay—tomorrow our love will be dead.” “Why—Elena—why ?” “Because — because —” She hesitated, as she called upon her last ounce of courage for strength to say what he might never forgive. “Tell me—” He said sternly— “what is all this.” “Go, Stephen—without my telling. you. Don’t make me explain.” “T refuse to run away and not stand responsible for anything I have done in Russia, unless you have a powerful reason.” “Then—” she faced him bravely now—“You’ll have to stand responsible for killing your own love for me—tomorrow you will be thrown out of Russia on evidence that I got from Zvobodu by representing myself to be your agent.” The blow fell. She looked at him piteously, as though praying* that he would understand. His face grew tense, his mouth a cold hard line. She rose slowly and as she was about to speak again—there was a knock at the door. With bitter sarcasm, Locke whispered — “Perhaps you’d better wait in the next room a moment — it wouldn’t do to have anyone think you were mixing business with pleasure.” She flushed—and bit her lips to hold back the answer that would have parried his nasty stroke. Locke admitted Medill, LaFarge and Del Val. All three were excited. “What is it?” Locke asked. “Lenin,” said Del Val explosively. “He’s been shot.” “The reports are that he is dying,” said Medill. Del Val spoke in his usual calm voice. “There’s a rumor that you had something to do with it.” “You perhaps see” said LaFarge, “that this is our big chance.” “What do you mean?”, asked Locke puzzled. Medill, almost swallowing his gum in the excitement of the moment took over the floor. “Now listen, Steve,” he said. “Tt all adds up—Lenin is dying, that means the Soviet is on the teeter-tooter. A push either way will establish it forever or dump it in the alley.” Del Val spoke. “If we can get in touch with the cadets we can use them as the nucleous around which to reorganize a White Army.” “It’s our last chance” argued Del Val, “To reclaim Russia for the Allies.” “Well” said Stephen slowly, “T might as well see it through all the way. You chaps get over to the garret and try to reach the cadets by telegraph. I’ll join ‘you in. half an hour.” As she had done once before, Elena had disappeared, but this time Stephen felt sure she had heard nothing she could use against him. At least, the address of the garret had not been mentioned. (To Be Continued Tomorrow) . In the secret arsenal, Stephen waits alone for the friends who have already paid the penalty of their futile bravery. (Never has Leslie Howard risen to greater dramatic heights than in his co-starring vehicle with Kay Francis, “British Agent.” This thundering drama is coming to the Strand Theatre this Thursday evening.) Page Twenty-one