The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-09

no draft treaty was TO be found amongst
| them.
IN take my oath" Sir Robert remark
co. IA trembling tones, that 1 placed the
documents there last night at eleven.
locked up the safe carefully, and put the
Key in my pocket. had one cigar in the
smoking room afterwards"
An! That would be after all the rest
] OF US had gone to bed. Were you aIone?'
no, Lobanoff was with me. / dropped
20 sleep for few minutes over my cigar,
ana when came to myself Lebanon had
sohe. But the key of the safe was in my
lspoeket. L found it there this morning"
Tell me. did you feel tired and heavy
when you woke?"
Well, yes, come to think of it, But I
| fail to Sec
"Pshaw! Lobanoff's presence here is ex-
plained. Russia is at the bottom of it. of
course. You were drugged with some po-
tent yet transient poison. Don't look like
that, my dear old friend; I cannot blame
| you. 1 am ruined"
Who speaks about ruin?''
Inc two old men turned with a start.
Bob stood there. Moved by the impulse of
| a sympathetic longing, Sir Robert told the
story.
What an Internal shame!" Bob cried.
''Of course, it is not for me to advise you,
but if were you 1 should go on just as
II nothing had happened. Don't let Loba-
noff see you have discovered your loss.
We may hit upon some way of getting the
document back. We might pay him off in
his own coin.'
mot in my house." Sir Robert said
sternly.
''All the same, the lad is right" NAL
travers replied. Heaven grant that there
may be some way found out of the dill
| Guilty."
Hearts may ache ana eyes smart with
tears restrained. but men must dine I'm
der the pools of light cast by shaded
lamps the guests sat and chatted mer-
rily. None were more gay than Sir Rob-
ert and Maltravers. Diplomacy formed
the staple food for conversation. The
state of Sparta gave a start to the dis
course.
Depend upon it," Maltravers remark
ed that the late King Hugo did wise
and patriotic thing when he resigned the
throne and went into voluntary exile. He
had done the fighting, and his exit sooth-
ed wounded pride. and made the way clear
for the needed social reforms. A man in
a million"
Nobody seemed to combat this state
ment, and the meal proceeded. King
Hugo's utter disappearance had created
a profound impression three years before,
but it had become ancient history by this
time. and some of the younger men were
playing with their cigarette cases impa-
tiently. Lady Conway took the hint, tax
ing a rustling train of silks and scents
after her.
One-or.two of the men drifted out on the
terrace. Bob drifted further still, and that
was out into the park Once out of sight
he began to slide along more quickly I'M
til he came under the shadow of a spread
ing oak. where he paused.
A minute or two later and girl Joined
him. II was Corona Antony. rare
smile trembled on her lips, there was
proud, yet shy, welcome in her eyes.
How good of your Bob whispered
"Say, rather how good of both of u.s."
was the reply. "And how wrong of both
of u.s.
"Why? My dear Corona, if you only
knew
my dear Bob. if your mother only
knewr
She had him there. But youth is ever
sanguine, and Bob had always been
spoilt boy from the early days
MY mother will come to love you yet"
he cried.
Never so much as you do" Corona
said decisively. mo, / shant let you
kiss me. 1 am not going to be kissed I'M
til-well, until your mother says you may.
And now tell me all the news. l am al.
ways interested in the doings of great peo-
ple."
Almost before Bob was aware Of the
fact he had told the story of the missing
treaty. Corona surprised him by the in
telligent interest she betrayed, and the
comprehensive grasp of the whole ques-
ton at issue.
Il know the country WE'LL" she said.
my father-but never mind my father.
The question is-whom do you suspect?'
We'll" Bob replied, there is a man call
ed Lobanoff-"
"Lobanoff! Ivan Lobanoff! Did / hear
the name arlght?"
Bob regarded the speaker with amaze
ment She seemed to have grown inches
taller. She might have been a queen re-
buking a criminous subject With a ring
Of command in her voice, she turned to
Bob
Fetch that man to me at once" she
said. II will wait here. Coz
Bob went. He couldn't help 1t. Had
Corona ordered him to burn down the
court in the same ringing voice. he felt
that he must have obeyed lie found Lo-
banof hanging over the terrace putting
rings Of smoke into the amber air.
Come along with me-" he said. Il
want you"
Lobanof compiled without wasting time
in questions. But as Corona stepped from
behind the tree, his gay air vanished. He
seemed to be framing words with his lips,
but no sound came from them.
Leave US" said Corona TO Bob. you
will please TO retire out Of hearing, but
you need not go out Of sight"
Bob complied, wondering. He saw that
Corona was speaking words of winged
flame.
"You miserable wretch" she was say
ing. II am not going to spare you. A
pretty servant Of the car are you--taking
his money and plotting for his life. A tel
egram TO the chief OF police at st. Peters
burg limiting at a search OF your head
quarters there. and your life is not worth
a months purchase. How do know this?
Your ally. Count Czarny fell into my
brothers hands awhile ago and the COM
promising papers found on him betrayed
you all. False to the car as you are TO
us. why should I spare your"
"Ah, that accounts for Czarny's strange
silence" LObanom cried.
Corona smiled meaningly.
spare me-" Lebanon went on: have
a little mercy / admit my treachery to
the-to your father was great, but / have
tried TO atone My new life"
"You lie." Corona cried, there Is no new
life for you. As well expect the sun 10
shine by night Even here you are play
ing your vile part. sun. am prepared
e.. 80, 81. tsaftt fffa far 10 hafN ssutt.s ne.