Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-19
She glanced at Hollywood

before you" She glanced at Hollywood
and stopped.
Go. Valerie: you have nothing to do with
these things
Selpdorf met her as she came toward
him.
You must hear me tonight, father. You
are mistaken. 1 have had a great deal to
do with them. 1 know all that Captain
Hollywood has said to you-yes, / had a
right to know. For it was l who brought
Major Counsellor to the dukes apartments
at the castle, because / knew there was 4
plot against his highness. But ] did not
know 1t was German plot in which Baron
Won Elmur was using Count Sagan. Oh.
you must be on your guard against them.
Who has been frightening you with all
this nonsense" asked Selpdorf, with cold
suspicion.
You don't understand me. father.
know how Captain Colendorp died. I saw
1.-THE struggle and his fall over the cliff.
Then l guessed his highness was in dam
ger. and went to warn him. Captain Raj
lywood, tell my father of Count Sagan's
visit to the dukes rooms in the middle of
the night with Baron Won Elmur. I've.
Isolde and I-heard the shots. You do not
know 1t. but there Is a plot. Your life is
not safe. Captain Hollywood Is right. No
life that stands in Count Sagan's way Is
safe And you, on whom the state de-
pends-you who alone can uphold her lib
erty-you are the first they will try to de-
stroy! He hates you. else why should he
try to kill me?'
oHc Was SilHSiuS 10 his arm
ITO kill you? If 1 thought that was
true-if could believe he meant to injure
you"
The chancellor raised his eyes. At this
t-dfplomatically-he was superb.
He had an air of sagacous decision, an
air of holding master stroke in reserve
whereas he was in reality merely retiring
to "a. NEGATIVE position to wait upon events
Tell me the story he said.
There is nothing further to tell re-
piled Hollywood 'Mademoiseie has given
you the main facts But for her Nassau
would today be province of Germany, in
fact il not in names
Il have been misinforned and deceived
in an incomprehensible manner" the chan
cellor said emphaticaliy. There was still
the matter of Counselor's dispatches.
Nothing was now to be gained by keeping
them, whereas by giving them back to the
old diplomatist, Nassau was sure to profit
for the time at least The difficulty was to
get rid of the packet without loss of pres
tige to himself. Now as to Major Coun-
sellors dispatches he added doubtfully.
You will send them back to him." said
Valerie eagerly.
you cannot see the difficulty of my po-
sition." The chancellor laid his hand upon
her shoulder. ''To be frank with you, and
in confidence Captain Hollywood l have
not been ignorant that an understanding
existed between Count Sagan and the
Baron Elmur. I have even been
obliged to countenance it to a certain ex-
tent. AS you know. they are aware that
THESE QlSDaIcneS nave Deen sent TO me. IL
I use them as my daughter suggests, need
scarcely point out that trouble must ensue,
since I. more or less, represent Nassau
Now we cannot afford to offend Germany.
She only awaits pretext to hurl down her
army Of occupation upon US. Had / never
had those dispatches the way might have
been easier"
His glance at Hollywood held a large re-
proach-
But father. in honesty and Justice.
ut is a case of private justice opposed
to national necessity. If Captain Rally
wood had sacrificed his public to his pri-
country's cause to his oath Of feaity-"
Hollywood understood.
mo one knows 1 am here" he said.
"Ah, true!'
NO one need ever know where the dis
patches have been. In four hours they
shall be with Major Counsellor at the
British legation
IF you. Captain Hollywood. will bear the
whole responsibility that would simplify
the matter. Otherwise 1t is war" Selp-
dorf looked meaningly at Hollywood as he
spoke.
But Valerie was not deceived.
mot that! Not thatr' she cried.
"It must be that or nothing" Selpdorf
did not look at her, and he spoke almost
brusquely.
II know what it means. They will say
he was false to his oath. Oh. father. is
there no other way? 1 cannot let him got"
Rallywoods face changed. Fate was
CT ushing her two strange gifts into his
hands, love and death at the same mo-
ment. He crossed to Valerie's side. and
drawing her to him his gray eyes looked
their courage and their happiness into
hers
MY darling, this makes it easy. what
ever comes!'
1T may be death! 1t will be deathr' He
WINGED at the low, agonized whisper.
She turned back to her father.
Father, you have power to do anything
you please in Nassau. You will save him
for me. You can save him. Promise me
that or cannot let him go!
Selpdorf was touched. He liked Rally
wood. There was much in the single
hearted soldier that appealed to his SYM
pathies. But
II will not deceive you, Valerie, at such
a time as this he answered gently; Il
cannot fOresee what may happen. / may
not be able to prevent the worst. Captain
Hollywood holds the dispatches He offers
to sacrifice himself for the state, and the
decision rests with YOU.
Valerie buried her face in her hands. The
clock moved noiseessly and on, and
the very air seemed to throb in the silence.
Then the girl raised her head and looked
steadily at Hollywood.
1T would not be love if l said otherwise.
You would not love me If 1 said otherwise.
You must go, joint!
Go be continued)