Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-27
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significance.
sagan frowned. Gustave had a curious
arterness about him tonight.
"Yee, poor fellow! We can Ill spare him, -
he said. "Also, we have agreed to propose
Abenfeldt as Junior subaltern."
81 have no objection" the duke said.
AS for the other subject upon which
have for some time wished to speak to you,
sire, l am authorized to lay before your
h~ighness certain proposals."
stop, my lord" again interrupted the
duke, 'df those proposals have any reference
to Won Elmur and his projects for the good
OF the state, l absolutely decline TO hear
them. What's this?" He had laid aside
the upper papers after signature, and was
scanning the one below with an expression
OF countenance which showed that he liked
what he read very little.
Sagan watched him with n deepening
frown, the more subtle Selpdorf with
curiosity. At other times 1t had been the
dukes custom to add his signature to
papers without a glance at their contents.
The destiny OF one man is thus often de-
cided by the passing mood Of another.
What's this about Rallywood?"
"a bad business, but your ~highness's sig
nature makes many a wrong right" said
Sagan, with a clumsy attempt at pleasantly;
at needs only that. You have the pen
and ink, sire"
but, by heaven, not the Wilt" cried the
duke. 81 will not sign it! And II l will
not, hey?"
I'M. selpdorf will assure you that it is nee
essary in the cause OF discipline urged
Sagan, with a lowering look.
"And I will assure NJ. Seipdorf that I
an accustomed to make up my own
mind! You know it already. Selpdorf!"
II have always known 1t, SIRE said the
supple chancellor.
you will hear my reasons!" asked
Sagan, angrily.
The duke nodded.
Captain Rallywood was guilty OF gross
disobedience of orders. His case has been
laid before a court-martial OF his brother
officers and he has been condemned to be
shot. The trial has been conducted with
justice"
what were Captain ~Rallywood's or
ders, them"
"He was ordered to carry certain dis
patches to the chancellor, but he carried
them elsewhere for his own purposes"
The duke nodded slowly, and half closed
his eyes. He remembered a certain damp
morning by the river, when Rallywood had
ridden to take orders from Selpdorf.
80 you are in this, also, Selpdorf?" he
said. what dispatches we're these? Pray
tell me frankly. 1 believe l know some
thing already"
dispatches sent to me from the frontier,
SIRE"
(which he failed to bring to you. Where
then did he take hem"
The delay and the persistent, unexpected
questioning of the duke i~rritated Sagan al
most beyond endurance. He struck in.
Sire, does 1t matter what he did with
them, as we have proof that he disobeyed
orders? That is the point-what need to
ask further?" Then, as the duke still shook
his head, he burst out: well, then. he
carried them to the British legation-to his
own countrymen, mind you. He was false
to his oath as a soldier! He must be shot!"
Gustave Of Nassau was a man who lied
much and often. as those of poor moral
caliber will. He lied now with zest.
So? Although Captain Hollywood acted
under my personal instructions, Simon %
he said quietly.
Sagan sprang to his feet.
Eyes," resumed the duke, warming to
his role. Eyes. he acted under my orders,
for the dispatches were connected with the
agreement I have within the last hour signed
with England and about which the first pro-
posals were laid before me at midnight by
the British envoy during my visit to your
~castle!"
"what?" shouted sagan, as his house of
cards fell about him. You lie, Gustave!
And Germany? Selpdorf, we hold your
promises! 1t is impossible to think this to
be true!"
at is true said the chancellor. II beg
you will ~recollect that his highness is pres
ent, my lord. This excitement"
Sapan stood pacnip1 opd Storip1 Vic
passion seemed to choke him as he stood.
but the duke, still exalted by the sense of
triumph and power, mistook the silence for
speechless humiliation. His temper rose as
the others seemed to sink.
you can deceive me no more, my Lord
Sagan!" he cried In a high, excited voice.
you took Colendorp from me; you would
now take Hollywood. one by one all nv
faithful guard! But I am a sovereign still!
You shall not tamper any longer with my
loyal state; you shall never bring your
traitorous German schemes to an issue!"
But there were things impossible for Count
Simon of Sagan to endure. Never before
had he been twitted with impotence and
failure. He could not survive so utter a
defeat. A man to bear these things must be
less thorough than the count. He was too
fierce, too imperious, to bear so great a
reverse. II he must be put to shame before
the world, If even a paltry captain of the
guard were to be permitted to negative his
will, why then life had best be over!
He seemed to struggle for speech; at
last, without warning, his passion leaped
into flame. Like a wild beast he sprang
across the table at the duke-the poor,
sniveling coward who had dared to fay him
with his tongue! The old hate fired the new
fury as he clutched Gustave.
The duke gave a shrill, feeble cry, not
such a cry as one would have expected from
a man of his age, and then Selpdorf was
between them, shouting for the guard.
"You false hound!' Sagan CRASHED his
teeth in Selpdorf's face as the chancellor
threw himself upon him.
Shouts and shots and the wild turmoil OF
a deadly struggle. Then the guard had
secured Sagan. The duke stood trembling
and incoherent, leaning upon the table, and
between them, face on the floor,
the chancellor, with a bullet in his groin,
and for once playing a role he had not pre-
pared.
Sagacious, supple, self-seeking, yet not
utterly scared, in the last resort he offered
up his life for the master he had almost
hatra we'd