The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30

from that hour. for the rivalry OF Valerie Belp-
dorf added the one incentive Of bitter resolve
that drives such slight Drained, Jealous souls
TO tho last limit OF reckless sndeavor.
When I ind myself In danger will remind
you OF the freely. and you will come then.
jack" she said. You promisei"
When you want me will come-as soon
as I may"
But that's only Q half promise"
Yes" he replied. but you know the other
half 10 pledged already"
She spranR up with clsnc hands.
"Whst' To valerie' Alrsadyp
No. madame. TO the Duke"
"Ah. the Duke Ia we'll served I" she said sadly
as he bowed at the door. but she laughed to
herself when It closed behind him. Yet you
will come when send fer You. Jack,"
CHAPTER XIV.
CoLENDoRP.
As the night deepened the wind again rose.
Its many voices howled about the castle and
DOM PEELED the car to listen. 1t volleysd. Yell
ing through the ravinss. t'roared among tho
lean pine trees like the surf on an Oxen coast
II swept round the castle walls In long drawn
Infatuated screaming. that seemed CHARGED
with echoes OF wild pain and remoteness and
fear. Tho narrow moon had long since sunk
behind the rack Of storm-driven clouds. and
left the mountains stseped In q tum ultuous
milk -colored darkness OF snow and wind.
Within the massive walls the reception rooms
we're closed and empty at last. The guests
had separated and night had taken possession.
but no. rest.
by the vague infection Of akefuness and fear
moved from window to window listealng to
the wild noises that we're abroad and trying TO
reason herself out OF the conviction Of coming
danger. which held her from sleep.
She had thrown back the curtains from the
windows. Her room occupied an OK posed cor
ner OF the castle tower which stood on the
edge OF the gorge through which tho Kofn
chafed It's way TO the plains below the ford. A
narrow strip Of Rround.scarcely six feet In
width alone separated the wall OF the tower
from the prscipice that fell sheer away to tho
foaming water far below.
She tried to read. but could not Ak her at
tention. Her heart seemed In her ears and
answered to every sound.
And all the while In the scattered rooms and
shadowy passages the drama which involved
her life was being slowly played out. Below
on the ground floor Of the tower Elmur and
Sagan sat together.
by the way. my dear Count. have you ever
thought OF the possibility OF Capt. Colendorp's
refusal TO see things in our lieht2" Elmur was
asking after an interval filed in by the noises OF
wind and water which could not be shut out
OF the castle on such night.
The Count looked up and scowled.
Leave the management OF the affair TO me-"
he said. Unless l were sure OF my M an. /
should not be such fool.as to bring him here
to listen to what | shall say to him to- nights"
then he added asian afterthought whom once
be no going back. Remember that The
game must now. be played to the end. what
Elmur pOndered Sagan was bad tool. at
once stubborn and secretive; cunning enough
to recognize and resent handling. thickheaded
momen. that tpr some u9.xplained reason he
and fattery, he had kept his place in the
ssasss asa esd ss t oa sas ssd
held him at arms length and was plainly de-
e.%nsd to act ha 70 hi: own
chief had. OF course. been done by the news OF
Elmur's engagement TO selpdorf,s daughter.
velopment. was sen sitively suspicious. Hence
the bong eetTeen he two men vas Tsak in
but IT was strong. since both were tenacious
and both had staked all The future on the
hsnGs Of forcing n sy sRs ever
would gladly have hedGed or masked his rosi.
ton. for he knew himself to be oyermuch at
OF his uneovernable coadjutor.
II cannot help thinking that my presence
at t any 0I pr"postion WSate1er said Emur
again ,a,., vordon,. u,.s
that has brought me to this pass and you viii!
Saes to aSos When q. Tfs
himself that t., haze GiTp pa by behind b me
soured and i'll conditioned, the readiest stun
to make a rebel and traitor off,
What more Elnur might have urged was cut
short BY the ENTRANCE Of Coiendorp. He had
his dark and saliow face i'm renetrable.
sasa glad Stb ses
YOU sent sent for me, nv lord. returned Golen;
dorp. as one who hints that time 10 short AID
Take a cigar, said the Count pushing a
box across, the table. and also pouring out a
ture Of which Nassau is famous-the golden
glitterinq poison known as bizHtte.
beth in e tax
vas suggestive. Colendorp was at the best un-
rIlable: HIS manner put an an. edge on sagan's
9es. I sent Tor YOU, Capt, SoIsndorp. be-
cause believe you to be faithful Maasann:
T HRs s ss bet Seas &a has been
ing 80 long between ruin and extravaganza
that she >, must swing on so forever 1t Is not
Il am sorry to hear that. my lord"
NO say IL 10 not possible. Changes must
be made. In these days OF big ornaments
and growing kingdoms. Nassau can no longer
stand alone. She must secure an ally. friend
powerful enough to back her up, AGAINST all
cause Of Maasaps freedom her own, and help
Elmur half expected the soldier to point this
speech for himself by glance toward the rep
resentative OF Germany. but ColeAdorp sat IN
fesponsive and black proved and gave 20 sign.
There lisa party among US who advise us
to walt until we are forced into a corner. and
then to make choice Of such an ally. But rea-
70 make must. Inevitably be bad bargain.
The only hope for Nassau is to move at once,
and, to move boldly before y is too late. and
Ourselves under the conditions which SUIT us
beet and will best conducs to tho preservation
OF our freedom.
preston.
"The onlv dificuity would be to find ma
tion sufficiently disntersstsd for our purpose
Il have found one" Sagan indicated Ell
muir. hut the guardsman still kept his gaze on
the Count. "Only one small obstacle stands