Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-15

| pTUSIuS u SaIety waive IN the shape or
| listener, before whom the count could blow
on the first ebullitions of rage over Mile.
| Selpdorfs untoward speech. II pent up
within his own breast. there was no know
ing IN now disastrous a manner Sagan's ILL
| humor might explode. Defeat meant much
| to Elmur; his reputation was at stake
| Other men had undertaken this same mis-
| sion-to bring about the annexation to the
| fatheriand of this troublesome little state;
| they had failed, therefore Elmur had
pledged himself to succeed.
Elmur stood with his back against a mas
/ sive carved bookshelf, and looked at Sagan
who, with cigar butt buried in his ragged
| beard, was walking, with long, uncertain
| steps. up and down the floor. The tiger in
| the old man was awake.
| Act /, scene L. said Elmur at last and
| with smile.
Sagan stopped short and turned blood
| shot sidelong glare upon him, his dark old
/ fingers working convuisivefy.
| BY heaveEi 1t is going to be tragedy
ne shouted, and burst into whiriwind of
hideous curses, coupled with the names of
| Valerie and his wife.
The German picked out comfortable
| chair and seated himself. crossing his legs
| with a manifest intention of patience
Ihere was a horrible energy in the old
mans attitudes. His long smouldering am
bition. nursed and fed of late, had now
named into regnant passion, and the.
| cooler, more wary, unscrupulousness of the
younger man looked with repugnance upon
| the blind fury of the duke that was to be-
In no great space of time the sight of
that impassive, high-shouldered figure, sit
ing calmly by imposed growing sense of
l restraint upon the count. =
what do you think of our chances now
mat GustaVe's suspicious have been set on
the alert?" he asked at last, coming to
| stop in front of Eimur THAT fool of a
| wife of mine has blabbed to Selpdorfs
daughter, and she in her turn blabs all be-
| fore the world
| Elmur sat still and dumb His face en-
| ragged Sagan once more.
| But l am master in Sagan. The girl
| must be got rid of! There are a hundred
dangers in our mountains and marshes. Do
| you not understands
| Baron Won Hmur stood up. He bore
his most dignified air. and there was some
| thing In his whole aspect that made the
count pause.
circumstances would look strange In the
| second, we have nothing to gain from it,
| he said.
| Sagans red eyes twinkIed cunningly.
| Hear my plan am not SO saueamish as
| You thin FLOODED moderns, or, at least as
| you pretend to be!' He placed his finger
on the minister's breast. and drew back a
| nttle the better to enjoy the appreciation
| ne expected to read in the others face
| we Will say that the girl fell ILL., and l..
IN my anxiety, sent Nine. Sagan-my own
| vonde If both should happen to be killed
by an accident We should be well rid of
them-and what could the world say?"
Elmur drew away from the insistive fin
|
bowed stifiiy and moved toward the door
DO not know what the world might do
OF say, but 1 can answer for Ludwig Won
Eimur. My master does not deal in muir
withdraw" ~
'What?" she red the other, "he does not
deaI In murder? Rather, you would say,
he prefers to deal in murder wholesale!
Mhat OF your wars and annexations?
What of the Germans in West Africa
rake care, Eimur, that you are not acting
| over hastily. For my part l don't believe
| mat life or so would weigh too heavy
! IN the balance as against province. even
In your masters judgment. L take my
word as find it, my good baronl'
| pardon me, my lord, you take the world
as your ancestors found it, You may be
all your fathers were, but however time
goes at Sagan, the rest of the world has
not stood still since the middle ages. And
the world is on my side today. Besides -
ne added more suavely, I'VE should gain
nothing. We should ALLEVIATE Selpdorf,
VINO is useful and who knows too much.
AS for the duke, after such an affair he
could never be eased of his suspicious
II don't ask to ease him, mean to cure
MN retorted sagan, meaningly:
| Il am certain Madame de Sagan has
been silent. The speech of Mile. Selpdorf
was the indignant outburst of a girl who
| thought her friend discourteousiy treated"
'Diseourteously treated? Isolde rudeIy
| treated? BY whom?"
| Forgive me once more, my lord; but in
the first place, by yourself"
Sagan laughed aloud, his ill-temper van
| ishing before the humor of the notion that
any one could take exception to mans
| rudeness toward his own wife.
Pooh! the girl is bigger idiot than
thought her. Let US hope she'll never
| meet with worse at the hands of her own
| husband"
Il join in the hope. my lord, since am
| to be that most fortunate mani 1t was
| not the most felicitous moment but Ell
muir was aware that in no other way could
| he assure Valerie's safety against the
| treachery of his colleague.
| Sagan fell back a step.
| 'So-the wind blows from that quarter?
| fish,"
But by this arrangement we land him
| finally"
ut may be So Sagan tugged brood
| ingly at his beard, after a pause adding,
We'll, well, the girl is safe enough for me,
| If you can answer for her. Come back and
sit down. We must act while Gustave is
| here. Once We secure the guard, We can
| force him to do-as we please. First,
| compromise. then abdication, then" he
| broughe his hand down heavily upon the
| table and sat staring before him at vi
sion of a dream fulfilled-a vision of Duke
| Simon Of Nassau.
| Elmur's lip curled as he watched the
man, who. for the time being, was obi
| vious of all but the realization of his own
ambition. Duke Simon-a name, but never
a living power-only German puppet
pulled hither and thither at will BY the
controlling hand.
What are your plans, my lord?" he
asked aloud
The count started and raised his head.
1--WE have three Of the guard here-Un-.
ziar. Hollywood, Colendorp. You know that
as soon as we have: made sure of their
officers the men will follow of themselves
Now, Unfair is saint"
But he fights better because he is a
sinner"
He is not to be tempted, then But he
Is In love with Mile. Selpdorf-with your
future wife, and she must blind him. A
man in love is easily blinded"
And Railywood?" asked Elmur
we don't want Ralywood" rejoined
Sagan, with an odd glance at EImur Il
can manage him if you will leave him to
me-
Elmur smiled.
Il conclude Hollywood is capable of TAX
ing care of himself"
The count grinned.,
Exactly what / believed you would
think. There remains only Colendorp But
Colendorp is the man we must have-alI
will depend on Colendorp
DO you suppose he will bend?'
IF net he must break But, no; I know
him WE'LL l have chosen him because he
touches no woman! Men who don't love
women love money, and men who de-