Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-05

blackened by the rigors of the winter. the
whole aspect of the frontier was ominous
and forbidding. Before he plunged into the
lower ravnes Hollywood turn d to look
back at the angry towers of Sagan. He
was thinking Of Colendorp. Under their
shadow that lonely and reckless life had
come to its close. Why or by whose hand
might never b made clear, but Rally
woods mind had work. d down to the con-
viction that the count might be able to tell
the story
Well, it was good to know that Coien-
dorp had not died in vain; indirectly but
none the less surely. his death had brought
about the defeat of Sagans plot
Then he rode away into tn heart of the
winter woods, where the branches groared
and thrashed under the driving wind
he wound his way to the riverside for he
had cided tnat if Colendorp had met his
death in the river his body would in time
be beached near Kofn Ford.
Between Hollywood and the Ford the
Kofn widcned out into big bay-like reach
upon the further shore of which the trees
gathered thickly, their bare branches over
hanging the water. On the nearer side
ragged-headed pines stood in sparse groups,
and amongst their lofty, upright stems
Hollywood presently became aware that a
strange scene was in progress.
small party of people were moving
about the low-lying ground where the snow
still rested. On that bleak site at the foot
of an outstanding pine two or three men
with picks and shovels We're hurriedly dig
cling in the frost-bound earth. Close be-
side them what looked like long military
cloak flung at full length lay upon the
ground.
The meaning of the incident was mani
fest. The clouding sky, the river the
broken pine trees were looking on at a
lonely funeral, darkened by a suggestive
furtiveness and haste.
Hollywood put spurs to his horse and
galloped down toward the burial party
Another rider coming at full speed across
the open sheered off to intercept him It
was easy to recognize Sagan by his bulk
and the imperious gesture of the hand with
which he signed to the younger man to
stop. But Hollywood rode the harder
There was a shout from Sagan, and the
men ran toward the black object on the
Snow, and by the time Hollywood reached
them the dead body was already laid in it's
grave
AT the same moment Sagan on the other
side of the grave pulled up his big horse
on its launches. The foresters stood rigid
waiting on the counts wishes. He looked
over their heads at Hollywood.
''Colendorp has been found" he said with
his most surly bearing.
Hollywood glanced down into the shallow
grave; lump of frosty earth slipped from
the rugged heap above and settled into
crevice of the cloak that covered Colen-
dorp.
My men are burying him."
by your orders, my lord?'
BY my orders. Can you suggest a bet
ter use to make of dead MANI"
mo, my lord, but better manner of
burial"
'Dismount and see for yourself"
Hollywood swung off the saddle, and CIV
ing his horse to one of the foresters
stopped and threw back the covering from
the dead mans face and breast. His dead
fierce eyes stared upward, his wet hair
was already frozen to his brow and
black wound gaped open at his throat.
Hollywood gazed at the harsh features,
which. but for their livid color, were little
altered by death. The tsa moaned across
the river and a few large flakes of snow
came floating down.
Are you satisfied now?"
Hollywood stood up and faced the count.
How did he die?'
you can see that. Suicide as plain as
knife can write it,
Il do not think So" said Hollywood
slowly.
The counts horse plunged under the pun
ishing spurs.
Capt. Hollywood, may 1 ask what you
hope to gain by making a scandal in the
guard?" he asked.
Justice, perhaps. Colendorp had no
reason to take his life, my lord
You will not find many to agree with
you. The man was always iil-conditioned.
He had debts and the pride of the devil.
His affairs came to an impossible pass, 1
conclude. In any case, man has a right
to his own secrets
Yes, his affairs came to an impossible
pass, perhaps. For the rest. this seems to
me less like Colendorps secret than the Sc
cret of some other man." Hollywood met
the red eyes. full of smoldering wrath.
Pardon me- my lord, but in the name of
the guard. protest against the burial of
Capt Colendorp In this place.