The Holly chieftain., 1902-10-17


that all vas not lost while . chance
for Little Miss Millions as bride
remained; and with this as his spur
Count Leon played into the game.
The count had lieutenant who Was
capable Of giving good advice in ~
matter Of this sort. ...y
OF course, this was the blonde
giant from the North, the Cossack
who came from the Don.
In = moment he had obeyed . sig
nal and was at villebois' side. eager
to hear what was new, and ready to
give his advice II sought
Strombolof had this long time been
an abject slcve Of the fair enchant-
ress, and fumed in secret when he
saw her allowing the attentions Of
other men-still. he endured this fre-
quent sight, knowing what the poor
fools would receive In due time, since
she had always been heartless.
Strangely enough he was even more
bitterly set against Merrick than any
of the others. for in his distorted
vision It seemed vile sacrilege that
q common man without any illustri-
GUS pedigree or vast fortune, upon
whom the princess deigned to smile,
should treat her evident advances
with contempt.
Accordingly Stromboloff was de-
cidedly anxious to have the original
plan go through.
He had long head. this Russian,
and declared 1t would be folly takina
chances. The minister in Paris who
was slave to the sirens charms
might be mistaken, or In the plot with
their enemies. and. after all, this
man. with whom they believed to be
the president, might turn out to bc
- other.
At any rate. 1t was their duty to
carry out the original plan up to this
point. although the invasion OF France
by the Duke Of Orleans could not take
place until 1t was positively proven
that 1t was the genuine president who
had been abducted. ~
So the question was decided.
Count Leon, having cast aside his
doubts for the time being, became the
energetic man of action.
One last look he cast around.
The act was that Of soldier who
combined caution with valor.
The lovers still stood by the terrace
wall. looking cut over the starlit har-
Dor. where steamed the many riding
lights of the congregated yachts at
| anchor.
They seemed oblivious of all
around. wrapped up in the paradise
that newly-confessed love opens to
the human soul.
From this scene the count turned
grimly, conscious of his magIcian's
power to change 1t all by the wave of
his hand
Jones was next in his mind, for
since the double nature OF the man
from over the sea had become ap-
parent to the princess and himself
the Yankee had grown to be person
of considerable importance, whose
personality must be figured on, NO
matter how certain the game seemed
to be.
But Jones was non est
While the three confreres were de-
batting as to the best course for them
to pursue under the changed circrm-
stances he had sauntered away.
The count confessed to him that It
would have pleased him better had
Jones maintained his post; for when
he had q desperate foeman to deal
with 1t had always been the policy Of
the great explorer to keep his eye
on him increasingly until such time
as he could cut him down.
And somehow he was possessed
with an idea that Jones had not
moved away in an idle frame Of mind,
put With motive back Of his action.
When he had seen that the presi.
dent had not moved, but was still
chatting With his companions, Count
Leon knew the chain was complete,
and that there was really no need of
this looking forward.
Villebois drew out a small silver
whistle and raised 1t to his lips.
Strange that such an innocent
sound should, as ii by magic, trans.
form peaceful scene into one where
violence ruled.
The music still continued under
the dome and spires of the Casino, but
mellowed by distance and obtruding
walls, the sound but softly permeat-
ed the air Of the garden.
Count Leon blew three shrill blasts,
There was something so startling
about them that unconsciously every