Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-07-17

This assurance on the part of the
powerful baron was as balm to Char
lies troubled soul.
He believed Capt. Brand must
speedily find himself in hot water.
The conversation took several
turns.
Indeed, Charlie found the baron sc
congenial that he was easily led into
relating many "reminiscences connect
ed with his past so that, eventually
Peterhoff had a pretty good knowl
edge of the young mans character.
At last they separated.
you can depend on me. At the
same time keep your wits about you
when dealing with this Brand. Some
thing will presently drop" said the
baron.
When Charlie drew near the hotel.
after visiting his own room and i'm
proving his appearance to some ex-
tent, he was conscious of a nervous
condition of mind such as was entirely
new to him.
And he was obliged to confess that
1t had gone pretty far when the pros
pect of an interview with a young wo-
man could have such an influence
upon him.
The next thing on the program was
to find a chance for quiet talk
where the captain could not intrude.
So he asked again for Lady Airline,
and she presently came down to the
same bijou parlor, rosy and smiling.
Charlie had heard the voice of Capt.
Brand somewhere about the hotel,
and he was more or less concerned
lest that worthy come in upon them
ere he could make his arrangements.
Hence he speedily opened the sub.
ject.
Il have much of Importance to tell
you, and we must be where Capt.
Brand may not intrude. Suppose
get nice vehicle with a quiet animal
and we can go to take a look at the
suburbs of Antwerp"
Airline did not hesitate.
She knew that she could trust this
frank-faced gentleman with her very
life If need be.
So she quickly agreed to his plan.
in fifteen minutes, then; and be
sure you wrap up WELL" said Charlie,
fastening away to secure just the out,
fit that would suit lns idea as to the
right thing.
True to his promise, he was back in
good time.
Near the parlor Charlie ran across
Brand, who greeted him rather effu-
sively, he thought, and would have
detained him, only that the young
man refused to be held up, and laugh
ingly pleaded an engagement with
Lady Airline, and the impotence of his
noble charger outside.
; Thus IL came about that, after run
ming the gauntlet in this way, Charlie
was at length given the proud pleas
ure of driving away with the fair girl.
Charlie knew it was only proper for
him to open the ball with an account
of the strange things that had befallen
him since last he said good night.
One thing he intended keeping to
himself for the present, and this was
the name of the young fellow who
had been his companion in the dun
geon. At least there was no necessity
of bringing it forward until he had
heard what she wished to tell him,
and discovered if his suspicious we're
confirmed.
Now that there is no longer
chance of our being overheard, I'm
going to make an awful confession to
you, Lady Airline" he said.
She turned a startled face toward
him, and, Immediately seeing the
nuizzical smile, felt relieved.
Il shall fortify myself to hear it.
Pray proceed"
where do you think l passed the
night?"
She believed she could account for
a fair portion of 1t, but confessed her
ignorance as to the remainder.
'In the lookup" he said calmly.
do you mean the jail?" breathless-
Iy.
Eyes. Please don't draw away from
me, or imagine | was engaged in any
street brawl. 1t all came to me be-
cause CHANGED to make your ac-
quaintance yesterday morning"
why, Mr.. Stuart"
Because, forsooth, you chance to
have a carriage like a queen; and be-
sides, possess the most charming or
golden hair and blue eyes"
She blushed crimson and still sur
veyed him with puzzled as well as
startled eyes.
81 confess | do not understand you
at all. You will have to explain fur
Their"
Pardon me. When | assisted you
Into the carriage at the Steen | was
observed by Baron Peterhoff. He be-
iieyed you were the Countess Isolde
Brabant, because in several ways 1t
q little distance one might be de-
ceived. My interest in the baron's
plans induced me to loiter about the
hotel last night when he was making
his wholesale arrests, and by accident
they caught me in the dragnet."
Then she-that wonderful woman
has been arrested?"
When he nodded in the affirmative,
strangely enough Airline gave a little
sigh of relief, as though some unex-
plainable burden were removed from
her heart; but Charlie was too obtuse
TO understand that the first little fire
of jealousy had been Mndled in that
gentle breast, because she knew the
reputation Isolde Brabant had as a
sorceress among men.
The ice having now been broken,
he started in to tell his strange story.
Airline listened eagerly.
Indeed, Othello, relating his aston
Ishing adventures to Desdemona,
could not have had a more deeply In
terested listener than this fair Eng
isb Girl nroyed to be.