Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-08-18
CHAPTER XXIII.
Continued


"Kito, you have your ORDERS" he
says in English, which language most
Hindoos speak
"Oh. yes sahib-the hotel; 1t Ia all
right" replies the Hindoo driver, who
has been bought. body and soul, With
Russian gold.
Away they go: and on route the bac.
on chuckles to himself Il dozen times
as he pictures the CONSERVATION and
Jealous rage of his Yankee rival Mt
finding him so favored by the fair
American. He caresses the scented
note from tint, to time, and has read
It so often that each word comes dis.
tinctly before him, thus:
1.-THE writer begs leave to inform the
baron that she will receive him at
eight this evening and be at home to
no one else. Regarding the proposition
contained In his letter, the near future
can decide better than the present.
What can he make of this other than
a willingness to surrender? He. the
cunning diplomat. who In times past
has met and successfully wrestled
with the most mastery questions OF
the day, now finds himself in the toiis
of the merciless little god Cupid. who
throws dust in his eyes s.nd temper.
arily blinds him.
At the appointed time the vehicle
pulls up before the hotel, and Baron
Popofr alights. He bows to several
people, looks at his time.pece.c smiles
to note the exactuess OF his arrival;
for the diplomat is great stictler Mt
punctuality. and, if going to his exc.
cution, would want the volley fired mt
the proper time to the second.
Then he enters the caravansary and
gives his card to waiter. Presently
that functionary returns with the in
formation that the lady is in the par
lor, and conducts the baron thithcr.
He finds Molly and her father in the
email parlor, quite alone. The pres.
tuCe VI tnc Stlatol 10 NV N""N''' !"
the liking Of this ardent lover; but
since the game seems to be playing
Into his hands, he does not see no"
be can feel very badly about it. Al.
ter all, the question is only one OF
time. He believes be has won by vir
tue of his name, and the father as well
as the daughter favors his suit.
No one knows better how to carry
himself in the drawing room than the
baron. for he has mixed much with
royalty in his own land and other
countries where he has been sent as
Russia's agent.
He apologies to Demosthenes Tan,
Her for the scene in Cairo, and hopes VI
has been quite forgotten. At this the
Giant from Illinois laughs good -natur'
vfly and declares that all parties
ought to be satisfied; at least, as he
and the baron came out Of the small
end of the horn together. there Is no
season they should be foes.
Conversation becomes general, anu
she diplomat exerts himself to make
q good impression on the stout legisla
tor and his daughter. He has large
bump of cOnceit, and believes that as
lhe evening passes he draws nearer his
goal.
Several times he finds an opportunlty
70 whisper to Molly. She bushes beau
tifully and holds warning finger NJ
saying:
mot yet, baron. You must wait un
til we know each other better"
Then the courteous Russian bows
and smiles and mentally pats hIi
shoulder as he sees victory in the neal
future. Poor fool. So the mighty
Samson of old may have congratulate
himself when making love % Delilah
never dreaming that he would awaken
to find his head shorn and his strengts
gone. So many another giant in tlit
history of the world has been brough
to his Waterloo by means Of the blind
Ing god Cupid.
One thing gives the baron the keen
est delight He drinks the sweet c'll
to the dregs. While engaged In m
animated conversation with Molly. n
he describes the glores Of the Russian
capital in winter, he chances to glance
toward the end of the little parlor.
Here fine mirror Is set In the wall
for the furnishings Of the room ar
superb. 1t Is in this glass he sees wha
pleases him.
A man stands in the la%ge drawing
room-a man he has good reason L
remember, since it WAS his sword til"
pierced the baron's shoulder under th'
palms on the bank of the Nile. Myn
heer Joe makes no move to advance
He seems to have come upon the seen
BY accident, and is rooted to the spo'
The willy diplomat sees his opportun
ty. He will now proceed To pnt
weapon more painful than Il sword IL
20 the Yankees heart.
"If you will ra"l"n mr f"' t"';'n
your hand, Miss Tanner pleaded ti'
baron, II will explain to you how IN
ladies' are supposed to act when beinl
presented to the czalina, as | hope er,
long you will have that pleasure
She allows It. of course, althougt
half understanding his motif. Thl,
is the picture Mynheer Joe gazes upor
his hated rival In the net of raisin'
Mollys sweet hand to his lips.
All the while the baron has che eye
on the mirror He sees the look oi
fury upon Joe's face, notes that II
Aresaes n hand against his brow. u