Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-13

tinet who ruled and harried them. They
celebrated the event with noisy but harmless reves
and when Captain Hercules about again Che
submitted to fortnight S confinement to barracks
with feelings in which thankfulness though graft
tude, predominated(, he found his popularity with
them greater than But in the higher circles
the inner rng-of the party he served his reception
not SO cordial. Stenovcs would not see him;
Stafnitz saw him only to express a most uncom-
promising judgment on his conduct
Yielding in appearance, in point of substance the
Prince of Slavna had scored heavily. The big guns
were ordered from Germany; The Prince had the
money to pay for them, and they were to be con-
signed to him; these the guarantees which he
had asked from Stenovics When the guns came
and he had agreed to make extra payment for
early devery-his situation would be very differ
ent. With trusty men behind them it would go
hard with him if he not master of Slavna, and
he had already obtained the Kings sanction to
raise and train force of artillery from among his
in Volseni and its ncighborhood. The
of Voseni were proof against Misttchs Dragging
and the subtle indulgence by which Stafnitz held
his power the rank and file of the army. They
true to the Prince.
The idle Kings family pride touched; it
was the one thing which could rouse him At his
sons express request, and at that only, he acqui-
esced in the release of Mstitch and his satellite
Sterkoff; but he determined to make his own
attitude clear and to do what he could to restore
that the prestige would profit best of all by the big
guns; the King was minded to supplement their
effect by something more ornate He created a
Order and made his Grand Master of it.
There was no harm in that, and Stenovics readily
consented Then the King instructed Stenovics to
concentrate all his energies the matrimonial ne
gotiatons A splendid marriage for the Prince
would enhance and strengthen the family prestige
more than anything else.
Stenovics promised Jealous obedience, and with
drew full of thought. The Order was an easy mat
ter but the marriage was ground much more delicate
1t touched the big stake" which Colonel Stafnitz
had so emphatically warned the General not to
play on the bad hand dealt to him by Mistitch's
laundering attack But with the big guns in posi-
ton and the sturdy men of Volseni behind them,
would good hand ever come?
There were only three in the inner secret of the
scheme but they three of the longest heads
in Kravonia. Countess Ellenburg was a pious
and of exemplary demeanor; but as Markart
told Sophy, ambitious, and she had
borne the King a SON Stenovics saw himself cast
aside like old glove if Prince Sergius to the
waters and threw a skilful net. Twice before in
the country history intrigue had made revolution
and changed the order of succession in the House
of StefanOvitch.
not yet. If the King at enmity with his son,
or if there a demise of the crown while the
Prince not on the spot to look after his inter
ests, there might he the opportunity. But now
the King all cordially for his heir-apparent,
the Prince on the spot those guns and those
Volsenan gunners threatened to be on the spot too
long. 1t not now the moment for the big
stake
King Alexis was delighted with his new Order,
and the Grand Masters insignia very hand
some. In the center of a fve-pointed star Saint
Michael slew the Dragon-a symbol perhaps, of
Captain Mstitch. The broad ribbon was of virgin
white; it would show up well against either the
black sheepskn of the Volsenian tunc or the
bright blue of the Princes hussar uniform. There
some day to be five other knights-with
Grand Master and the sovereign himself the mystic
number seven would be reached-but it would
never be exceeded; the Order would be most
select.
All this the King explained in a ford speech,
listened with a respectful Difference and a secret
smile If he would make order, instead of