New-York tribune., 1906-04-22

was meet that he should know of all this .,
! soon as possible Markart made up his roinf
that he would slip away soon; but still the
interest OF the scene, the fascination of thi.
| prclude-suCh II seemed to him-held hi.
! steps bound.
Suddenly young man of aristocratic ap
! pearanCe rose from a table at the end of the
room, where he had been seated in COMPANY
with a pretty and smartly dressed girl 4
| graceful gesture excused him to his fair com.
panion, and he threaded his wav deftlv be.
| tween the jostling tables TO where Mistitch sat
| He wore court dress and a decoration. Mar
| kart recognized in the young man Baron vor
| Hollbrandt, junior attache OF the German
| Legation in Slavna.
Hollbrandt bowed to Mistitch, with whom
he was acquainted then bent over the giant s
Uurly back and whispered IN his ear. Take
friend advice, Captain" he said. I've
| been II the Palace. and know the Prince had
permission TO withdraw It haf-past nine
! He was to return to SlaVna then-to duty.
Come, 90 back. You've had your spree"
" BY the Lord, I'm obliged to youl" cried
Mistitch. Lads, We're obliged to Baron Won
Hollbrandt' Could you tell me the street he
means TO come by? Because" he rose to his
feet again" We II 60 and meet himi"
Half the hall heard him, and the speech was
soon passed on to any out of hearing. a sparse
cheer sputtered here and there; but most were
silent. Rastatz gasped again, while Sterkoff
frowned and squinted villainously.
Hollbrandt whispered once more, then stood
erect, shrugged his shoulders bowed and
walked back to his pretty friend He sat
down and squeezed her hand in apology; the
pair broke into laughter a moment later
Baron Won Hollbrandt felt that he at least had
done his duty.
The three had drunk and drunk: Rastatz
was silly, Sterkotf vicious the giant Mistitch
lovially and cruelty reckless, exalted not only
by liquor but with the sense of the part he
played. Suddenly from behind the glass
screen rose a mighty roar.
Long live Mistitchl Down with tvrants
Long live Captain Hercules,"
1t was fuel to the flames. Mistitch drained
his glass and hurled ii on the floor We'll
who follows me?" he cried.
Half the men started to their feet; the other
half pulled them down. Contending currents
OF feeling ran through the crowd man was
reckless this moment, timid the next, to one
hls nelghbor gave warning, to another ;nspira-
ton. They seemed poised on the point OF
great decision. Yet what was it they were
deciding? They could not tell.
Markart suddenly forgot his caution. He
rushed to Mistitch, with his hands out and
- For Gods sake!' loud on his lips.
"Iou?" cried Mistitch. BY Heaven!
what else does your General want? What else
does Matthias Stenovics want Tell me that %
\ silence followed-of dread suspense. Men
looked at one another in fear and doubt. Was
that true which MIstitch said' They felt as
ordinary men feel when the edge OF the curtain
trigues of the great.
If | should meet the Prince tonight,
wouldn't there be news for Stenovics?" cried
Mistitch, with roar Of laughter.
If he should meet the Prince The men at
the tables had not bargained for that. Mistitch
they admired and feared. but they feared the
proud Prince too; they had many of them felt
the weight Of his anger Those who had stood
up sank back in their places.
Markart had shrunk back; but Mistitch
hurled a taunt at him and at all the throng.
d" You're ours, one and ALL But III put a
heart in YOU yet And now" he burst into
a new guiiaw-" my young friends and | are
going for walk What aren't the streets of
Slavna free to gentlemen? My friends and
are going for a walk. If we meet anybody on
the payement-well, he must take to the road.
Were going for a walk %"
Amid a dead silence he went out, his two
henchmen after him He and Sterkoff wal ed
firm and true-Rastatz lurched IN his gait
4 thousand ewes followed their exit, and from
i've hundred throats went up long sigh Of
-eief that they were gone. But what had
hey gone to do? The company decided that
[ was Just as wei for them whether col
ectivelV or as individuals, not to know too
much about that. Let 1t be hoped that the |
.ool AIR outside would have SOLDERING effect |
and send them home to bed. Yet from behind |