Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-06-01
CHAPTER VIII.-continued.

was?"
"Willoughby, the man who was
killed, loved a Miss Brett. She was
at this hotel last night with her moth
er. They heard of my being here, and
did me the honor to send for me, and
to ask from me the details of the
tragedy"
Locke's heavy face was agitated
equally by sympathy and surprise.
Miss BRETT" he cried. THAT must
be the sister of Sir Mortimer Brett
you know hor?" l demanded
eagerly.
81 have never seen her, but know
something of Sir Mortimer. He is
the most picturesque figure in the
English diplomatic service"
why picturesque? That is a
strange adjective TO describe Brit
ish minister Who is he, and how do
you happen to know him."
He is consul general and minister
plenipotentiary at Sofia, Bulgaria
There is not an attache in Europe to-
day who has not an inquisitive eye
cooked at Sir Mortimer Brett"
And his claims to distinctions"
1.-TWO only, my dear fellow, but they
are sufficient to make any man motor
ious First of all, scandal has been
busy with his iliustrious name. How
ever | am afraid (hat's a very or
dirany sort of notoriety. But when
/ tell you the sober fact that if he
just winked war would break out in
xtyin =
that he is factor in the game Of
European politics"
Il have heard enough to have my
curiosity excited. Tell me more of the
man who controls the destiny of ma
ton. The scandal, for instance. Is it
matter of common newspaper pub
y licity? | have figured in the papers
myself lately, and | feel certain
sympathy for a fellOw-sufferer?"
ooh, the newspapers have made him
squirm a bit, no doubt But my
sources of information are more ac-
curate than mere newspaper gossip.
You see, | happen to be the Ameri-
can consul here
Then yonr gossip of the embassies
ought to be worth listening to "
settled myself in my chair and
lighted a fresh cigarette.
MY dear chap, you are asking too
much of me-really you are! The
situation in the Balkans. Good Lord,
that's too appalling a subject to be
discussed between two friends who
have just met"
Locke l replied automatically, Il
suppose you wish to discuss me and
my unfortunate affair. Well, l don't.
If you wish to show me that you be-
lieve me not quite so black as | am
painted ignore the matter complete
ly."
"Of course, of course" he fastened
TO assure me. And you really wish
TO understand why war would break
out tomorrow in the Balkans if Sir
Mortimer Brett lifted his little fin
ger?"
"If such a knowledge is the prelude
gto the scandal that concerns him.
VERY WE'LL he agreed good-natured-
~. But don't despair if you are still
muddled after ten minutes talk on
Balkan politics; Count Won Bulow has
said that the man who comprehends
the situation in the Balkan State does
mot exist. But to understand how
Sir Mortimer's influence may plunge
Europe into war to-day, just as surely
as when Madame de Pompadour
twisted Louis XIV about her little fin
ger, you must know something of the
trouble that seethes and bubbles in
Turkish-Macedonia
Even the word Turkish
is a mere geography name to me-"
Hang it, have l got to give you a
lesson in geography as we'll as in his
tory?' grOwled Locke. Well Mace
donna is actually no state or country.
1t is simply a term to designate a
strip Of Turkish territory Immediately
to the south of Bulgaria 1t is with in
dependent Bulgaria and insurgent
Macedonia that our friend Sir Morti-
mer Brett is concerned. In word,
the situation is this Bulgaria, long
freed from the Turkish yoke, would
help struggling Macedonia to gain
her freedom.
Macedonia itself is an extraordin.
airy hodgepodge of races-Greeks
Turks, Serbs, Bosnians, Bulgars-
Z there are a dozen dirty little races
and half a dozen fanatic sects all
I ready TO fly at each others threats if
ttey were not too busy struggling for
their freedom But Greek, Catholic
jew, they are all ready to die cheer
fully If they can down their Turkish
Il .oppressor. 1t is just this sublime
struggle for freedom that gives a
touch of nobility to mongrel, snarling
\ swapping Macedonia. These Mace
domains for years have been putting
up one of the Quickest running fights
! imaginable. The House of Commons