The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-10-31
CHAPTER x.
The Death.Mask.


nd raised my glass carelessly d
my lips. ! placed Il slowly on IN,
table. I met Locke's steady gaze no
merely In surprise. rather in complet,
conviction. That was precisely IN,
kind OF woman had determined IN,
must be. But I had no intention a
discussing her with Locke A plai
was already soothing In my brain,
plan infinitely more thrilling than res
cuing a cOmrade in the battlefield or {
traveller lost in the mountain-slde.
intended to keep that plan 20 myself
In the meanwhile I must have furthel
details Of this escapade OF the miss
ing ambassador.
I'VE will speak OF Countess Sara
hon presently" | said, returning hi
smile coolly. "But tell me. why shoult
England adopt the slow and clumsl
expedient OF sending a kings messen
ger. as you call him. across Europe
Instead OF demanding tho instant re
call OF the minister by cableg Thal
Is my FIRST question. and my secont
Is this; are you my dear Locke, IL
the secret councils OF the British for
eign Office that you know 20 much O
their plans7"
"a kings messenger" drawlet
Locke. rs supposed 90 have a brain
between his shoulders and 70 exercise
his discretion. The foreign ofict
would wish to be quite sure that IN,
scandal was not a clever -use OF .
secret agent OF Russia or Turkey
Even n the scandal exists. their
might be mitigating circumstances.
You wish me to infer that thu
kings messenger is given discretion
airy powers OF delivering or withhold
ing his dispatch? But how do yoi
know that? That brings me 90 IN,
second question"
my dear chap. can put two sag
two together. can't /? I can see 9
church door, as Benedict said. when b.
am standing in front OF H."
"Oh. then. you are simply gueas
ing" I cried. diskusted.
Locke spread the tips OF HIS hngeu
together. and regarded me humorous
ly. You forget am consul
Lucerne? I. cir. am n parsonage"
Rubbish" I exclaimed. brasquely
american consuls are not as a rub
deeply in the confidence OF the min
listers in Downing street"
Locke laughed. looked about hin
cautiously. then whispered:
ITS something OF secret Haddon
Before / was consul al Lucerne / We
newspaper man Yes; don't looi
shocked. ! am not averse 20 clxili
out the magnificent income Above
me by the United States government
by sending budget OF news occt
sionally 70 my old chief"
Il understand; you newspaper mss
are ubiquitous. Before the mysterious
knowledge OF the press ! am silent"
Il need hardly say that what bau
told you is strictly between our
selves"
"Of course"
$50 far have not breathed a WON
OF this extraordinary story. via
to make a grand coup. am waftin.
for the finale OF the story--the ORA
matte and perhaps tragic denouement
For the end is not yet
SO saying, Locke produced his pock
etbook. From its voluminous fold
he extracted an envelope. He held
toward me in silence. took II caa
ously. II bore an unfamiliar stamp.
1T is the stamp in the corner
wish you 10 examine carefully. u
ten years collector will pay a pretts
penny for this stamp. Already II ,
as rare as strawberries in January
1t was issued less than a month ag
to mark the Anniversary OF Ferdi
nand's succession TO the throne. Yes
1t Is his likeness and that OF his 500
you are looking at. But Ferdinand
would pay half a million francs n b.
could buy up and destroy that issw
Of stamps. In Bulgaria that 10 q sim
pie matte. His secret agents are OF
the look~lt In every capital of y.
rope. But YOU see they are not who'll
successful"
AS Locke had suggested. I locke
critically at this double stamp who,
had caused Ferdinand so much any
iety. Two headA were depieted. Thsi
were placed side by side. man 9
middle age and a handsome boy
appeared to me a rather ordinary sor
of stamp
Hold II upside down." commanded
Locke. impatiently. Cover the leA
hand corner with your hand. so. Now
do you see that a portion OF the head
OF the father and son makes an ur
mistakable dcath-mask? And an
deatb-mask l. hat OF Prl9>e Fepas>
nand"
GRO BE coNTINUED1
He who loses money loser nyea