Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-10-24
CHAPTER X.
The Death.Mask.

I had raised my glass carelessly to
my lips. l placed It slowly on the
table. ! met Locke's steady gaze not
merely in surprise, rather in complete
conviction. That was precisely the
kind of woman I had determined she
must be. But | had no intention OF
discussing her with Locke. A plan
was already seething In my brain-a
plan infinitely more thrilling than res.
cuing a comrade in the battlefield or a
traveller lost in the mountain.side. l
intended to keep that plan to myself.
In the meanwhile must have further
details Of this ~escapade Of the miss.
ing ambassador.
1--WE will speak of Countess Sara.
hoff presently" l said, returning his
smile coolly. But tell me, why should
England adopt the slow and clumsy
%expedlent OF sending a kings messen'
ger. as you call him, across Europe,
instead OF demanding the instant re.
call OF the minister by cable? That
Is my first question, and my second
Is this: are you my dear Locke, In
the secret councils of the British for.
elgn office that you know so much OF
their plans"?"
"a kings messenger" drawled
Locke, "is supposed to have a brain
between his shoulders and to exercise
his discretion. The foreign office
would wish to be quite sure that the
scandal was not a clever ruse OF q
secret agent Of Russia or Turkey.
Even IL the scandal exists, there
might be mitigating circumstances"
you wish me to infer that this
kings messenger Is given discretion.
airy powers OF delivering or withhold.
ing his dispatch? But how do you
know that? That brings me to the
second question"
my dear chap, l can put two and
two together, can't I? I can see a
church door. as Benedict said. when
am standing in front Of H."
"oh, then, you are simply guess
ing" I cried. disguised.
Locke spread the tips of his fingers
together, and regarded me humorous
ly. you forget l am consul at
Lucerne? I, sir, am a parsonage"
Rubbish" ! exclaimed, ~brusquely
American consuls are not as a rule
deeply In the confidence Of the min
listers in Downing street"
Locke laughed, looked about hin
cautiously, then whispered:
Its something OF a secret, HaddoD
Before I was consul at Lucerne l wa,
a newspaper man Yes: don't lool
shocked. / am not averse to ekini
out the magnificent income allowed
me by the United States government
by sending a budget of news occa
~sionally to my old chief"
81 understand; you newspaper mel
are ubiquitous. Before the mysterioul
knowledge of the press l am silent"
81 need hardly say that what I hav'
told you is strictly between our
selves"
"Of course"
80 far l have not breathed a wor
OF this extraordinary story. l wis
to make a grand coup. l an waitlnl
for the finale Of the %story-the dra
matte and perhaps tragic denouement
For the end is not yet"
SO saying. Locke produced his pooh
etbook. From its voIuminous fold
he extracted an envelope. He held
toward me In silence. l took II cur
ously. 1t bore an unfamiliar stamp.
1T is the stamp In the corner
wish you to examine carefully. II
ten years a collector will pay a prett
penny for this stamp. Already It |
as rare as strawberries in January
1t was issued less than q month ag
to mark the anniversary OF Ferd
nand's succession to the throne. Yes
1t Is his likeness and that OF his so
you are looking at. But Ferdinan
would pay half a million francs II b
= could buy up and destroy that issu
: OF stamps. In Bulgaria that is a sin
, pie matter. His secret agents are o
. the lookout in every capital of e,
rope. But you see they are not who'll
Q successful"
As Locke had suggested, / locke
critically at this double stamp whic
Q had caused Ferdinand so much an,
J. iety. Two heads were depleted. The
s. were placed side by side, a man {
" middle age and a handsome boy.
appeared to me a rather ordinary Sol
Of stamp.
Hold 1t upside down" commando
IT Locke, impatiently. "Cover the lef
o hand corner with your hand, so. Nov
do you see that a portion Of the head
of the father and son makes an III
Is mistakable death.mask? And Ii
IT death.mask is that OF Prince Ferd
nand."
CTo BE coNTINUED.)