Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-07-03
CHAPTER VIII.-continued.


DO you mind telling me what it
was?"
"Willoughby, the man who was
killed, loved a Miss Brett. She was
at this hotel last night with her moth
err 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"
Lockes heavy face was agitated
equally by sympathy and surprise.
Miss Brett" he cried. That must
be the sister of Sir Mortimer Brett
You know her." l demanded
eagerly.
Il 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 a Brit
ish minister. Who is he. and how do
you happen to know him."
He is consul general and minister
There is not an attache in Europe to-
day who has not an inquisitive eye
cooked at Sir Mortimer Brett
And his claims to distinction?"
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 illustrious name. How
ever 1 am afraid that's a very or
dirany sort of notoriety. But when
l tell you the sober fact that if he
just winked war would break out in
the Balkan peninsula you will grant
that he is a 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
licity? l have figured in the papers
myself lately, and l feel certain
sympathy for a fellow-sufferer?"
''Oh, 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, l happen to be the Ameri-
can consul here"
Then your gossip of the embassies
ought to be worth listening to-"
l 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, | don't
If you wish to show me that you be-
| 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
to the scandal that concerns him.
Very WE'LL he agreed good-natured
| ly. But don't despair if you are still
muddled after ten minutes talk or
Balkan politics; Count Won Bulow has
said that the man who comprehends
the situation in the Balkan State does
not exist. But to understand how
Sir Mortimer's influence may plunge
Europe into war to-day. just as surely
as when Madame de Pompadou
twisted Louis Nv about her little fin
ger. you must know something of the
trouble that seethes and bubbles il
Turkish Macedonia"
Even the word Turkish Macedonia
is mere geography name to me-
Hang it, have l got to give you ;
lesson in geography as well as in his
tory?" growled Locke. Well. Mace
donna is actually no state or country
1t is simply a term to designate
strip of Turkish territory immediatel,
TO the south of Bulgaria. 1t is with in
dependent Bulgaria and insurgen
Macedonia that our friend Sir Morti
mer Brett is concerned In a word
the situation is this: Bulgaria, lon;
freed from the Turkish yoke. woul,
help struggling Macedonia to gail
her freedom.
Macedonia itself is an extraordir
airy hodgepodge of races-Greeks
Turks, Serbs, Bosnians, Bulgars-
there are dozen dirty little races
and half a dozen fanatic sects al
ready to fly at each others threats
they were not too busy struggling TO
their freedom. But Greek, Catholic
Jew, they are all ready to die cheer
fully if they can down their Turks
oppressor. 1t is just this sublim
struggle for freedom that gives
touch of nobility to mongrel, snarlins
swapping Macedonia These Mace
domains for years have been putin
up one of the rluckiest running fight
imaginable. The House of Common
INDUCES in solemn piffie about wha
they choose to call the Balance G
Criminality.. In other words. they prt