The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-20

I in British citizenship still upheld him. Seven had been the hour named by his intention-it was a little after o'clock when he heard knock upon his bed- room door and started up wondering who called him at such an hour. Who is there what do you want?' he | cried, with the bedelothes still about his shoulders. No one answered this, but l the knock was repeated. a decisive knock as of one who meant to win admittanee. All right. l will come in a minute" was now his answer; to which he added the auestion-"Is that you, Count? Do you know it's only just o'clock?' He opened the door and found himself face to face with the hotel valet, an ain- fable young Frenchman by the name of Malette.
 Monsieur" said the man. will you please come at once? There has been an acedent-his excellency is very ill.''
 An accident to the Count? Is it serious, Malette?
 Tt is very serious, monsieur. They say that he will not Me. The doctors are with him-1 thought that you would wish to know immediately"
 Aban turned without word and be- gan to put on his clothes His hands were quite cold and he trembled as though stricken by an ague. When he had found a dressing gown, he huddled it on anyhow and followed Malette down the corridor.
 "When did this happen, Malette?" '.I do not know, monsieur. One of tho servants chanced to pass his eXcellency.s door and saw something which frightened him. He called the concierge and they walked the Herr Director. Afterwards they sent for the police"
 Do they think that the Count was as- sassinated, then?"
 "Ah that is to find out. The officers will help us to say. Will you go in at once. monsieur or shall tell the Herr Director"
 Alban said that he would go at once. 1 The young fear to look upon the face of death and he was no braver than others of his age. A terrible sense of dread overlook him while he stood before the door and heard the hushed whispers of those about it. Here giant police off. cer had already taken up his post as sen- tinel and he cast a searching glance upon all who approached. There were two or three privileged servants standing apart and discussing the affair; but a stain upon a crimson carpet was more eloquent of tho truth than any word. Alban came near to swooning he stepped over it and entered the room without word or knock.
 They had laid the Count upon the bed and dragged it to the window to husband the light. Two doctors, hastily sum moned from u neighboring hospital worked like heroes in their shirt sleeves a nurse in a gray dress stood behind them holding sponge and bandages. At the first glance the untrained onlooker would have said that Sergius Zamoyslxi was cer- tainly dead. The intense pallor of his face the set eyes, the stiffened limbs spoke of the rigor mortis and the hnality of tragedy. None the less, the surgeons ont tp .1y oil ferIaf saved. Uttering their orders in the calm and measured tones of those whom no scene of death could unnerve, they were unconscious of all else but the task be- fore them and it's immediate achieve ment. When they had need of anything they spoke to the Herr Director of the hotel who passed on his commands in q sharp, decisive tone to a porter who stood at his heels. Near by him stood the chief of the police, Zaniloff a short, burly man who wore a dark green uniform and held his sheathed sword lightly in his left hand. These latter looked up when the dor opened, but the doctors took no notice whatever. There was an overpowering odor of anaesthetics in the room, all | though the windows had been thrown wide open.
 "Is the Count dead?" Alban asked them in a low voice. He had taken a few steps toward the bed and there halt ed irresolute. What is it, what has hap pened, sr?" he continued, turning to Zanllofr. That worthy merely shrugged his shoulders
 "The Count has been assassinated-we believe by a woman. The doctors will tell us by and by"
 Alban shuddered at the words and took another step toward the bed. He felt eiddy and faint The words he had just heard were ringing in his ears as sound of rushing waters. Has Lois done this thing ?"-incredible! And yet the man implied as much
 T cannot stay here," he exclaimed presently, 'I must go to my room, If you please"
 He turned and rceled from the place, ashamed of his weakness, yet unable to control it. Outside upon the landing he discovered that zaniloff was at his elbow and had something to say to him. Speak ing sharply and automatically in the Rus sian tongue, that worthy realized al- most immediately that he had failed to make himself understood and so called the Herr Director to his aid.
 They will require your attendance at the bureau" the director said with an obsequious bow toward Alban-''you must dress at once, sir, and accompany this gentleman"
 Alban said that he would do so He was miserably cold and i'll and trembling still Knowing nothing of the truth, he believed that they were taking him to Lois Boriskoff and that she was already in custody.
 CHAPTER EXVI. An Interlude in Piccadilly.
 Alban had been 15 days out of England when Anna Gessner met Willy Forrest one afternoon as she was driving a pair of chestnut ponies down Piccadilly toward hA a just left a club and a bridge table which had been worth e15 pounds to him. The gray frock suit he wore suited him ad- mrably He certainly looked very smart and wide-awalIe.
 Anna, by Jupiter" he cried, as he stepped from the pavement at the very corner of Dover street-"well, if my luck don't beat cock-fighting. Where are you off to. Anna-what have you done with the showing machine? l thought you never aired the gee-gees now. Something new for you, isn't it? May l get in and have a pawt? We shall be fined 40 bob and costs at Marlborough street is We hold up the traffic. Say, you look rip ping in this char d bancs, upon my soul you're killing.
 She had not meant to stop for him, and half against her wish she now refined the ponies in and made room for him. There never had been a day in her life since she had known him when she was able to resist altogether the Embellishments of this pleasant rogue who made so many appeals to her interest Today sheer cu- riosty conquered her. She wished above all things to hear what he had done with I. fat thARs haa.I