The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-05-31
CHAPTER VIII.-continued.

NlHOuShDg, me man WIN was
killed. loved 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.
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
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 Distinction"
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 / am afraiG hats very or
dirany sort of notoriety. But when
| 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
a matter OF common newspaper pub
licity? | have figured in the papers
myself lately, and feel a certain
sympathy for a fellow-sufferer?
"Oh, the newspapers have made him
squirm 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 your gossip of the embassies
ought to be worth listening to "
| settled myself in my char and
lighted 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" | 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-
lieve me not quite so black as | am
painted, ignore the matter complete
~"
"Of course. Of course" he FASTENED
to assure me. And you really wish
TO understand why war would break
out tomorrow in the Balkans il Sir
Mortimer Brett lifted his little fin
ger?"
IF such a knowledge is the prelude
to the scandal that concerns him"
Very well, he agreed good-natured-
ly. 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
not exist But to understand how
Sir Mortimers 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 tine word Turkish-Macedonia
is a mere geography name to me-
Hang It, have got TO give YOU a
lesson in geography as well as in his
tory?" growled Locke We'll. Mace
donia is actually no state or country.
1t is simply term to designate
strip of Turkish territory Immediately
TO the south of Bulgaria Ii is with i'm
dependent Bulgaria and insurgent
Macedonia that our friend Sir Morti-
mer Brett is concerned. In n 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-
there are dozen dirty little races.
and half dozen fanatic sects all
ready TO fly at each others threats If
they 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
oppressor. II is Just this sublime
struggle for freedom that gives
touch OF nobility te mongrel snarling,
swapping Macedonia. These Mace
domains for years have been putting
up one of the pluckiest running fights
imaginable. The House of Commons
INDUCES IN solemn piffie about what
they choose 10 call the Balance OF
Criminality. In other words. they pro
fess to think that the atrocities com
rO'fted by the Turks and the Mace
domains are equally horrible. But. as
a matter of fact English knowledge of