Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-28

tCSdlN tdlSttlbONlS iLldl lbiNl. anu lGl-
lied him numerically when he told
me that he had made up his mind that
| had gone in the track of Nine. de
Muuban to Strelsau. The lady, it ap-
peared, was back in Paris, but was
living in great seclusiOn-a fact for
which gossip found no difficulty in ac-
counting. Did not all the world know
Of the treachery and death of Duke
Michael! Nevertheless George babe
Bcrtram Bertrand be of good cheer,
for" said he fiippantly. IA live poet
is better than Il dead duke Then he
turned on me and asked:
"WhIt have you been doing TO your
mustache:"
"To tell the truth" I answered. as
Stunning a sly air, "a man now and then
has reasons for wishing to alter his
appearance. But it's coming on very
well again"
What? Then I wasn't so far out?
/ not the fair Antoinette, there was
charmcr."
There is always a charmer," said l
sententiously.
But George would not be satisfied till
he had wormed out of me Che took
| much pride in his ingenuity an abso-
| lutely imaginary love affair. attended
with the proper soupCon of scandal.
! which had kept me all this time in
| the peaceful regions of the Tyrol. In
| return for this narrative George re
| called me with great deal of what he
| called inside information" Gn0wn
| only to diplomatistsl rs 10 the true
course Of events in Ruritania, the plots
! ana counterplotS. In his opinion. he
! told me. with 4 significant nod there
| WAS more 70 be said for Blacl, Michael
! than the public supposed. and he hint
| ed at q we'll founded suspicion that the
! mysterious prisoner of Zenda. concern
ing whom Il good many paragraphs had
! appeared. WIS not Il man ut all. but
| Ohcrc ! had some ado not to smile, Il
woman disguised as man. and that
strife between the king and his broth
or for This imaginary lady's favor was
nj jhn bottom Of their quarrel.
"Perhan+ it was Nine de Mauban
| herself | suggested.
"Nn"' Sail George decisivcly. AN
toinctte de Mauhan was Jealous of
/ her and betrayed the duke t. the king
for that reason. AUD. to confirm wh1t
I say, its we'll known that the Prin
cess F!ayil is now extremely cold tC
the king after having been most af
fectionate."
At this point l changed the subject
ana escaped from Georges ''inspired'
decisions. But if diplomatfStS never
know anything more than they haG
succeeded in finding out in this in
stance they appear to me to be some
what expensive Injuries.
| While in Paris ] wrote to AntOinetto
though | did not venture to call upoI
her. | received i'm return Il very af
fccting letter, in which she assured IN,
that the kings generosity and kind
mess, no less than her regard for me
. bound her conscience to absolute Sc
crecy. She expressed the intention o
settling in the country and Withdraw
r. ing herself entirely from society
Whether she carried out her design
e. | have never heard, bat rs have no
met her or heard news of her up t
: this time it is probable that she did
There is no doubt that she was deepl
- attached to the Duke of Strclsau. an
her conduct at the time of his deaf
- proved that no knowledge of the man
=, real character was enough to root he
: regard for him out of her heart.
r. ! had one moro battle left to fight
| l1f+T, m I I,n
4 and was bound to end in my complet
% defeat. Was | not back from the Ty
rOl without having made any study c
its inhabitants. institutions. scenery
fauna. fora or other features? Had
not wasted my time in my usual fry
;. olouS. good for nothing way? Tha
u was the aspect of the matter which.
!, | was obliged to admit. would present i
Il self to my sister-in-law. and against
verdict based on such evidence | ha
really no defense TO offer. 1t NAV |
- supposed, then. that l presented N.
: self in Park lane in a shamcfacer
;, shcopiSh fashion. On the whole, N
= reception was not so alarming as
:, had feared. 1t turned out that ha
! tblt not Will INuSt NtSIleU, DNt-tl
- next best thing-what she had proph
sled. She had declared that l shou
-. make no notes. record no observation
=, gather no materials. My brother, {
II the other hand, had been weak cnous
} to maintain that 4 really serious r
=. solve had at length animated me.
When l returned empty handed, Ro
was SO occupied in triumphing ov
Burlesdon that she let me down qui
easily. dcvOting the greater part of h
8. reproachcs to my failure to advise II
ls friends of my whereabouts
10 We've wasted q lot of time tryiI
to find YOU" she said.
Il know you have" said L. "Ha
our ambassadors have led weary liv
on my account. George Featherls to
me so. But why should you have bee
anxious? l can take care of myself
s. "Oh. it wasn't that" she cried scor
\ fully. but | wanted to tell you abo