Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
CHAPTER x.-continued.

formed the eyes of the death-mask;
| the mustache of the father made the
| eyebrows; and the brow and the eyes
| of the boy prince formed the nose and
| mouth. And more horrible than the
| death-mask itself was a wound in the
temple, from which flowed a streak of
blood.
"This wound" I asked, shuddering,
'is it merely coincidence? The look
of agony-the staring eyes-is that
| meant to be menace, a threat of a
| violent DEATH"
Can you doubt it?" demanded
Locke, replacing the envelope care
fully in his pocketbook THAT death
| mask is regarded by large portion
of Ferdinand's dissatisfied subjects as
| heavenly sign That little stamp,
/ venture to say. is death-knell for
Ferdinand-it introduces into Bull
| garian politics an awful and solemn
| note
"a heavenly sign?'" I asked, shud
dering again. But he still lives"
yes; at present he is in Paris.
suppose he is safe there. But when
he returns to his capital at Sofia"
"And the woman-this Countess
Sarahoff, is she one of the revolution
| aries who regard that stamp as a
heavenly sign?' You told me that
she was supposed to be the friend of
Prince Ferdinand"
81 did But is she? She is wom-
an of mystery. Is she really in earn
est in seeking to entrap Sir Mortimer
into influencing England to stand be-
hind Bulgaria in her invasion of Turk
ish Macedonia? Is she ignorant of the
existence or at least the significance
of this stamp? Or. posing as a friend
of Ferdinand, having ready access to
him at any hour, will hers be the dag
ger plunged into his breast at the
fatal hour? Perhaps Sir Mortimer is
not the guileless victim we think him
to be. Perhaps the kings messenger
does not have two sets of dispatches
| to be presented at his discretion. Per-
haps this death-mask is a CHASTITY &C
cident and not menace. Perhaps
Countess Sarahoff, alias Sophie de
WARMER, is a lamb of innocence Per-
haps! But, my dear chap, don't trust
that perhaps"
Locke rose and pulled on his gloves.
stared at him in sudden comprehen-
sion.
II understand now. You had more
than one object in coming to see me
this morning" I said, soberly.
He lit a cigarette, looking down at
me in deep thought.
I'm America the game of politics is
fair game and above board. We
show our cards; they are on the table
| for all the world to see. The very
| frankness of our methods puzzles the
| diplomats of Europe. Here in Europe
| things are managed differently. There
| are wheels within wheels. No pawn
is too insignificant to be made use of.
This pawn may be a simple citizen,
| even a tourist
| l shook the hand he held toward
me, and retained it, bewildered
| But that is absurd on the face of
it. In what possible way could 1 be
of use to this Countess Sarchoff?"
| Locke shrugged his shoulders care
lessly, and blew ring of smoke with
precision at the chandelier.
| Nothing is quite absurd" he re-
! turned, calmly 1.-TWO days ago read
of an unfortunate accident of fell
| low-countryman and an old college &C
quaintance. To-day I am surprised to
find this countryman of mine on ex-
cellent terms with a woman whom
have every reason to believe is a dan
| gerous adventures. l come to see
my ACKNOWLEDGING, to offer him
| my sympathy. l REMAIN to warn
| him"
But why?" l demanded, still skep
| teal
There are three facts that should
| make you think, Haddon. First OF
all, you have made the acquaintance
of the mother and the sister of Sill
| Mortimer Brett. Secondly, Countess
Sarahoff has made your acquaintance
Thirdly-contradict me if l am wrong
she has already interested you;
more than that, | venture to say that
you have made an appointment with
her"
He looked at me keenly. l was
silent.
These, my dear Haddon, are sim
pie facts. Perhaps there is no rela
ton between them. Again l say. per
haps' But don't let the mysterious
machinery of intrigue catch you il
its meshes. Its wheels may crust
you You have had enough trouble
and look out for Countess Sarahoff.
81 shall try to remember your ad
vice." l said. struggling to control m.
excitement. and placed his visiting
card in my pocket. Yes; l shall SCI
you again before l leave Lucerne.
"Oh, suit yourself about that" SAX
! Locke, coldly.
Not until afterwards did it occur u
me that l had treated him rathe
cavalierly-indeed, laid myself opel
to suspicion by my silence.
Il CHAPTER XII.