The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-09-07
CHAPTER vIlI.-continusd.

10 you ~ teihue We
was?"
"willoughby, the man who was
killed, loved q Miss Brett. She was
ct this hotel last night with her moth
Or. They heard Of my being here, ana
did me the honor to send for me. ana
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 herr" demanded
eagerly.
IT have never seen her. but l know
something of Sir Mortimer. He II
the most picturesque figure In the
English diplomatic service"
why picturesque? That -
strange adjective to describe Brit
ash minister. Who is he. and how DO
you happen to know him."
HE is consul general and minister
plenipotentiary at Sofia. Bulgaria
There IL 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
lous. First of all, scandal has been
busy with his illustrious name. How
ever I am afraid that's very or
dirany sort of notoriety. But when
I tell you the sober fact that II he
inst winked war would break out In
the Balkan peninsula you will grant
that he il q factor in the game OF
European politics"
81 have heard enough to have my
curiosity excited. Tell me more OF the
man who controls the destiny OF ma
tion. The scandal, for instance. Is II
q matter of common newspaper pub
Mcity? l have figured in the papers
myself lately, and l feel a certain
sympathy for fellow-sufferer?"
"Oh, the newspapers have made him
uouirm 4 bit. no doubt But my
sources Of information are more &C
curate than mere newspaper gossip
You see. l happen to be the Ameri
can consul here"
Then your gossip Of the embassiea
ought to be worth listening to-"
settled myself in my chair and
lighted fresh cigarette.
my dear chap. You are asking tot
much of me-really you are! TIT
situation in the Balkans! Good Lord
that's too appalling a subject to b.
discussed between two friends wh'
have Just met"
Locke" I replied automatically.
suppose You wish to discuss me an
my unfortunate affair. Well, l DOM
II YOU wish to show me that you b
lieye me not quite so black as | al
painted, ignore the matter complete
IT,"
~Of course, of course" he hastene
70 assure me. "And you really wis
20 understand why war would brea
out tomorrow In the Balkans II >
Mortimer Brett lifted his little d.
ger?"
IF such a knowledge is the prelut
10 the scandal that concerns him..
every we'll" he agreed good-nature
". but don't despair If you are ST
muddled after ten minutes talk
Balkan politics; Count Won Bulow n
said that the man who comprehen
The situation In the Balkan State do
mt exist. But to understand nc
Sir Mortimer's influence may plum
Europe into war to-day. just as sure
"a when Madame de Pompado
twisted Louis XIV about her little {
ger. you must know something OF
trouble that seethes and bubbles
Turkish Macedonia"
Even the word Turkish acedor
Is mere geography name to me-"
Hang II, have / get to give You
lesson in geography as well as In b
tory?" growled Locke. well. Ma
donia IL actually no state or count
It IA simply q term to designate
strip of Turkish territory immediat
10 the south Of Bulgaria. 1t is with
denendent Bulgaria and insurg'
Macedonia that our friend Sir NO
mer Brett is concerned. In q wo
the situation IL this: Bulgaria. ie
freed from the Turkish yoke. wo
helm struggling Macedonia to g
aer freedom.
Macedonia itself is an extraort
ary hodgepodge of races-Gree
Turks. Serbs, Bosnians, Bulgar
there are a dozen dirty little ra'
aud half a dozen fanatic sects
really to fly at each others throat
they were not too busy struggling
their freedom. But Greek. Cathe
Jew, they are all ready to die CHI
FULLY II they can down their Turl
oppressor. It is just this subj
struggle for freedom that gives
touch Of nobility to mongrel, snarl
enapping Macedonia These Nj