Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-07-03
CHAPTER X.
The Oeath-Mask.

my lips. l placed it slowly on the
table. l met Locke's steady gaze not
merely in surprise, rather in complete
conviction. That was precisely the
kind of woman 1 had determined she
must be. But I had no intention of
discussing her with Locke A plan
was already seething in my brain-a
plan infinitely more thrilling than res
cuing comrade in the battlefield or a
traveller lost in the mountain-side. 1
intended to keep that plan to myself.
In the meanwhile must have further
details of this escapade of the miss
ing ambassador.
I'VE will speak of Countess Sara.
hoff presently" 1 said, returning his
smile coolly. But tell me, why should
England adopt the slow and clumsy
expedient of sending a kings messen-
ger, as you call him, across Eusope,
instead of demanding the instant re-
call of the minister by cable? That
is my first question, and my second
is this: are you my dear Locke, in
the secret councils of the British for
eign office that you know so much of
their plans?"
"A kings messenger" drawled
Locke, lis supposed to have a brain
between his shoulders and to exercise
his discretion. The foreign office
would wish to be quite sure that the
scandal was not a clever ruse of a
secret agent of Russia or Turkey.
Even if the scandal exists, there
m oh ha ion inc ri.
You wish me to infer that this
kings messenger is given discretion
airy powers of delivering or withhold
ing his dispatch? But how do you
know that? That brings me to the
second question"
MY dear chap, can put two and
two together. can't 1? 1 can see a
church door, as Benedict said, when I
am standing in front of it,
"Oh, then. you are simply guess
ing" l cried, disguised.
Locke spread the tips of his fingers
together and regarded me humorous
ly. You forget / am consul at
Lucerne? l. sir, am a parsonage"
Rubbish" l exclaimed, brusquely.
American consuls are not as a rule
deeply in the confidence of the min
listers in Downing street.
Locke laughed, looked about him
cautiously, then whispered:
Its something of a secret, Haddon.
Before l was consul at Lucerne I was
a newspaper man. Yes; don't look
shocked. / am not averse to eking
out the magnificent income allowed
me by the United States government
by sending budget of news occa-
sionally to my old chief
Il understand; you newspaper men
are ubiquitous. Before the mysterious
knowledge of the press am silent"
Il need hardly say that what have
told you is strictly between our
selves
"Of course
so far l have not breathed a word
of this extraordinary story. l wish
to make a grand coup. l am waiting
for the finale of the story-the dra-
matte and perhaps tragic denouement.
For the end is not yet"
So saying, Locke produced his peck
etbook. From its voluminous folds
toward me in silence. I took it curl
ously. 1t bore an unfamiliar*stamp.
1T is the stamp in the corner 1
wish you to examine carefully In
ten years collector will pay pretty
penny for this stamp. Already it is
as rare as Strawberries in January.
1t was issued less than a month ago
to mark the anniversary of Ferdi-
nands succession to the throne. Yes,
it is his likeness and that of Nilsson
you are looking at. But Ferdinand
would pay half million francs if he
could buy up and destroy that issue
of stamps. In Bulgaria that is sim
pie matter. His secret agents are on
the lookout in every capital of Eu-
rope Put you see they are not wholly
successful"
AS Locke had suggested, looked
critically at this double stamp which
had caused Ferdinand so much anx-
iety Two heads were depicted They
were placed side by side. man OF
middle age and a handsome boy It
appeared to me rather ordinary sor:
of stamp.
Hold it upside down., commanded
Locke impatiently. Cover the left.
hand corner with your hand, so. Now.
do you see that a portion of the heads
of the father and son makes an un
mistakable death-mask? And the
ldeath-mask is that. of Prince Ferdi-
nand.''
.To BE CoNTINUED.l
/ He who loses money..loses much:
he who loses friend loses more; but