The Washington herald., 1908-04-05

been present at Cromwell road on the
night Of the disappearance. he had some
how held aloof from the man to whom
Marion was so devoted
And now? Even she had disappeared!
What could 1t mean?
Did Max Barclay really know how
and why Marion had disappeared, and
for motives of his own was making D.
mystery Of it?
The message from Barclay worried him.
Marion was missing. Why had size left
Cunnington's2 She must have left Of her
own accord. he felt confident She would
never be discharged. Sam Statham would
never. for a moment allow that
A tall man with a fair, pointed beard
approached him, raised his hat. and grip
ped his hand. Il was Drukoyitch, the
director of the National Theater. ana
friend OF his The newcomer seated
himself at the table, and the waiter
brought a tiny glass of 'slivovitZa," or
plum gin, that hqueur so dear 10 the
Servian palate. Drukovitch was one or
tle best known and most popular men
n Belgrade. a thOroughgoing cosmo-
politan, and man Of the world. Some
times he went to London, and whenever
there Charlie entertained him at his club,
or they went to the theater and supped
at the Savoy.
As they chatted Rolfe explaining that
he was In Servia upon financial matters,
as usual, Drukcvitch nodded 70 the
officers and civilians whom he knew,
many Of them famous for the part they
had played in the recent coup detat
Some of them, indeed, wore the white
enameled cross, which decoration marked
them as paTtsans OF the dynasty OF the
K Karageorge. And meanwhile the orchestra
was playing the popular waltz from The
Merry Widow" the air haunting every
body and every one.
That night there was a court ball at
the palace, and the forthcoming event
was upon every ones lips. There was
seldom an entertainment at the New KO-
max. for his majesty led very quiet life.
the almost ascetic life Of soldier-riding
out at dawn attending TO duties of state
during the day, and retiring early.
Perhaps the most mHligned man in ell
Europe. King Peter Of Servia was never
theless. known 10 those intimate around
the throne TO be a most conscientious
ruler. fully aware Of all his responsible
ties and striving ever % pacify the va
rious political factions, sustaining the
prestige Of Servia abroad. and ameliorat-
ing the conditions Of his people at home.
The truth regarding King Peter had
never been written. OF libels and vile
ealumnies there had been volumes, but no
journalist had ever dared to put into
print the real facts OF King Peters in
nocence of any connivanee at the das-
tardly murder Of Alexander and Draga.
Those who knew the real facts admired
King Peter as a man and fearless patriot,
but those who gathered their information
from sensational newspapers and scuTTi-
lous books emanating from Austria be-
lieved every lie that the backstairs scribes
chose TO write
Drukovitch was one OF the men who
knew the truth. and many time he
had explained them 10 bis friend, who in
turn, had told old Sam Statham, the
hard-headed misauthrope whose pref
udices were so strong. and yet the chords
CT whose heartstrings were so readily
touched.
Sam had lent money to Servia-huge
sums. And why? Because he knew his
majesty personally, ard had heard from
his own lips the story of his tragic DIFF
ficulties and bis aspirations
Once. indeed. in that silent study in
Park lane he had been reading a con
fidential report from Belgrade. predict
ing 4 black outlook when he turned 70
his secretary. and said.
'Roife. There will be trouble IN Servla.
But even though I may lose the million
sterling I have. loaned. il viii not trouble
me. I have tried 90 assist an honest
man who is az the same time a philan-
thropist and a king"
Charlie Rolfe recollected these words
at that moment as he sat amid the noise
and chatter of the cafe. where. above
every other sound. rose the sweet. tune
ful strains Of the waltz that had within
the past few weeks gripped all Europe
There was something bizarre. something
incongruOus with Il all.
He was thinking Of his lost love-hls
sweet-faced Maud with the unruly wisp
OF hair straying across her white brow.
Where was she? Aye, where was she?
TO BE G. NTINUED TOMORROW.