Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-11-20
Authors Of a. Lshtnine Conductor" "R<
mary II search e Q Father" Etc. -

With manner that essayed the diff
ferent mean between reverence due to
royalty and common everyday polite
ness. good enough for an ordinary gem
tleman. the station master volunteered
to ascertain whether the ladies de-
scribed had gone out and given up
their tickets. A few minutes of sus-
pense dragged on. Then came the
news that no such persons had passed.
Here was stumbling block. Since
Helen Mowbray and her mother had
apparently not Travelled by the Orient
express. where had they gone on leav.
Ing the hotel at Kronburg? Had they.
after all, misled Baroness Won Lyndal
a. to their Intentions for the purpose
OF binding the emperor. or had they
simply changed their minds at the last
minute. as omen may? Could 1t be
possible that they had changed them
80 completely as to return to Schloss
Lyndalberg. or had they chosen to van
ish mysteriously through some back
door out of Rhaetia, leaving no trace
which even a lover could find?
Leopold could not help recalling the
chancellor's revelations, but dismissed
them as soon as they had crept into his
brain. No matter where the clew to
the tangle might lie. he told himself
that it was not in any act of which
Helen Mowbray need be ashamed.
He could think Of nothing more to do
but to go dismally back to Kronburg
and await developments or, rather, to
stir them up by every means in his
power This was the course he finally
chose. and just as he was about to
act upon his decision he remembered
his carelessly given promise to Count
Won Breitstein.
There was telephone in the railway
station at Felgarde. and Leopold him.
self called up the chancellor at Kron.
burg.
MY friends are not here I'm start
ing for Kronburg as soon as. possible,
either by the next train or by special"
be announced after faraway squeak
had signified Count Won Breitstein's
presence at the other end. IT don't see
why you wish to know. but l would not
break my promise: that's all. Goodby.
nh? What was that you said?"
II have a-cur1ous-piece of-news
Tor you" came over the wire in the
chancellor's voice. "lt's-about the
ladies'"
"What is it," asked Leopold.
II limited that had more informa-
ton which | could not give you then.
But am III different position now.
You did not find your friends In the
Orient express
"No." said the emperor.
"They gave out that they were leav-
ing Rhaetia. but they haven't crossed
the frontier"
Thanks. That's exactly what want
ed to know"
"You remember certain person
whose name can't he mentioned over
the telephone buying a hunting lodge
near the village of Inseleden, in the
Buchenwald, last year?'
Eyes; l remember very we'll. But
what has that to do with nv friends q"
1.-THE younger lady has gone there
without her mother, who remains in
Kronburg with the companion. It
seems that the present owner of the
hunting lodge has been acquainted with
them for some time. though he was ig-
norant Of their masquerade. You see.
he knows them only under their real
name. The young lady is singer in
comic operas, Miss Jenny Brett,
whose dossier can be given you on de-
mand. The owner Of the hunting lodge
arrived at his place this morning, mo-
tored into Kronburg, where the young
lady had waited. evidently Informed of
MIS- coming. She invited him to nay
her visit at her hotel. He accepted
and returned the Invitation, which she
accepted"
"You are misinformed. The lady was
never an opera singer. and I'm certain
she would neither receive the person
you mention nor 60 to visit him."
will you drive out to the lodge to-
night when you reach Kronburg and
honor the gentleman with an unex-
pected call?"
Il will. d-n you, but not for the rea-
son you think" cried the emperor. 1t
was the first time in his life that he
had ever used strong language to the
chancellor.
He dropped the receiver, flung down
q gold coin with his own head upon 1t
(at the moment he could have wished
that he had no other) and. waving
away an offer Of change. rushed out of
the office.
Under his breath he swore again, the
strongest oaths which the rich Ian
guage OF his fatherlapd provided,
AnAthRmQfiZinp not tia l,olox,nA -a,.a