The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-10-22


of proper rank U" "o Deu'
to perform such service and to COM
mand nm escort Of n hundred men. Aft
er all. An officer Of my rank made a GER
tain concession i'm accepting so small Il
command"
"rhe prince would regard the send
ing Of Mistitch as deliberate insult
I'm afraid he would"
"IIe's hot tempered He'd probably
say rs much"
eyes. and Mistitch Is hot tempered.
He'd probably resent the observation.
But you'll remember general. that the
escort Is to he large enough TO make
the officer commanding II, secure
against hindrance 10y any act short Of
open and armed resistance 10 the kings
command"
Hell never believe the king would
send Mistit'h 'hv'
"Will that make his peaceable obe-
dience more likely"
I'm moment ,hey'd he at each 9th
er's"- lie STOPPED. "Markart, go and
see If they need anything in there"
He pointed to the kings bedroom,
where Natchcfr and Lepage were.
Markart rose and obeyed. His head
was swimming. He hardly yet under
stood how very ingC NOUS the ingenious
deviltry was. how the one man was to
be sent whose directions the prince
could not submit TO. whose presence
was an insult towhom II was impossible
TO intrust Baroness Dobrava. He was
very glad 10 g"t out of the room. The
last he saw was Stafnitz drawing his
chair close M 70 Stenovics and engag-
ing in low voiced. earnest talk.
The kings body lay on the bed de
Gently disposed and covered with q
large fur rug Tepage sat on chair
near by, Natcheff on another in the
window. Both looked up for moment
as Markart entered, but neither spoke.
Markart found a third chair and sat
down. Nobody said anything. The
three were as silent and almost as still
as the fourth on the bed. A low muir
muir Of voices came from the next
room. The words were indistingulsh-
able. So passed full half an hour A
strange and terrible half hour II seem.
ed to Markart
The door opened and Stafnitz called
hatcher. The physician rose and fol-
lowed him. Another twenty minutes
went by. still in silence. but once Mark
art, looking for moment at his mute
companion. saw tear rolling slowly
down Lepage's wrinkled cheek. Le-
page saw him looking and broke the
silence
II suppose helped to kill hiInw
l. Markart shrugged his shoulders help
lessly. Silence came again. Very long
II seemed; but, on looking at his watch,
Markuft found that II was not yet half
past d.
Again the door opened. and Stafnitz
called 10 them both. They followed
him into the next room. Stenovics
was sitting at the table. with his hands
clasped on II in front OF him. Stafnitz
took up a position by his side, standing
as though on duty. Natcheff had dis
appeared. StenOvics spoke in calm,
deliberate tones. He seemed to have
assumed command of the operations
again.
Captain Markart, I'm about to in
trust to you an important and respon-
sible duty. For the next twenty-four
hours and afterward until relieved by
my orders you will be in charge OF this
man Lepage and will detain him in
these apartments. His own room and
this room will be at the disposal Of
yourself and your prisoner. but You
must not lei the prisoner out OF your
sight DR.. hatcher remains in his
room. He will have access to the kings
room when he desires, but he will not
leave the suit OF apartments. Beyond
seeing to this you VIII have no respon-
slbility for him. The door leading to
the suit will be locked by me and will
be opened only by me or by my orders
l remain at the palace tonight. Under
me Captain Sterkoff will be the officer
on guard. He will himself supply you
with any meals or other refreshments
which you may require. Ring this