Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-25

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dreadfuliy bad hurnor. He Is a dan
gerous mana very dangerous man.
but falling fast Poor Austrial Count
Ferdinand Won stroebel can have no
successor. He's only a sort OF hold
over from the nineteenth century, and
with him and his emperor out Of the
vay-whatf For my part see only
dark days ahead" And be concluded
WITH little sigh that implied crum-
bling thrones and falling dynasties
The reader or the Neue Freie Presse.
! preparing to leave his table, tore from
the newspaper an article that seemed
TO have attracted him. placed II In his
cardcase and walked toward the door.
The eyes OF Arthur Singleton lighted
In recognition. and the attache. mutter-
Ing an apology 10 the Ciaibornes, ad-
dressed the young septleman cor
daily.
why. Armitage. OF all men, and he
rose, still facing the Clalbornes with
an air OF embracing the young Amerl-
cans in his greetings. He never liked
to lose an auditor. and he would In no
| circumstances miss n chance 70 display
the wide circumference OF his acquaint-
ance-
''Shirley-Afiss Clalborne-allow me
TO present Nr. Armitage." The young
army officer and Armitage then shook
hands. and the three men stood for
moment. detained. il seemed. by the
old attache. who had no engagement
FOR the next hour or two and resented
the idea OF being left alone
zone always meets Armitager' de-
clared Singleton. HE knows our
America as well as we do--and very
well indeed-for an Englishman."
Armitage bowed gravely.
you make Il necessary for me 10
disavow any allegiance to the powers
that rule Great Britain. I'm really a
fair sort OF American. have some
times told New York people all about
Colorado. Montana. New Mexicow
His voice and manner were those OF
a gentleman. His color, as Shirley
Claiborne now observed. was that OF
an outdoors man. She was familiar
with It IN soldiers and sailors and
knew that it testified TO n vigorous and
wholesome life.
"Of course you're not Engiishr' ex-
claimed Singleton. annoyed as he re-
membered. or thought he did. that A.
mltage had on some other occasion
made the same protest
I'm really getting sensitive about
H. said Armitage. more 10 the Clai-
bornes than 20 Singleton. "But must
we all be from somewhere Is II so
melancholy plight 20 be a man with
out a countryT'
The mockery In his tone was beIied
by the good humor In his face. His
eyes caught Shiriey's passinCly. anc
she smiled at him. II seemed a natu-
raj. n perfectly inevitable thing 10 do
She liked the kind tolerance with
which he suffered the babble OF Arthur
Singleton, whom some one had called
an International bore. The young mans
dignity was only an expression OF self
respect HIS appreciation OF the exact
proprieties resulting from this casual
introduction 10 herself and her brother
was perfect. He was already with
drawing. A waiter had followed him
with his discarded newspaper. and Ar.
mItage took 1t and idly dropped II on a
chair.
Have you heard the news. Armi-
tage? The Austrian sphinx Is herein
this very houser' whispered Singleton
impressively.
Yes; 10 be sure, Count Won Strocbel
is here, but he VIII probably not re-
main long. The Alps Will soon be safe
again. am glad 10 have met you"
lie bowed TO the Claibornes inclusive
". nodded In response 20 Slngleton's
promise 10 look him up later and left
them
When Shirley and her brother reach
ed their common sitting room, Dick
Claiborne laughlngly held up the copy
OF the Neue Freie PresSe which Armi-
tage had cast aside at their table.
Now we shall known he declared.
unfolding the newspaper.
Know what. DickY
AT least what our friend without q
country Is so interested in"
He opened the paper, from which
half column had been torn, noted the
date. rang the bell and ordered a copy
OF the same issue. When 1t was
brought he opened Il, found the place.
laughed loudly and passed the sheet
over 10 his sister.
"Oh. Shirley, Shirley This Is almost
too muchp' he cried, watching her as
III N-No NNNRA AAt eo4lC
away TO escape his noise and after n
glance threw down the paper IN dis
gust The article dealt In detail with
Austro-H Hungarian finances and fairly
bristled with figures and sage con-
illusions based upon them.
Isn't that the worstr exclaimed
Shirley. smiling ruefully.
He's certainly a romantic figure
ready TO your hand. Probably a bank
clerk who makes European finance his
recreation"
He isn't an Englishman, at any rate.
He repudiated the idea with scorn."
well, 4your Mr.. Armitage didn't
seem so awfully excited at meeting
Singleton, but he seemed rather salts
fed with your appearance, TO put It
mildly. I wonder II he had arranged
with Singleton to pass by In that pure
ly Incidental yvau inst FOR fha v,rfv-