Putnam patriot., 1908-11-20

l> uerSelI snortly. and Shlr- ~N ley. her father and the X ambassador talked to the IN accompaniment of the EN shower that drove in great sheets against the house. Shir. ley was wholly uncomfortable over the turn of affairs. The am bassador would hot leave until.the storm abated. and
 meanwhile Armitage must remain
 where he was If by any chance he should be discovered in the house. no ordinary excuses would explain away his presence. and as she pondered the matter 1t was Arnitage's plight. his injuries and the dangers that beset him, that was uppermost in her mind The embarrassment that lay in the af fair for herself If Armitage should be found concealed in the house troubled her little. Her heart beat wildly us she realized this. and the look in his eyes and the quick pain that twitehed his face at the door haunted her
 The two men were talking of the new order of things in Vienna.
 The trouble is,. said the ambassa.
 dor. that Austria Hungary Is not
 nation, but what Metternlch called italy-a geographical expression. Where
 there are so many loose ends strong
 grasp Is necessary to hold them to- gether."
 And weak hand" suggested Judge
 -hiborEe. might easily lose or scat ter thom."
 Precisely. And a man of character
 and spirit could topple down the card
 house tomorrow. pick out what he liked and create for himself new edifice- and a stronger one. l speak frankly.
 Van Stroebel is out of the way, the new emperor-king Is weakllng. and if he should die tonight or tomorrow
 The ambassador lifted his hands and snapped his fingers.
 "Yes. After him. whatf'
 After him his scoundrelly cousin Francis, and then stronger than Non
 Stroebel might easily fail to hold the
 disjeeta membra of the empire to-
 gether.'
 But there are shadows on the
 screen.' remarked Judge Claiborne.
 ..There was Karl, the mad prince
 "Humph. There was some red blood
 in him, but he was impossible He
 had taint of democracy, treason, re-
 bellion."
 Judge Claiborne laughed.
 T don't like the combination of
 terms If treason and rebellion are
 synonyms of democracy. we Americans
 are in danger"
 "No; you are . miracbe-that is the
 only explanation" replied Marhof. But . man like Karl-what if hs
 wers to reappear h the world! A lit tie democracy night solvs your prob lem"
 No. thank Cod. he is out of the
 way! He was sane enough to take
 himself oR and die" But his ghost walks. Not . year ago We heard of him. and he had
 son who chose his fathers exile. What if Charles Louis, who is without heirs.
 should die and Karl or his son. Tn the providence of God they are
 dead. Impostors gain c little brief no toriety by pretending to be the lost Kari or his son Frederick Augustus. but von St7oebel satisfied himself that
 Karl was dead. am quite sure of 1t
 You know dear Stroebel had . genius for gaining information" q have heard as much" and Shirley and the baron smiled at Judge Clai-
 borne's tone
 The storm was diminishing, and Shir- ley grew more tranquil. Soon the am bassador would leave and she would
 send Armitage away. bat the mention Of Stroebel's name rang oddly in her ears. and the curious way in which Armitage and Chauvenet had come into her life awoks new and anxious questions.
 Count yon Stroebel was not . dern- ocrat. at any rate." she said He b. lieved in the divine right and all that" "So do I, Miss Claiborne. It's all we've got to stand on" But suppose . democratic prince were 10 fall heir to one Of the Euro pean thrones. Insist on giving his crown to the poor and taking his oath in . frock coat. upsetting the old order en- tireiy"-
 He woAl be fool. and the people would drag him to the block in . week" declared the baron vigorously. They pursued the subject fn lighter vein a few minutes longer: then the baron rose. Judge Claiborne summon ed the waiting carriage from the sta bic and the baron drove home q ought to work for an hour on that Danish claims matter" remarked the fudge. glancing toward his eurtained | den
 .You will do nothing of the kind Night work Is not permitted in the val I Icy
 Thank you. hoped you would say that shirley. beiieye ! am tired. and now if yoG will fnd magaziae for me Tn 20 to bed. Ring for Ihom-
 ss to close the house.
 -I have few notes to write Ihey'h
 take only minute. and III write them