Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-15

U
 |@ y pleasure" growled the
 " ) grim old Austrian pre-.
 ,rZ mier.
 l( Thank you!" laugh.
 d John Armitage. to whom he had spoken. You have lost none of your old amiability. but for a renowned diplo. mat you are remarkably frank. When called on you in Paris year ago l was able to render you-I believe you admitted it-a slight service"
 Count Ferdinand won Stroebel bowed slightly, but did not take his eyes from the young man who sat opposite him In his rooms at the Hotel Monte Rosa an Geneva. On the table between them stood an open dispatch box, and about 1t lay a number of packets of papers which the old gentleman, with char acteristic caution, had removed to his own side of the table before admitting his caller. He was burly old man, with massive shoulders and a great head thickly covered with iron gray hair.
 He trusted no one, and this accounted for his prtEnce in Geneva in March of the year 1903, whither he had gone to receive the report of the secret agents whom he had lately dispatched to Paris on an errand of peculiar deli cacy. The agents had failed in their mission, and Won Stroebel was not tolerant of failure.
 It was not often that theSlght in the old mans eyes was as gentle as now. He had sent his secret agents away , and was to return to Vienna on the following day. The young man whom he now entertained in his apartments received his whole attention. He pick ed up the card which lay on the table and scrutinized 1t critically, while his eyes lighted with sudden humor.
 The card was a gentleman's carte de visite and bore the name John Armi- tage. ..-
 T believe this is the same alias you we're using when I saw you in Paris. Where did you get it?" demanded the minister
 T rather liked the sound of it, so I had the cards made" replied the young man. Besides, it's English, and I pass readily for an Englishman. I have quite got used to it."
 (Which is not particularly creditable. but it's probably just as well so."
 T hope you are we'll" said Armitage kindly.
 T am not. am anything but well. I am an old man. and have had no rest for twenty years"
 Ut is the penalty of greatness. It is Austria's good fortune that you have devoted yourself to the affairs of gov ernment. have read-only. today In the Contemporary Review-an admira- ble tribute to your sagacity in han ding the Servian affair. Tour wofh was masterly. I followed it from the beginning with deepest interest"
 The old gentleman bowed half un- consciously. for his thoughts were far away, as the vague stare in his small, shrewd eyes indicated.
 'But you are here for rest. One comes to Geneva at this season for nothing else''
 "What brings you herew asked the sld man. with sudden energy. "If the papers you gave ine ill Paris are for geries and you are waiting"-
 "yes. Assuming that, what should be waiting for?"
 If you are waiting for events for events-if you expect something to happeny'
 Armitage laughed at the old gentle mans earnest manner. asked if he might smoke and lighted cigarette.
 "Waiting doesn't suit me. thought you understood that was not born for the waiting list. You see, have strong hands. and my wits are-let us say-average"'
 Yon Stroebel clasped his own hands together more firmly and bent toward Armitage searchingly.
 "Is 1t true"-he turned again and glanced about-'is it positively true that the Archduke Karl is dead?" "Yes; quite true. There is absolutely no doubt of it" said Armitage. meet ing the old mans eyes steadily.
 .The report that be is still living somewhere in North America is per sistent. We hear it frequently In VI anna. have heard 1t since you told ne that story and gave me those pa pers in Paris last year" "I am aware of that" replied John Armitage. but told you the truth. | He died in a Canadian lumber camp. We were in the north hunting. You may recall that he was fond of that sort of thing" "Yes; remember. There was noth- ing else he did so we'll" growled Won Stroebel.
 And the packet gave you"-
 The old man nodded. .That packet contained the Arch | duke Karl's sworn arraignment of his | wife. It is of great importance in- | deed to Francis, his worthless son. or supposed son, who may present him. self for coronation one of these daysw i Not with Ke-' appearing in all | parts of the wois,. never quite dead. l never quite alive. and his son. Fred ] erick Augustus, lurking with him in | the shadows Who knows whether 1 they are Gead?"
 q am the only person on earth in a position to make that clear" said Io,,n Arnlftac-