The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-24
same. nor would he have known that

same. nor would he have known that
it was cold.
| There was plenty of timepow to car
ry out his plan, which was to catch
the Orient express at the Kronburg
station and present himself to the
Mowbrays in the train later. AS to
what would happen afterward, it was
beyond planning, but Leopold knew
that the girl had loved him. and he
hoped that he, would have Lady Now
bray on his side.
The only way of reaching Kronburg
!! from Schloss Lyndalberg was by road
There was no railway connection be-
tween the two places. But the town
and the castle were separated by a
short eight miles, and until checked by
traffic in the suburbs the sixty horse
power car could cover mile in less
than two minutes.
Unfortunately, however, police regu.
lations were strict, and Of this Leo.
pold could not complain. as he had ap-
proved them himself Once he was
stopped and would certainly not have
been allowed to proceed had he not re-
vealed himself as the emperor, the
owner Of the one unnumSered car In
Rhaetia AS it was, he had suffered
a delay of five minutes. and just as
he was congratulating himself on the
goodness of his tires. which had made
him no trouble for many weeks, a loud
report as Of pistol shot gave warn
ing of a puncture.
But there was not a moment to waste
on repairs. Leopold drove on on the
rims, OILY to acknowledge presently
the truth of an old proverb, "The more
haste the less speed"
Delayed by torn and tapping tire,
the car arrived at the big central sta
ton of Kronburg only five minutes be-
fore -. Leopold dashed in, careless
whether he were recognized or not,
and was surprised at the absence Of
the crowd which usually throngs the
platform before the departure of the
most important train Of the day.
'Is the Orient express late?" he ask
ed of an inspector to whom he was
but man among other men.
"No, sir. Just on time. Went out
five minutes ago"
"But it isn't due to start till y"
Summer time table, sir. Autumn
time table takes effect today, the 1st
of October. Orient express departure
changed to 11:50."
An unreaSoning rage against fate
boiled in the emperor's breast. He
ruled this country, yet everything in 1t
seemed to conspire in a plot to wreck
his dearest desires.
For a few seconds he stood speech
less, feeling as if he had been dashed
against blank wall and there were
no way of getting around it. Yet the
seconds were but few, for Leopold was
not q man of slow decisions.
His first step was to inquire the
name Of the town at which the Orient
express stopped soonest. In three
hours, he learned, it would reach Eel
garde, the last station on the Rhaetian
side Of the frontier.
His first thought on hearing this was
to engage a special and follow, But
even in these days there is much red
tape entangled with railway regula-
tions in Rhaetia. 1t soon appeared
that it would be quicker to take the
next train to Fc,gardc, which was due
to leave in haitian hour and would ar
rive only an hour later than the Orient
express.
Leopold's heart was chilled, but he
shook off despondency and would not
be discouraged. Telephoning to the
hotel where the Mowbrays had been
stopping. he learned that they had
gone. Then he wrote out telegram:
Miss Helen Mowbray. Travelling From
Kronburg to Paris by Orient Express.
Care Of Station Master at Fclgarde:
1 i,nplore you leave the train at Fe!-
garde and wait for me-. Am following In
all haste. Will arrive Felgarde one hour
after you and hope to find you at Leo
poldhof.
So far the wording was simple. He
had signifed his intention and express
ed his wish, which would have been
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