Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-30

deed l do not. You are speaking in
enigmas, just as you yourself are an
enigma, Miss Lorena."
Her lips relaxed into a smile of in
credulity.
why, Mr.. Rolfe, do you make a
pertence Of ignorance, when you are
fully aware of the whole Of the combl.
nation of. circumstances which led
Doctor Petrovitch and his daughter to
escape from London?"
But, my dear grill" he cried; you
entirely misjudge me. I am in COM
plete ignorance"
"And yet you were present at Crom-
well Road on the night in question:"
she said slowly, fixing her eyes calmly
upon his.
who are you, Miss Lorena, that
should make these direct allegations
against me?" he cried, staring at her
Il am your friend, Mr. Rolfe, if you
will allow me to act as SUCH
My friend.' he cried. But you are
alleging that | have secret knowledge
of the Doctors disappearance-that l
make a pretence of ignorance. If l
were in possession of the facts, is it
feasible that should be so anxious OF
| the welfare Of Maud?"
mo anxiety is necessary
Then she is alive?"
81 believe So
'And well?"
Eyes, she is quite well. But
But what?' he demanded. Speak,
Lorena, Speak beg of you
| She had hesitated, and he saw by
her contracted brow that anxiety had
arisen within her mind.
'Well-she is safe, believe, up to
the present. Yet, if what l fear be
true, she is daily nay, hourly, in peril
in deadliest peril
"Peril!' he gasped. "Of what?"
''Of her life. You know that the
political organizations of the East are
taught with murder plots DR.. Petro-
witch has opponents-fierce, dastardly
opponents, who would hesitate at
nothing to encompass his end They
have intrigued to induce the King to
place him in disgrace, but at Belgrade
the Petrovitch party are still predomi.
nant. 1t is only in the country-at
Nisch and Pirot-where opposition is
really strong"
"You seem to know Servia and the
|
| emoiselle?" he remarked.
Eyes, l happen to know something
of them. | have made them study
and | assure you 1t would be very
fascinating if there were not quite sc
many imprisonments in the awful
fortress Of Belgrade, and secret assas
sination. But Servia is young coun
try the girl added, with a philoso
phic air. "and all young countries must
go through the same periods of unrest
and internal trouble At any rate, al
parties in Servia acknowledge tina
King Peter is a constitutional mon
arch, and is doing his utmost for the
benefit Of his people.
"You are partisan of the Karageor
gevitch?"
81 am | make no secret of it
Alexander and Draga were mere pup
pets in the hands of Servias enemies
Under King Peter the country is one,
more prosperous, and, after all, pc
litical life there is no more fraugh
with danger than it is in go-aheat
Bulgaria. Did they not kill poo
Petkoff the other day in the Bori
Garden in Sofia? That was NOR
cruel and dastardly murder than an,
in Servia, for Petkoff had only on
arm, and was unable to defend him
self The other was shot away a
the Shipla where he fought for hi
country against the Turk"
How it you know SO much O
Seriva?" Charlie inquired, for h
found himself listening to the girl
sound arguments with much interest
/ Her views upon the complicated sit
uation in the Near East were almos
identical with his. Did you ever Sc
Petkoff for instance?"
81 knew him well. Twice Eve dine
1 at his home in Sofia. Strangely enoug
he was with his bosom friend Stan
buloff when the latter was assassina1
ed, and for years was a marked mar