The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-10-23
i, MEREDITH NICHOLSON,


Armitage's whereabouts he was. to go
to Montana to see If anything could
be learned there.
1--WE must find him. There must be
no mistake about it," said the ambas-
sador to Judge Claiborne when they
were alone. "They are almost panic
stricken in Vienna. What with the
match burning close to the powder in
Hungary and clever heads plotting in
Vienna this American end Of the game
has dangerous possibilities"
"And when we have young Armi-
tage"- the Judge began.
"Then we shall know the truth"
"But suppose-suppose"-and Judge
Claiborne glanced at the door-"sup-
pose Charles Louis, emperor-king Of
Austria Hungary, should die-tonight-
tomorrow"
1--WE will assume nothing of the
kind" calculated the ambassador
sharply. at is impossible" Then to
Captain Claiborne: you must pardon
me if do not explain further. wish
to find Armitage. 1t Is Of the greatest
Importance. 1t would not aid you If
told you why must see and talk with
him.
And as though to escape from the
thing Of which his counsel had limited
Baron Won Marhof took his departure
at once.
Shirley net her brother on the We
randa. His arrival had been unher-
aided, and she was frankly astonished
to see him.
"Well, Captair Claiborne, you are q
man Of mystery. You will undoubted-
ly .be court martialed for deserving
and after long leave too"
II am on duty. Don't forget that
you are the daughter of diplomat"
"Humph! 1t doesn't follow necessari-
ly that should be stupid"
"You couldn't be that, Shirley, dear"
THANK you, captain"
They discussed family matters for a
few minutes; then she said, with elab-
orate irrelevance:
"Well, we must hope that your APP
pearance will cause no battles to be
fought in our garden. There was
enough fighting about here in old
times"
Take heart little sister. I shall pro-
tect you. Oh. it's rather decent of Ar
mitage to have kept away from you,
Shirley, after all that fuss about the
bogus baron"
(Which he WASN'T
"Well, Sanderson says he couldn't
have been, and the rogues' gallery pic.
lures don't resemble our friend at ALL"
ugh, don't speak Of itw And Shir-
ley shrugged her shoulders. She suf-
fered her eyes to climb the slopes of
the far hills. Then she looked steadily
at her brother and laughed.
what do you and father and Baron
Won Marhof want with Mr.. John Armi-
tage?" she asked.
"Guess again. exclaimed Dick hur-
riedly. HAS that been the undercur-
rent of your conversation? AS l may
have said before in this connection,
you disappoint me, Shirley. You seem
unable to forget that fellow"
He paused, grew very serious and
bent forward in his wicker chair.
"Have you seen John Armitage since
/ saw himT
"Impertinent! How dare you?"
'But. Shirley, the question is fairv'
'Is it, Richard?''
"And l want you to answer me-"
"That's different"
He rose and took several steps to-
ward her. She stood against the rail-
ing. with her hands behind her back.
Shirley, you are the finest girl in
the world, but you wouldn't do this
This what, Dick?"
You know what I mean. l ask you
again-have you or have you not seen
Armitage since you came to the
Springs?'
He spoke impatiently. his eyes upon
hers. A wave of color swept her face.
and then her anger passed. and she
was her usual good natured self.
Baron Won Marhof Is charming
old gentleman, isn't he?"
Hes regular old brick" declared
Dick solemnly.
Its n great privilege for young
man like you to know him, Dick, and
to have private talks with him and the
governor about subjects of deep i'm
portance. The governor is a good deal
Of man himself"
II am proud to be his son." declared
Dick, meeting Shirley's eyes unfiinch-
ingly.
Shirley was silent for q moment,
while Dick whistled few bars from
the latest waltz.
"a captain-a mere captain of the
llne-is not often plucked out Of his
post when In good health and stand
iDg-after a long leave for foreign
travel-and sent away to visit his par
ents and help entertain a distinguished
ambassador"
Thanks for the mere captain dear
est. You needn't rub 1t in"
II wouldn't. But you are fair game
for your sister only. And you're bet
ter known than you were before that
little supper for the Spanish attache.
IL rather directed attention to you,
didn't It, DickT