The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-23

ginia to be near Washington when
got tired of the ranch"
"Washingtonw snorted the count
I'm due course it will be the storm
center Of the world"
"You read the wrong American news
papers, laughed Armitage.
| They were silent for a moment, in
which each was busy with his own
thoughts Then the count remarked
in as amiable a tone as he ever used:
, "Your French is first rate Do you
speak English as well?"
"As readily as German, think. You
may recall that had an English tutor,
and maybe l did not tell you in that
interview at Paris that l had spent
year at Hav ard university"
what the devil did you do that for?"
growled Won Stroebel.
From curiosity or ambition, as you
like. l was in Cambridge at the law
school for year before the archduke
died. That was three years ago. l am
twenty-eight, as you may remember
1 am OBTAINING you; have no wish to
rake over the past, but l am sorry-I
am very sorry-we can't meet on some
common ground"
II ask you to abandon this democrat
ic nonsense and come back and make
a man of yourself. You might go far
very far-but this democracy has hold
of you like a disease"
what you ask is impossible. 1t is
just as impossible now as it was when
| n in Do ric loSt To
sit down in Vienna and learn how to
keep that leaning tower of an empire
from tumbling down like a stack of
bricks-it does not appeal to me-"
Don't talk to me like that. 1t is not
amusing
NO. it is not funny. To see men like
you fetching and carrying for a dull
king who would drop through the
| gallows or go to planting turnips with
out your brains-it does not appeal to
| my sense of humor or to my imagina-
| tlon. If | were going to furnish the
brains for an empire should ride in
| the state carriage myself and not be
| merely the driver on the box, who
| keeps the middle Of the road and looks
| out for sharp corners. Here is plan
ready to my hand. Let me find that
lost document, appear in Vienna and
announce myself Frederick Augustus,
the son Of the Archduke KARL l knew
both men intimately. You may remem-
| Der that Frederick and l were born in
the same month. l, too, am Frederick
Augustus! We passed commonly in
| America as brothers. Many Of the per-
| sonal effects of Karl and Augustus are
in my keeping-by the archduke's own
| wish. You have spent your life study
| ing human nature, and you know as
we'll as do that half the world would
believe my story If 1 said l was the
| emperor's nephew. In the uneasy and
unstable condition of your absurd en-
pire should be hailed as a diversion,
and then-events, eventsw
Count Won Stroebel listened with mar
rowing eyes, and his lips moved in an
effort to find words with which to
break in upon this impious declara-
ton. When Armitage ceased speaking,
the old man sank back and glared at
him.
"Karl did his work we'll. You are
quite mad. You will do well to 60 back
to America before the police discover
you"
Armitage rose, and his manner
changed abruptly.
II do not mean to trouble or annoy
| you. Please pardon Inc! Let US be
friends if we can be nothing more"
"It is too late The chasm is too deep.
1 have given my life-my whole life, as
you have said-to one service, to up
hold one idea. You have spoken of that
work with contempt History, I be-
lieve, will reckon it justly"
"Your place is secure. No one can
gainsay that" broke in Armitage.
IF you would do something for me
for me-do something for Austria, do
something for my country and yours.
You have wits. I dare say you have
courage I don't care what that serv-
ice may be. I don't care where or
how you perform it. am not so near
gone as you may think. l know well
enough that they are waiting for me
to die. But 1 am in no hurry to af-
ford my enemies that pleasure. But
stop this babble of yours about de-
mocracy. Do something for Austria
for the empire that I have held here
under my hand these difficult years
then take your name again, and you
will find that kings can be as just and
wise as mobs."
"For the empire for the
empireT" murmured the young man,
wondering.
Count Ferdinand Won Stroebel rose.
"You will accept the commission. 1
am quite sure you will accept. l leave
on an early train, and 1 shall not see
you again." AS he took Armitages
hand he scrutinized him once more
with particular care. There was lin
gering caress in his touch as he de-
tanned the young man for an instant.
Then he sighed heavily.
Good night! Goodby!" he said alb
ruptly, and waved his caller toward
the door.
To ne copriDueJ NEXT week.