The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-09-10

followed. her gaze fixed on bis race.
Zerkovitch ceased writing. He had
been drawing up an ther plan. Both
he and Marie now watched the prince.
Moments went by in silence.
At last the prince spoke--in a low
voice, almost dreamy. my guns for
Mlstitch. Mistitch against my gunsi
That would be price-a fair priceW
The three sat silent The zerko-
witches. too. had heard him talk of the
guns. How on them hung the tranquil
lity of the city and how on them might
hang the eountry's honor and existence.
stenovics could give them If he would
in return for Mistitch. but to give up
Mistitch wns great surrender So
phys whisper. almost involuntary, the
voicing of a regret. hardly even Of a
distant aspiration. had raised q problem
Of conduct, question Of high policy.
The princes brain was busy with II and
bis mind perplexed. Sophy sat watch
ing him. not thinking now. but waiting.
conscious only that by what seemed al
most chance n new face had through
her been put on the situation.
Suddenly Zerkovitch brought his
cllnched fist down on the table. "Nor'
he almost shouted. They'll think
you're afraidp'
Eyes, they'll think that. but not all
OF them Stenovics. will know better
and Stafnitz too. They'll know l do It
not because I'm afraid. but in order
that I never need be-"
"Then stenovics won't give theml"
cried Marie.
"I think he must give anything or
everything for Mistitch." He rose and
paced restessly about the room. So
ply still followed him with her eyes,
but she alone OF the three offered no
argument and made no suggestion.
The prince stood still for n moment In
deep thought Then bis face cleared
He came quickly up to Sophy, took her
hand and kissed IT,
"Thank you" he said 81 don't know
how II will turn out for me. The case
Is too difficult for me 10 be able to fore
see that. For me IL may be mastery
l always thought II would mean that
or perhaps, somehow. IL may turn to
ruin" lie pressed Sophy's hand now
and smiled at her She understood and
returned his smile. But the question
isn't one OF my interest. My duty is
plain"
He walked quickly to his writing
table and unlocked drawer He re-
turned to the table with an envelope in
his hand aud sat down between Marie
and ZerkOvtch
The orderly entered again. anuounc.
Ing StenOvics let him come In here"
said the prince His manner grew
lighter. and the smile which had com
forted Sophy remained on his face.
Stenovlcs came in His air was nerv-
Gus. and he looked at the princes three
companions with IA visible access Of
embarrassment At nod from the
prince the orderly placed chair for
the general and Withdrew.
"The same matter we discussed last
night. generalY"
"There can be hut one matter In the
thoughts OF all of us now. sir Pardon
me; understood your royal highness
would receive me alone"
The prince gave low laugh. when
one bargains. shouldn't one have wit
nessesP
In an instant Stenovics laid hold OF
the significant word 1t made him for
get his request for privacy. An eager
light came into his eyes.
Bargains? You're ready now to-
LA mutt porte consell." He drew
IA
and handed II across the table. "You
remember that. memorandum | sent
to you three months ago In my capacity
as commandantT'
Stenovics looked at the paper. II re-
member. sir"
"It's indorsed In your hand2"
Eyes"
"The Endorsement runs. Impossible
Rather curt. general!'
''The note was for my private use,
but your royal highness particularly
pressed for the return OF the docu-
ment"
81 did, and. after all, why use more
words than necessary One will still
be enough. but not that one"
"Pm not following you. SIR" said Ste
movies.
The prince leaned across the table to
him. "In our conversation last night
you asked me to do very remarkable
thing and TO get this lady here"-he
indicated Sophy-"to do It too. You
remember? We were to think that at
night, in the Street Of the Fountain, in
the light of the illuminations, Sergius
Stefanovitch and Nikolas stafnitz look
ed and sounded Just the same. didn't
see my way to that, and didn't think
this lady would see hers. IT seemed 80
dificult."
Stenovics was in a strain Of close at
tention. The paper from the envelope
cracked under the trembling Of his
hand.
'Now, II we had such a memory as
Lieutenant Rastatz is happy enough
to possessl" the prince pursued "Or If
Colonel Stafnitz had taken us into his