The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-23

ginia to be near Washington when !
got tired of the ranch"
Washington" 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 tone as he ever used:
"Your French is first rate. Do you
speak English as well?"
"As readily as German, 1 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 a
year at Harv ard university"
What the devil did you do that for?"
growled Won Stroebel
From curiosity or ambition, as you
like. was in Cambridge at the law
school for year before the archduke
died. That was three years ago. am
twenty-eight, as you may remember.
l 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 disease"
what you ask is impossible. 1t is
just as impossible now as it was when
4 - to a,;, 10.
| sit down in Vienna and learn how to
| keep that leaning tower of an empire
from tumbling down like 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 magma
ton. If l were going to furnish the
brains for an empire l 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
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-
ber 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 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"
1T 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. l don't care what that serv-
ice may be. l don't care where or
how you perform it. l am not so near
gone as you may think. l know well
enough that they are waiting for me
to die. But l 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 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
empire? murmured the young man,
wondering.
Count Ferdinand Won Stroebel rose.
"You will accept the commission.
am quite sure you will accept l leave
on an early train, and l shall not see
you again." AS he took Armitages
hand he scrutinized him once more
with particular care. There was a 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 abb
ruptly, and waved his caller toward
the door.
To ne copriDued next week.