The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-06-03
TITTF + ~


Ing But no ladies an
swering to the description he gave had
been seen there.
He returned at once to the railway
station.
The telegram was still In the hands
Of the station master, to whose care 1t
had been addressed. This diligent per-
son protested to have sent man
through the Orient express from end
to end calling for Miss Helen Now
bray, but calling in vain. He had no
theory more plausible to offer than
that the lady had not started from
Kronburg or else that she had left the
train at Felgarde before her name had
been cried. But certainly she would
not have had time to go far II she
were q through passenger, for the
Orient express stopped but ten min
utes at Felgarde.
II was evident throughout the short
conversation that the excellent official
was on pins and needles Struck by
the emperor's features, which he had
DO often seen In painting and photo
graph, 1t still seemed impossible that
the greatest man In Rhaetia could be
travelling thus about the country In or
binary morning dress and unattended.
Sure at one instant that he must be
talking with the emperor, sure the next
that no had been deceived by like
ness. the poor fellow struggled against
his confusion In a way that would
have amused Leopold in q different
mood.
With q manner that essayed the diff
fercnt mean between reverence due to
royalty and common everyday polite
ness, good enough for an ordinary gen
tleman. the station master volunteered
to ascertain whether the ladies de-
scribsd had gone out and given up
their tickets. A few minutes Of sus-
pense dragged on. Then came the
news that no such persons had passed.
Here was stumbling block. Since
Helen Mowbray and her mother had
apparently not Travelled by the Orient
express, where had they gone on leav-
ing the hotel at Kronburg, Had they,
aftsr all, misled Baroness Won Lyndal
NJ to their intentions for the purpose
Of binding the emperor, or had they
simply changed their minds at the last
minute, az women mayf Could 1t be
possible that they had changed them
20 completely as to return to Schloss
Lyndalberg, or had they chosen 10 van
ish mysteriously through some back
door out OF Rhaetia. leaving no trace
which even lover could find?
Leopold could not help recalling the
chancellor's revelations, but dismissed
them a. soon as they had crept into his
brain. No matter where the clew to
the tsnEle might lie, he told himself
that 1t was not In any act of which
Helen Mowbray need be ashamed.
He could think Of nothing more to do
but to 90 dismslly back to Kronburg
and await Developments or, rather, to
stir them up by every means In his
power. This was the course he finally
chose. and Just a. he was about to
act upon his decision he remembered
bis carslessly given promise to Count
Won Breitstein.
There was telephone In the railway
station at Felgarde, and Leopold him
SELF called up the chancellor at Kron-
burg.
my friends are not here. I'm start
Ing for Kronburg rs soon as possible,
either by the next train or by special"
he announced after a fsraway squeak |
had signined Count Won Breitstein's |
presence at the other end. IT don't zee |
why you wish to know, but would not |
break my promise: that's all. Goedby. |
EAf What was that you said2"
Il have a-curious-pieee of-nsws
Tor you" came over the wire In thu
chanceIsse's voice. Tts-ahsut The
ladies'"
What In itr' asked Leopold. d
II hinted that | had more informa-
ton which could not give you then.
But ! am In different position now.
You did not find your friends In the
Orient express"
"No," said the emperor.
'sThey gave out that they were leav-
Ing Rhaetia, but they haven't crossed |
~ Guptsg,"