Milford chronicle., 1908-11-13

Being a soldier he obey
- u ed orders; but being hu-
man. he was also possessed of a de.
gree Of curiosity He did not know
Just the series of Incidents and confer
ences that preceded his summons to
Washington, but they may be sum
married. thus:
Baron Won Marhof was a cautious
man. When the young gentlemen of
ais legation spoke to him In awed
whispers of cigarette case bearing an
extraordinary device that had been
seen in Washington he laughed them
away; then, possessing a curious and
thorough mind. he read all the press
clippings relating to the false Baron
Won Kissel and studied the heraIdic
emblems Of the Schomburgs. As he
pOndered he regretted the death Of his
eminent brOther-in-laW, Count Ferdi
nand Won Stroebel. who was not
man to stumble over so negligible a
trife as a cigarette case. But Won Mar
hOf himself was not without resources.
He told the gentlemen of his suit that
he had satisfied himself that there was
nothing in the Armitage mystery; then
he cabled Vienna discreetly for a few
days and finally consulted Hilton Clai-
borne. the embassy's counsel. at the
Claiborne home at Storm Springs.
They had both gone hurriedly TO
Washington, where they held a long
conference with the secretary Of state
Then the state department called the
war department by telephone. and
quickly down the line to the command
ing officer at Fort Myer went a special
assignment for Captain Claiborne to
report to the secretary Of state. A
great deal Of perfectly sound red tape
was reduced to minute particles in
these manipulations; it was also Of a
JEivate and wholly confidential charac
Ter. Therefore he returned to his cot
tage at Storm Springs. and the Wash
3ngtOn papers stated that he was i'll
and had gone back to Virginia to take
the waters.
The Claiborne house was the pls'i
ATTEST place in Storm valley and a.
library a comfortable place for con
ference. Dick Claiborne caught the
gravity of the older men as they un-
folded to him the task for which they
had asked his services. The baron
stated the case in these words:
''YOu know and have talked with this |
man Armitage; you saw the device on |
the cigarette case and asked an ex-
PLANTATION. which he refused. and you |
know also Chauvenet. whom we sus
Dect Of completely with the cOnspir'-
tors at home. Armitage is not the !
false Baron Won Kissel. We have eS |
tablished that from Senator Sanderson
beyond question. But SandersOn's
of the man is of compare
lively recent date. going back about
Eve years to the time Armitage pur-
chased his Montana ranch. Whoever
may be. he pays his bills; he
conducts himself like a gentleman; be
travels at will. and people who meet
him say a good word for him"
"He is an agreeable man and re-
well posted in European poll
lics," said Judge Claiborne. Il talked
with him a number of times on the
King Edward and must say that !
liked him"
~Chauvenet evidently knows him
There was undoubtedly something
back Of that little trick at my supper
,arty at the Army and Navy" said
Dick.
"It might be explained began the
oaron; then he paused and looked from
,ather to son. Pardon me, but they
10Th manifest some interest in Miss
ave met them abroad" said Dick.
and they both turned up again in
"One Of them is here, or has been
lere In the valley-why not the otherT
Isked Judge Claiborne.
"But Of course Shirley knows moth
ng Of Armitage's whereabouts" Dick
protested
"Certainly not" declared his father.
tHow did you make Armitage's ac-
asked the ambassador
Some one must have been responsible
or introducing him, If you can remem
,er"
Dick laughed.
'Tt was in the Monte Rosa at Gene
a Shirley and l had been chafinf
ach other about the persistence with
which Armitage seemed to follow as
Ie was taking dejeuner at the same
our. and he passed US going out Old
.rthur SingletoR-the ubiquitous was
alking to us. and he nailed Armitage
Nth his customary zeal and intro
uced him to us in quite the usua
american fashion Later asked SIN
Teton who he was, and he knew moth
az about him. Then Armitage turned
p on the steamer. where he made
lmself most agreeable Next Senator /
anderson vouched for him as one Of
is Montana constituents. You know
he rest OF the story swallowed him
yhole. He called at our house on ser
raj occasions and came to the post !.
nd I asked him to my supper for the !