The Washington herald., 1908-04-05

used the ignorant peasant as his cats
paw should be there too-or even in
stead of him" declared Sir Charles. an
grily. The peasant sUsers, while the
real euibrit gets of scot-free and un-
known"
Then he is still unknown" exclaimed
Roife IN surprise.
Save 10. perhaps. three persons. of
whore I am one"
"Asd also the man who threw the
bomb."
4 have heard that the solitary confine-
ment in a dark cell has already worked
its effect upon him. He is hopeiessly in
sane
Rolfe drew a long breath. and glanced
around the c0zy room. with its long row
OF well-hlled bookcases. its big writing
table, and its smaller tables filled with
japanese bric-a-brac of which Sir
Charles was an ardent collector.
In the silence that fell the foot:nan
tapped at the door and presented a card.
Then Rolfe, declaring that he must go.
rose. gripped the gray-haired minister 5
hand and extracting from him a promise
10. tell the truth as soon as he had es-
tablished It, followed the smart English
footman down the stairs.
That night. as he sat amid the clatter
and music of the brilliantly liz Grand
Cafe. he reflected deeply on all that had
been told him, wondering who was the
friend who had been responsible for the
outrage which had induced the doctor
to forsake his native land never to re-
turn. Servia was a country of intrigue
and unrest as is every young country.
He looked around the tables at the gay
crowd Of smart young officers with their
ribbons and crosses upon their breasts
and their well-dressed womankind, and
wondered whether any fresh conspiracy
was in progress.
The rule Of King Peter. maligned though
that monarch had been, had brought
beneficent reforms 10 Servia And yet
there was an opposition who never ceased
TO hurl hard epithets against him. and
to charge him with taking part In q plot
Of the true meaning Of which he GER
tainly had had no knowledge.
Belgrade is a city In which plots against
the monarchy are hinted at and whispered
in the corners of drawing rooms, where
diplomacy Is a mass of intrigue, a city
of spies and sycophants. of concession
hunters and political cliques Gay, pleas
ant and easy-going, with its fine boule-
ward. its pretty Kalemagdan Garden. and
tNs q oiItN -elltA~elatA tiNA HAAEtlSs II - uif-
ferent 10 any other capital of Europe:
more full of tragedy, more full of plot and
counter-plot
Austria is there ever seeking by her
swarm Of secret agents to stir up strife
and to organize demonstrations against
the reigning dynasty. Germany is there
seking influence and making promises,
while Bulgaria is ever watchful; Turkey
is silent and spectral, and Great Britain
looks on neutral. but noting every move
Of the deep diplomatic Juggling OF the
powers.
At night, amid the cIatter. the laughter.
and the gypsy music of the Grand Cafe.
with IFS billiard tables in the center and
its restaurant adjoining. the stranger
would never dream OF its close proximity
q the tragedy of a throne. just as the
bnght lights and calm, moOniit sea throw
a glamour over that plague spot. Monte
Carlo, until the visitor believes that no
evil can lurk ia that terrestrial paradise. So
in Belgrade is everything so pleasant, so
happy. so careless that the stranger
would never dream that the whole city
sits ever upon the edge Of volcano.
and that the red flag of revolt is ready at
any moment TO be hoisted
Charlie ROlfe knew Belgrade. and knew
the tragedy that underlay its brightness.
What greater tragedy could there be than
the death OF the innocent child blown TO
atoms by the bomb?
Who could be the culprit whom Sir
Charles had told him was his friend q"
He had known the doctor well. but not
intimately, as Max Barclay had done.
Curious that Max had told him nothing
concerning that tragic incident which had
caused the Servian statesman and patriot
10 turn his back upon his beloved coun-
try and live in studious seciusion in Eng
land Max had told him many things, but
had never mentioned that subject
Was Max Barclay the friend" TO whom
Sir Charles had referred. Was it really
possible? He held his breath, contemplat-
ing the end of his half-smoked cigar and
wondering.
It was strange suspicion. OF late, ever
since Max had charged him with having