Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-11-05

man.
4 In half an hour Chauyenet was
again in a fury, learning at Lamar
that the operator had gone down the
road twenty miles to dance and
would not. be back until morning
The imperturbable Durand shivered
in the night air and prodded Chauve
net with ironies.
1--WE have no time to lose. That
message must go tonight You may
be sure NJ. Armitage will not send it
for us. Come, we've got to go down
to Storm Springs"
They rode away in the starlight. eav-
ing the postmaster alarmed and won
dering. Chauvenet and Durand were
well mounted on Horses that Chauvenei
had sent into the hills in advance Of his
own coming Zmai rode grim and 81
lent on a clumsy pillow horse, which
was the best the publican could find
for him. The knife was not thesonly
weapon he had known in Servia He
carried potato sack across his saddle
bow Chauyenet and Durand sent him
ahead to set the pace with his inferior
mount. They talked together in low
tones as they followed.
HE is not so big fool, this Armi
tage." remarked Durand "He is quite
deep. in fact wish it were he we are
trying to establish on throne and moi
that pitiful scapegrace in Vienna"
Il gave him his chance down there
in the valley. and he laughed at me- II
is quite possible that he is not fool
and quite certain that he is not COW
ard
''Then he would not be a safe king
Our young friend in Vienna is a goos
deal of a fool and altogether a cow
ard We shall have to provide him
with spine at his coronation"
eff we faiF'- began Chauvenet.
''You suggest a fruitful but unpleas-
ant topic If we fail we shall be fortu-
nate if we reach the hospitable shores
of the Argentine for future residence.
again If Winkelried succeeds in vi
emma and we lose here, where do we
arrive?"
I'VE arrive quite where Mr. Arnlitage
chooses to land US. He is a gentleman
of resources; he has money; he laughs
cheerfully at misadventures; he has
had you watched by the shrewdest
eyes in Europe, and you are considered
hard man to keep track OF, my dear
Durand. And not least important. he
hos foy,feraf cuotahnd au-av fhat LITTLE
cablegram that was the signal to Win
kelried to go ahead. He is very an
noying and vexatious person. this Ar
mitage Even Zmai, whose knife made
him a terror in Seryia. seems unable TO
cope with him."
"And the fair daughter of the val
ley
"Pish! We are not discussing the
young lady
81 can understand how unpleasant
the subject must be to you, my dear
Jules. What do you imagine she knows
of NJ Armitage? If he is the man we
think he is, and possible heir to a
great throne, it would be Impossible
for her to marry him."
His tastes are democratic. In Mon
tana he is quite popular
Durand flung away his cigarette and
laughed suddenly.
HAS it occurred to you that this
whole affair is decidedly amusing
Here we are in one of the free Ameri-
can states about to turn a card that
will dethrone king If we are lucky
And here is a man we are trying to get
out of the way-a man we might make
king if he were not fool! In Ameri-
cal 1t touches. my sense of humor. my
dear Jules!"
An exclamation from Zmai arrested
them. The Servian jerked up his horse
aud they were instantly at his side,
bunting preserve in the main highway
1t was about half past l o'clock, an
hour at which Virginia mountain
roads are usually free of travellers.
and they had been sending their horses
along as briskly as sthe uneven roads
and the pace of Zmais laggard beast
permitted.
The beat of horses hOOfS could be
heard quite distinctly in the road
ahead of them. The road tended
downward, and the strain of the as
cent was marked in the approaching
animals walk. In moment the three
men heard the horses quick snort of
satisfaction as 1t reached eyelel
ground Then, scenting the other ami
mails, it threw up its head and neighed
shrilly.
In the dusk Of starlight Durand saw
Zmai dismount and felt the Servian's
big, rough hand touch his in passing
the bride of his horse.
WATT" said the Servian.
The horse of the unknown paused.
neighed again and refused to go far
Their A mans deep voice encouraged
him in low tones. The horses of
Chauvenet's party danced about rest.
lessly, responsive to the nervousness