The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-10-01


! MI Being a soldier, be obey
~ q ed orders: but. being hu
man. he was also possessed OF de
gree OF curiosity. He did not know
just the series OF incidents and confer
ences that preceded his summons Il
Washington. but they may be sum
married. thus:
Baron won Marhof was caution,
man. When the young gentlemen OF
his legation spoke 10 him In awec
whispers of cigarette case bearing MI
extraordinary device that had beel
seen IN Washington he laughed then
away: then. possessing curious and
thorough mind, he read all the press
clippings relating TO the false Baron
Won Kissel and studied the heraldic
emblems OF the Schomburgs AS be
pondered he regretted the death OF bis
eminent brother-in.law. Count Ferdi
nand Won stroebel, who was not a
man to stumble over 50 negligible a
triie as a cigarette case. But Won Mar
hof himself was not without resources
He told the gentlemen OF his suit that
be had satisfied himself that there was
nothing In the Armitage mystery; then
be cabled Vienna discreetly for few
days and finally consulted Hilton Clal'
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 ofr,cer at Fort Myer went . 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; II was also OF a
private and wholly confidential charac-
ter. Therefore he returned to bis cot
tage at Storm Springs. and the Wash
ington papers stated that he was Ill
and had gone back to Virginia to take
the waters.
The Claiborne house was the pleas
ATTEST place In Storm valley and the
library a comfortable place for q con
ference. Dick Claiborne caught the
gravity OF the older men as they un-
folded 10 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-
pect OF completely with the conspira-
tors at home. Armitage Is not the
false Baron Won Kissel. We have es-
tabllshed that from Senator Sanderson
beyond question. But Sanderson's
knowledge OF the man IL Of compara-
lively recent date. going back about
Ave years TO the time Armitage pur-
chased his Montana ranch. Whoever
Armltage may be. be pays his bills; he
conducts himself like gentleman; he
travels at will. and people who meet
him say good word for him"
"He is an agreeable man and re-
markably well posted In European poll
tics" said Judge Claiborne. II 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
party at the Army and Navy" said
Dick.
"It might be explained began the
baron; then he paused and looked from
father TO son. Pardon me. but they
both manifest some interest In Miss
Claiborne"
eve met them abroad" said Dick.
"and they both turned up again In
Washington"
"One OF them IL here. or has been
here in the valley-why not the otherT
asked Judge Claiborne.
"But OF course Shirley knows moth
ing OF Armitage's whereabouts" Dick
protested
Certainly not" declared his father
How did you mako Armitages ac
quaintancef" asked the ambassador.
Some one must have been responsible
for introducing him, II you can remem.
ber."
Dick laughed.
1T was In the Monte Rosa at Gene
va. Shirley and had been chaffing
each other about the persistence with
which Armitage seemed to follow US
He was taking dejeuner at the same
hour, and be passed US going out Old
Arthur Singleton--th ubiquitous-was
to us. and he nailed Armitage
with bis customary zeal and intro
duced him 10 Us In quite the usual
American fashion. Later asked Sin-
gleton who he was. and he knew moth
ing about him. Then Armitage turned
up on the steamer, where be made
himself most agreeable. NEXT Senator
sanderson vouched for him ~ one OF
his Montana constituents. Yon know
the rest ~ the story ! swallowed him
whole. He csiied at our house on sew
ersl occasions and came 10 the post.
and I asked him TO my supper for the
spanish a,iache"
~And now. Dick. we want you TO
dad him and get him into room With
ourselves, where we can ask him some
declared Judge Claiborne.
They discussed the matter In detail
II was agreed that Dick should remain
AZ the Springs for few days 10 watch
Chauyenet: then II be got no clew 70
wherea bouts be was 70 30
10 Montana 10 see II anything could
i~ learned there
we mas, nnd him. There must be
no mistake sboat it, said the anbss
sAdor 10 Judge Claiborne when they
we're alone. They are almost panic
stricken In Vienna What with the
match burning close 70 the powder In
Hungary AID eievef heads plotting In
ysnns this American end of the game
las dangerous posaib!lirs."