Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-05-05

might have taken steps for his self
protection!" Rolfe exclaimed. "The
fact that his furniture was spirited
away to some unknown place makes
1T almost appear as though he was in
accord with the conspirators."
No; l think not The conspirators
removed his furniture in order to pre-
vent Inquiries as to the Doctors dis
appearance. The emptying may have
been done to make 1T appear to the
police that the Doctor had suddenly
removed-perhaps to avoid his cred
itors."
Rolfe shook his head His opinion
hardly coincided with that of the Brit
ish diplomat Besides, Max Barclays
story Of having seen man there close
ly resembling him wanted explama-
uon. With what motive had an un-
known man represented him on the
night in question?
Maud Petrovitch has never written
to you?" asked Harrison
mot line'
The Minister pursed his lips.
Well" he said. I'm perfectly sure
If she's been in Belgrade she would
certainly have come to see us. My
wife used to have frequent letters
from her in London"
Il have not told Lady Harrison the
reason of my inquiry-or any of the
facts" Rolfe said 81 thought l would
leave 1t to you to tell her if you think
proper. Up to the present the Doc
secret between my friend Max Bar.
tors disappearance has been kept
clay, who was the Doctors most init
mate chum in London. and myself
"At present shall not tell my
wife" declared the diplomat He was
man OF secrets, and knew how to
keep one.
who is Max Barclay?" asked the
Minister. after a pause.
Rolfe explained but said nothing re,
gardipg his engagement to his sister
Marion. To it all Sir Charles listened
attentively, without comment.
At last, after long silence, he said:
We'll, look here, Rolfe. A sudden
thought has occurred to me. l think
1t possible that tomorrow in certain
quarter, | shall be able to make a con.
fidental inquiry regarding the where
abouts Of the Doctor. All that you've
told me interests me exceedingly, be-
cause have all along believed that
very shortly Petrovitch was returning
to power and join forces with Pas
hitch"
But didn't they quarrel short time
ago." Rolfe remarked.
"Oh, a mere trife It was nothing.
The Austrian press made great stir
about it, as they always do All news
nr,,o To-, F,<> I'm, r.<, 49,,
across the river, at Semlin. If the
journalists dared to put foot on Ser
Wan soil they'd soon find themselves
under arrest, can tell you. No, the
broad lines of policy Of both Petro-
witch and Pashitch are identical
They intend to develop the country by
the introduction of foreign capital.
The king himself told me so at an
'dience | had month ago. He then
told me, in confidence, that he had in
vited the Doctor to return and rejoin
the Ministry. That is why I firmly
Oelieve that the poor Doctor, one OF
the best and most straightforward
statesmen in Europe, has fallen a
victim to his enemies"
"Then you will set to work to dis
cover what is known among. the Op-
position?' urged the young man.
II promise you / will But, of course,
in strictest confidence" was the Mini
ster's reply. "Petrovitch is my friend,
as we'll as yours. know only too we'll
of the bitter enmity towards him in
some quarters, especially among the
partisans Of the late king and a GER
tain section of the Opposition in the
Skuptchina. Mention of his name
there causes cheers from tho Govern
ment benches, but howls from the
enemies of law and order There was,
some three years ago, a dastardly plot
against his life, as you know"
No. don't know it. | have never
heard about It," was Rolfe's reply.
"Ah! he never speaks about it, of
course" Sir Charles said refectively
While driving out at Topschieder
with his little orphan niece, of whom
he was very fond, a bomb was thrown
at the carriage. The poor child was
blown to atoms, the horses were
manned, the carriage smashed to
matchwood, and the coachman so In.
jured that he died within an hour. The
Doctor escaped with nothing more
serious than a cut across the cheek
But that terrible death of his dead sis
ter's child was a terrible blow to him
and he has not been since In Belgrade
Because of that, expect, he has hesi
tated to obey the kings command tc
return to Office
awful! never knew of that. Maud
has never told me-" said Rolfe. "What
blackguards to kill an. innocent child
| vealed by the activity of the secret
Was the man who threw the bomb
| caught?"
Yes, And the conspiracy was re
| vealed by the activity of the secret
police. They made report to the
Minister of Justice, who showed it tc
me in confidence.
Then you actually know who thras
| tJA explosive?"