The Washington herald., 1908-03-31
CHAPTER XXXy.



In Which There Is Another Mystery.
The girl puzzled him.
Her attitude was as though she delight
ed in tantalizing him, as II she held
knowledge superior to his own. And so
she did. She was evidently aware of the
whereabouts Of Maud-his own lost love.
He repeated his question, his eyes fixed
upon her pale. serious countenance. But
she made no response.
why have you brought me here, Miss
Lorena?' he asked You told me you
had something 20 tell me-"
80 / have" she answered. looking up
at him again. Il don't know, Mr. Rolfe.
what opinion you must have OF me, but
hope you VIII consider my self-intrO-
duction permissible under the circum-
stances"
''Why. Of course" he declared. for truth
to tell he was much interested in her
She seemed so charmingly unconvention-
al. not much more than a schoolgirl, and
yet with all the delightful sweetness Of
budding womanhood But you have
mentioned the name of a woman-a
woman who is lost to me-"
"Ahl Maud Petrovitch," she sighed.
''Yes. know. 1 know all the tragic
story
'The tragic story" he echoed. staring
at her. What do you mean?"
Il mean the tragic story Of your love,
was her slow. distinct reply Pray for
give me. Mr. Rolfe. for mentioning sub
ject which must be most painful, but
have only done so to show you that am
aware Of the secret Of your affection"
Then you are a friend OF Maud
She nodded. without uttering a word.
Where is she? 1 must see her. he
said quickly. with fierce. anxious look
upon his countenance. This suspense
Is killing me-
She was silent. Slowly she turned her
fine eyes upon his, gazing straight into
his face
You ought surely to know" she said.
unfiinchingly.
II know. Why? Why do you say
that?''
Because you know the truth-you know
why they so suddenly disappeared"
Il know the truth" he repeated. In
deed 1 do not You are speaking in
enigmas, just as You yourself are an
enigma. Miss Lorena."
Ter lips relaxed into a smile of IN
ulity.
Vhy, Mr. Rolfe do you make a pre-
of ignorance, when you are fully
re Of the whole Of the combination Of
umstances which led Dr. Petrovitcn
his daughter TO escape from Lon
But, my dear girl.' he cried; you
rely misjudge me. 1 am in complete
)rance."
and yet You were present at Crom-
! road on the night in question:" she
! slowly, fixing her eyes calmly upon
Who are you. Miss Lorena, that you
uld make these direct allegations
inst me?' he cried. staring at her
I am your friend, Mr.. Rolfe, IL you
allow me TO act as such"
Ny friend" he cried. But you are
sging that I have secret knowledge
the doctors disappearance-that
Ike a pretense OF ignorance. II 1 were
possession of the facts, is il feasible
at 1 should be so anxious for the well
re OF Maud?"
No anxiety Is necessary"
Then she is alive?"
4 believe So.
And well?'
"Yes. she is quite well. But"
But what?" he demanded. Speak
Lorena- Speak, I beg OF YOU"
She had hesitated. and he saw by her
contracted brow that anxiety had arisen
within her mind
'Well-she is safe, I believe, up 20 the
present Yet. if what I fear be true, she
is daily. nay, hourly, in peril-in dead
lest peril"
Peril" he gasped. "Of what?"
''Of her life. You know that the po-
ltical organizations Of the East are
fraught with murder plots. DR.. Petro-
10
ponents, who would hesitate at nothing
10 encompass his end. They have in
trigued to induce the King TO place him
in disgrace. but at Belgrade the Petro-
witch party are still predominant. 1t is
only in the country-at Nisch and Prot
where the opposition is really strong"
You seem TO know Servia and the
complication of Servian politics, made
moiselle?" he remarked.
Yes, I happen 10 know something OF
them. / have made them a study. and
assure you it would be very fascinat-
ing il there were not quite so many I'M
prisonments in the awful fortress Of Bel
grade, and secret assassination. But Ser
via is a young country" the girl added
with a phiosophic air, and all young
countries must go through the same peri
DDS Of unrest and internal trouble. At
any rate. all parties in Servia acknowl-
edge that King Peter is a constitutional
monarch, and Is doing his utmost for
the benefit of his people
You are a partisan Of the Kara
georgevitch?"
I am. I make no secret Of IT, Alex
ander and Draga were mere puppets in
the hands OF Servia's enemies Under
King Peter the country is once more pros
porous, and, after ALL political life there
Is no more fraught with danger than il
Is in go-ahead Bulgaria. Did they not
XIII poor PetkOh the other day in the
Boris garden in Sofia? That was a more
cruel and dastardly murder than any in
Servia, for Petkcff had only one arm.
and was unable TO defend himself The
other was shot away at the Shipka.
where he fought for his country against
the Turk"
How is It yoC know so much OF Ser
via?' Charlie inquired. for he found him
self listening 10 the girls sound argu-
ments with much interest. Her views
upon the. complicated situation in the
near East were almost identical with his
Did you ever see Petkoff, for instance2''
Il knew him well. Twice I've dined at
his house in Sofia. Strangely enough. he
was with his bosom friend Stambulof
when the latter was assassinated. and
for years was a marked man. AS Prince
Ferdinands prime minister, which he was
at the time he was shot. he introduced
many reforms into Bulgaria, and was
patriot to the core"
He was surprised. Who could this girl
be who dined with prime ministers. and
mt f-.1 ko -