Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-12-04

Lost. Lost! They are lost. LOST
my way, and he nearly killed me-tht
little soldler-as ! crossed a strange
field"
When they had jerked the truth from
Zmai Chauvenet dung open the door
and bawled through the house for the
innkeeper
Horses! Saddle our two horses quick
and get another If you have to steal
it.' he screamed. Then he turned into
the room to curse Zmal. while Durand
with a towel and water sought to ease
the ache In the big fellows head and
cleanse his face
$50 that beggarly little servant did
it, did he? He stole that paper l had
given you. did he? What do you i'm
agine | brought you to this country
for II you are to let two stupid fools
play with you as though you were a
clown?"
The Servian, on his knees before
Durand, suffered the torrent Of abuse
meekly. He was a scoundrel, hired to
do murder, and his utilization by an
angered employer did not greatly trou
bic him, particularly since he under
stood little of Chauvenet's rapid Ger
man.
In half an hour Chauvenet wa>
again in a fury, learning at LANAI
that the operator had gone down the
road twenty miles to a dance anu
would not be back until morning.
The imperturbable Durand shivered
in the night air and prOdded Chauve
net with ironies.
I'VE 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, leav-
ing the postmaster alarmed and won
dering. Chauvenet and Durand were
well mounted on horses that Chauvenet
had sent into the hills in advance Of his
own coming. Email rode grim and 81
lent on a clumsy pillow horse, which
was the best the publican could find
for him. The knife was not the only
weapon he had known in Servia. He
carried a potato sack across his saddle
bow. Chauvenet 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 a fool. this Armi-
tage." remarked Durand. "He is quite
deep, in fact. l wish it were he we are
trying to establish on a throne and not
that pitiful scapegrace in Vienna"
Il gave him his chance down there
In the valley. and he laughed at me. It
Is quite possible that he is not fool
and quite certain that he is not a cow
ard"
''Then he would not be a safe king
Our young friend in Vienna is a good |
deal Of a fool and altogether a cow
ard. We shall have to provide him
with a spine at his coronation"
'If we faiT'- began Chauvenet.
''YOu suggest a fruitful but unpleas-
ant topic. If we fail we shall be fortu-
nate if we reach the hospitable shores
If the Argentine for future residence.
Paris and Vienna would not know US
lgain. If Winkelried succeeds in vi
,nna and we lose here, where do we
lrrive?"
1--WE arrive quite where Mr. Armitage
to land US. He is a gentleman
# resources; he has money; he laughs
heerfully at misadventures; be has
lad you watched by the shrewdest
yes in Europe, and you are considered
hard man to keep track Of, my dear
)urand. And not least important, he
las tonight snatched away that little
ablegram that was the signal to Win
.elried to go ahead. He is very an
loying and vexatious person, this Ar
nitage Even Zmai whose knife made
lin terror in Servia. seems unable to
Ope with him."
"And the fair daughter Of the val
ay''-
"Pish! We are not discussing the
Dung lady"
II can understand how unpleasant
be subject must be to you, my dear
ules. What do you imagine she knows
T NJ Armitage? If he is the man we
blink he is, and a possible heir to
reat throne it would be impossible
Or her to marry him"
His tastes are democratic. In Mon
ina he is quite popular"
Durand flung away his cigarette and
lughed suddenly.
HAS it occurred to you that this
Thole affair is decidedly amusing?
Iere we are in one Of the free Ameri-
an states about to turn a card that
fill dethrone a king If we are lucky
nd here is a man we are trying to get
Ut of the way-a man we might make
Ing If he were not a fool In Ameri-
/! 1t touches my sense Of humor. my
ear Julesg
An exclamation from Zmai arrested
lem. The Servian jerked up his horse.
I'd they were instantly at his side
hey had reached a point near the :
hitting preserve in the main highway
was about half past o'clock, an ,
our at which Virginia mountain
ads are usually free Of travellers. ,
Id they had been sending their horses .
ong as briskly as the uneven roads
ID the mace Of Zmai's laggard beast :