Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-09

their tickets. A few minutes of sus. pense dragged on. Then came the
 news that no such persons had passed. Here was stumbling block. Since Helen Mowbray and her mother had
 apparently not travelled by the Orient
 express, where had they gone on leav.
 ing the hotel at Kronburg? Had they,
 after all, misled Baroness von Lyndal
 as to their intentions for the purpose
 of binding the emperor, or had they
 simply changed their minds at the last
 minute, as women may? Could it be
 possible that they had changed them
 so completely as to return to Schloss
 Lyndalberg, or had they chosen to van-
 ish mysteriously through some back
 door out of Rhaetia, leaving no trace
 which even a lover could find?
 Leopold could not help recalling the chancellor's revelations, but dismissed them as soon as they had crept into his
 brain. No matter where the clew to the tangle might lie, he told himself
 II Helen Mowbray need be ashamed.
 He could think of nothing more to do but to go dismally back to Kronburg and await developments or, rather, to stir them up by every means in his power. This was the course he finally chose and just as he was about to act upon his decision he remembered his carelessly given promise to Count von BreitStein.
 There was telephone in the railway station at Felgarde, and Leopold him. self called up the chancellor at Kron. burg.
 My friends are not here. I'm start. ing for Kronburg as soon as possible, either by the next train or by special" he announced after a faraway squeak had signified Count von Breitstein's presence at the other end. q don't sec why you wish to know, but I would not break my promise; that's all. Goodby. Eh? What was that you said?"
 q have a-curious-piece of-news for you." came over the wire in the chancellor's voice. ''Its-about the ladies'
 "What is it?" asked Leopold.
 q hinted that I had more informa- tion which could not give you then. l But I am in different position now. | You did not find your friends in the Orient express"
 No" said the emperor.
 "They gave out that they were leav- ing Rhaetia, but they haven't crossed the frontier
 Thanks. That's exactly what want ed to know"
 You remember a certain person | whose name cEs't be mentioned over i the telephone huJing hunting lodge | near the village Of Inseleden, in the | last yes-?'
 "Yes; I remember very well. But | what has that to do with my friends?"
 'The younger lady has gone there | without her mother. who remains in l kronbHrg with the companion. It | seems that the present owner of the | hunting lodge has been acquainted with | them for some time. though he was ig- | norant of their masquerade. You see, he knows them only under their real | name. The young lady is a singer in comic operas. a Miss Jenny Brett, ! whose dossIer can be given you on de- mand. The owner of the hunting lodge ] arrived at his place this morning, mo- ! tored into Kronburg. where the young | lady had waited. evidently informed of | his coming She invited him to pay her a visit at her hotel. He accepted | and returned the invitation, which she accepted"
 You are misinfo-med. The lady was never an opera singer. and I'm certain i she would neither receive the person rOu mention nor go to visit him.
 ''Will you drive out to the lodge to- night when you reach Krolburg and honor the gentleman with an unex- pccted cali:''
 T will. d-H .you. hut not for the req son you think crieJ tlc emperor. It was the first time ir his life that he had ever used strong langGagc tO the chancellor.
 He dropped the receiver. flung down ! gold coin with hts own head upon 1t at the moment he could hare wished hat he had no other and. waving iway an offer of change. rushed out of he office.
 Under his breath he swoTe again. the strongest oathS which ;he rich Ian yuage of his fsther:ard provided. lnathematizin- not the belovesi won In. maligne,I. but the man who ma igned her
 There would lz. death in ihe thought hat she couII Iss false ts herself and Der confession of love for him. But. hen. 1t was unthfnkaI,le. Lei ihe whole roTid reek with f0ulness. his icve must Itill shine above it white ard remote ls the yOunx mspn-
 This cd nan whose life would lcsrre have hsen safe if in his emper- ITS present nsossl the two had teen oEether-this osI man had a gruIg