Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-09-08

or, he added. would be left In the trust
worthy hands of Captain Sterkoff.
Again Stenovics fully understood. In
deed. the colonel was almost brutally
candid His letter was nothing less
than plain word that power lay with
the sword and that the sword was in
his own hand, Stenovics had got rid of
King Sergius only to fall under the
rule of Dictator Stafnitz. Was that to
be the end of It?
Stenovics preferred any other issue.
The ideal thing was his own rule in
the name of young Alexis. with such
diplomatic honoring and humoring of
Countess Ellenburg as might prove
necessary. That was plainly impossi-
BILE so long as Stafnitz was master Of
the army. 1t would become finally
hopeless If Sterkoff held Suleiman's
tower till Stafnitz brought the guns to
Slavna What, then. was Stenovics'
alternative? For he was not yet
brought to giving up the game as to-
tally lost His name stood high. though
his real power tottered on most inse-
cure foundation. He could get good
terms for his assistance. There was
time to make friends with the NAM
mon Of unrighteousness.
Privately as became invalids, with
out the knowledge Of any one outside
their confidential encourage, the repre-
sentatives of the two great neighbors
received General Stenovics. They are
believed to have convinced him that
in the event Of any further disorders
in Kravonia Intervention could not be
avoided. Troops were on either from
tier, ready for such an emergency. A
Joint occupation would be forced on
the allies. With great deal of sorrow
no doubt the general felt himself
driven to accept this conclusion.
He at once requested Stafnitz. to
fetch the guns to Slavna. He left the
colonel full discretion in the matter.
His only desire was to insure the
tranquility Of the capital and to show
Volseni how hopeless it was to main
tain the fanciful and absurd claims of
lives. it must be supposed. approved
this attitude and wished the general
| all success. At later date his efforts
| to secure order and to avoid the 1nevi
| table but regrettable result of any new
| disturbance were handsomely acknowl
edged by both powers. General Steno
| vics had not StafnitZ's nerve and dash
Il ho 81 ia NJ
source.
A man of good feeling, too, to judge
from another step he took-whethel
with the cognlzance of the representa-
tives or entirely of his own motion has
never become known. He waited til
Colonel Stafnitz, who returned civil
and almost ELUSIVE reply to his com
munication, had set off to fetch thu
guns. which, as has been seen. hat
been unloaded from the railway ant
lay at Kolskoi, three days journey W
the Krath; then he entered into com
munication with Volseni He sent Vol
semi a private and friendly warning
What was the use Of Volseni holding
out when the big guns were coming
1t could mean only hopeless resistance
more disorder, more bloodshed LIE
Volseni and the lady whose claims
supported consider that, be warned il
time and acknowledge King Alexis.
This letter he addressed to Zerko
witch. There were insuperable diplo
matte difficulties in the way Of ad
dressing it to Sophy directly. "MadaI
may not call you. and mistress ar
loath to call you" said Queen Eliza
beth to the archbishop's wife. 1t wa
just case of that sort Of difficulty
He could not call her queen Of Kravc
MIA, and she would be offended If b
called her Baroness Dobrava. So tn
letter went to Zerkovitch. and it wen
by the hand Of one of Zerkovitch'
friends, so anxious was the general t
be as friendly and conciliatory as Gil
cumstances permitted.
Much to his surprise, considerably
!. his alarm, Lepage was sent for to th
E generals private residence on the ever
ing Of the day on which Colonel Sta1
! nitZ sent out for Kolskoi to fetch th
guns.
Stenovics greeted him cordial.
smoothed away his apprehension, al
2 quainted him with the nature Of hi
mission and with the gist of the lette
!, which he was to carry. Stenovie
: seemed more placid tonight than fl
some time back, possibly because b
: had got Stafnitz quietly out Of Slavn
! BEG NJ. Zerkovitch to give the lettt
to Baroness Dobrava Che called he
that to Lepage) as soon as possible an
to urge her to listen to it. Add thu
o we shall be ready to treat her wit
Q every consideration-any title in rel
son and any provision in reason to
o It's all in my letter, but repeat it Q
+ my behalf, Lepage."
II shouldn't think she'd take eitht
i title or money, general" said Lepag
bluntly.
+ "You think she's disinterested? n
f doubt, no doubt! She'll be the MOI
u ready to see the uselessness Of pr
l. longing her present attitude" He gre
e almost vehement as he laid his har
n on a large map which was spread o.
q