Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-25


And the packet gave you
The old man nodded
That packet contained the Arch
+ duke Karl's sworn arraignment Of hi
wife. Ii ia OF great Importance in
/ deed TO Francis. his worthless son. o
supposed son. who may present him
b self FOR coronation one Of these days
( Not with Kari appearing In al
, parts OF the world, never quite deao
never quite alive. and his son. Fred
erick Augustus. lurking with him ir
the shadows. Who knows whether
they are deadg"
Il am the only person on earth I'm O
position 60 make that clear" SAID
John Armitage.
"Then you should give me the docu.
ments."
"No. ! prefer 20 keep them. I as
sure you that I have sworn proof OF
the death OF the Archduke Kari and OF
bis son. Frederick Augustus. Those
papers are I'm a box in the Bronx Loan
and Trust company In New York
city"
i should have theml / must have
thcmV Numbered the old man.
In due season. but not Just now.
In fact Z have regretted parting with
that document gave you in Paris. IL
is safer in America than 10 Vienna
II you please, should like 70 have Il
again. sir"
The palsy in the old mans hands had
Increased. and he strove TO control his
agitation. but fear had never been
reckoned among his weaknesses, and
he turned stOrmily upon Armitage.
THAT packet Is lost, / tell your he
blurted. as though It were something
that he had frequently explained be-
fore. 1T was stolen from under my
very nose only a month ago. That's
what I'm here Tor. My agents are aft.
er the thief, and ] came 70 Geneva to
meet them, TO find out why they have
not caught him. DO you imagine that
/ travel for pleasure at my age, Mr..
John Armitagey'
''The packet has been stolen?" oh
served Armiage calmly. Whom do
You suspect OF taking itg'
The old man leaned upon the table
heavily.
THAT amiable Francis
The suggestion is not dlsmaying.
Francis would not know an opportunl-
" II IL offered"
But his mother-she is the deynr'
bluTted the old man.
Pray drop that" said Armitage In
a tone that caused the old man &C. look
ut him with new scrutiny. Il want
the paper back Tor the very reason that
IL contains that awful Indictment Of her.
l have been uncomfortable ever since
/ gave il 10 you, and / came 10 ask
you for it that / might keep it safe in
my own hands. But the document is
lost Am 20 understand that Francis
has itF'
Not yet But Rambaud has It, and
Rambaud aud Francis are as thick as
thieves"
Il DON'T know Rambaud The name
is unfamiliar"
He has dozen names-one for ev-
cry capital. He even operated IN Wash
ington. have heard. He's a blackmail-
er who aims high-a broker in secrets.
a scandal peddler. He's bad lot, 1 tell
you. I've had my best men after him.
and they've just been here to report
another failure. IL you have nothing
better 10 do began the old man.
Yes, that packet must be recover
ed" answered Armitage. IF your
agents have failed at the job ii may be
worth my while to look for It."
His quiet acceptance OF the situation
irritated the minister.
you entertain me, John Armitage.
You speak OF that packet as though II
were a pound OF tea. Francis and his
friends, Winkelried and 'Rambaud, are
not chasers OF firefiies, I would have
you know. II the archduke and his
<on are dead. then a few more deaths
and Francis would rule the empire
Karl was a genius; therefore he could
not be king. He threw away about
500 years OF work that had been done
for him by other people. and he ca.
Joled you into sharing his exile. You
threw away your life for him. Bah
But you seem sane enoughp
The prime minister concluded with
his rough bur, and Armitage laughed
outright.
why the devil don't you go to vi.
emma and set yourself up like a gentle
nanT demanded the premier.
Like a gentleman repeated Armi-
tage. "It is too late. / should die In
Vienna IN a week. Moreover. / am
dead. and II is well when one has at
tained that beatifc advantage to stay
dead"
Francis is a troublesome black.
guard" declared the old man. 81 wish
TO God he would form the dying habit.
so that j might have a few years in