The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-10-22


not find out for himself what had hap
pened in the palace, were his opponents
bound to tell him2 In fact, given that
an attempt to change the succession In
your own interest was not crime, but
a legitimate political enterprise, the
rest followed.
Except Mistitchl 1t was difficult to
swallow Mistitch. There was a mix
ture of ingenuity and brutality about
that move which not even Kravonian
notions could easily accept. II Staf-
nltz had gone-nay/ II he himself had
been sent-probably Markart's con-
science would not have rebellec But
to send Captain Hercules-that was
cogglng the dicel Yet he was very
angry that Stenovics should have di-
vined his feelings and shut him up.
The general distrusted his courage as
we'll as his conscience. There lay the
deepest hurt to Markart's vanity. II
was all the deeper because In his heart
he had to own that Stenovics read him
right. Not only the brazen conscience
was lacking, but also the iron nerve.
Getting no answer to his unpleasant
ly pointed question, Lepage relapsed
into silence He stood by the window,
looking out on the lawn which sloped
down to the Krath. Beyond the river
the lights of Slavna glowed in the
darkening sky. Things would be hap
penlng I'm Slavna soon. Lepage might
well look at the city thoughtfully. AS
fact, however, his mind was occupied
with one problem only-where was Ter
kovltch and how could he get at him2
For Lepage did not waver. He had
taken his line.
Presently, however, his professional
instincts seemed to reassert them
selves. He opened q cupboard in the
room and brought out a clean pair of
sheets, which he proceeded to arrange
on the bed. Busy at his task, he paus-
ed to smile at Markart and say: 1--WE
must do the best we can, captain. Aft
er ALL we have both camped I expectl
Here's the bed for you-you'll do fine
ly." He went back to the cupboard
and lugged out a mattress. "And this
is for me-the shakedown on the floor
which use when l sleep In the kings
room-or did use, should say. In my
judgment, captain, it's comfortable to
go to bed on the floor. At least one
can't fall"
II was o'clock. They heard the
outer door of the suit of rooms open
and shut. A man was moving about in
the next room. If they could judge by
the sound of his steps he also paid DR..
Natcheff a brief visit, They heard the
clink of dishes and of glass.
"Dinnerr' said Lepage. "Ah, that's
not unwelcomel Have / permlssionT
Markart nodded, and he opened the
door. On the table In the sitting room
was a savory dish, bread and two bot
ties of wine Captain Sterkoff was
just surveying the board he had spread,
with his head on one side. There was
nothing peculiar in that His head
was permanently stuck on one side-a
list TO starboard- since the Virgin with
the lamp had injured the vertebrae of
his neck. But the attitude, together
with his beaked nose, made him look
like particularly vicious parrot. Mark.
art saw him through the open door and
could not get the resemblance out OF
his mind
Supper gentlemen" said Sterkoff,
with malevolent mirth. "The doctor
can't join you. He's little upset and
keeps his he'd A good appetite! l
trust not TO he Obliged 10 disturb you
again tonight"
Markart had come I'm by now, but he
was too surly and sore TO speak With