The Washington herald., 1908-03-20
CHAPTER xXIII-COntinued.


AT last she spoke, saying In low,
rather strained voice:
Il can hardly answer that question
Had suspected anything unusual think
] should have mentioned my apprehen-
sion to you"
yes, I feel sure you would have done
so, dearest" he declared. Il quite see
the difficulty of your present position.
And you understand, I'm quite sure. how
anxious I feel regarding the safety Of
the doctor, who was such dear friend Of
mine"
But why are you so anxious. Maxi"
she asked.
Because if-well. II there had not been
foul play. I should have heard from the
doctor before this!" he said seriously.
Foul play?" she gasped. starting for
ward. DO you suspect some-some
tragedy. them"
Yes. Marion" was his low. earnest
reply. 'I do"
But why?" she querled. Remember
that the doctor was a diplomat and
statesman. IN Servia politics are very
complex, as they are. I'm told. in every
young nation. Our own English history
was a strange and exciting one when We
were the present age OF Seryia. The peo-
pie killed King Alexander, it is true; but
did We not xii King Charles?'
Then you think that some political un-
dercurrent ~ responsible for this disap-
pearanceT' ne suggested.
That hss more than once crossed my
mind"
Yet would he not have sent word to
me IN secret?'
No He might fear spies. You your
self have told me how secret agents
swarm in the Balkan countries. and that
espionage is as bad there as in Russia
But we are in LondOn-not in SeTvia. >"
There are surely secret agents Of the
Servian Opposition party here in Lon
dom" she said. you were telling me
something about them once-some facts
which the doctor had revealed TO you.
Yes. I remember" he remarked
thoughtfully feeling that In her argu-
ment there was much truth. Yet I have
a kind of intuition Of the occurrence OF
some tragedy, Marion" he added. recOl-
lecting how her brother had stolen IN Sc
cret from that denuded house.
Well 1 think. dear, that your fears
are quite groundless,", she declared. Il
know how the affair is worrying you, and
how much you respected the dear old
doctor. But, II were you. I would wait
in patience. he Will surely send you
word some day from some remote corner
OF the earth. Suppose he had sailed for
India, South America. or South Africa,
for instance? There would have been no
time for him to write 10 you from his
hiding place"
Then he is IN hiding-eh?' asked Max
eager 20 seize on any word Of hers that
might afford a clew to the strange state
ment OF Maud.
He may be-
Us that your opinion?"
L suspect as much
Then you do not believe there has
been a tragedy"
Il believe only in what 1 know" re-
piled the girl with wisdom.
And you know there has not been a
tragedy"
"Ah! no There you are quite mis-
taken. l have no knowledge whatso-
ever"
Only surmise?"
Only surmise."
Based upon what Maud told you-eh -
he asked at last. bringing the conyersa-
ton 10 the point
What Maud told me has nothing
whatever 10 do with my surmise,'' was
her quick reply. 1T is surmise. pure
and simple
And you have no foundation Of fact
for it?''
None, dear"
Max was disappointed. He sat smoking.
staring straight before him. AT the tables
around, beneath the trees. weil-dressed
people were chatting and laughing in the
dim light while the military band oppo-
site played the newest waltz. But he
heard il not. He was only thinking OF
how he could clear up the mystery of the
strange disappearance Of his dearest
friends. He glanced at the soft face Of
the sweet girl at his side. that was so
full Of affection and yet 50 sphinx-like.
She would tell him nothing. Again and
again she had refused to betTay the con-
fidence of her friend.
For the thousandth time he reflected
upon that curious and startling incident
which he had seen with his own eyes
in Cromwell road. and of the inexplicable
discovery he had made. He had not met
Rolfe. That he should keep away from
him was. In itself. suspicious. Without
a doubt he knew the truth.
Max wondered whether Charlie had told
his sister anything-whether he had told
her the truth, and the reason of her de-
termination not 10 speak was not TO
incriminate him. He knew i'm what strong
dnfClAV4l SAt AtlQ ltI DIQlneI-lOW Sne
always tried TO shield his faults and
magnify his virtues. Yet was it not only
what might be very naturally supposed
that she would do? Charlie was always
very good 10 her. To him, she owed
practically everything.
And so he pondered. smoking in silence
while the band played and the after-din-
ner idlers gossiped and firted on that
dimly-lit lawn He pondered when later
on he took her TO Oxfort street by the
tube and saw her to the corner OF
the street in which Cunnington's bar
racks were situated, and he pondered as
he drove along Piccadilly to the Travel
er's to have a final drink before going
home.
Next morning. about H. he was in his
pleasant bachelor sitting-room in Dover
street going over some accounts from
his factory up in Scotland. when the door
opened and Charlie Rolfe entered, ex-
claiming in his usual hearty way:
"Hulloa, Max. old chap. How are you p"
Barclay looked up in utter surprise.
The visit was entirely unexpected. and
so intimate a friend was Rolfe that he
always entered unannouneed.
In a moment. however, he recovered
himself.
why. Charlie" he exclaimed. mo-
tlOIlilS MN W a lon easy CHAIR on Ine
other side Of the. fireplace. you're quite
a stranger. Where have you been all
this long timer"
"Oh. I thought you knew through
Marion. I've been up in Glasgow. Had
a lot of worries at the works-labor trou-
bic and all that sort Of thing he re-
piled. Those Scotch wOrkmen are ut
terly incorrigible, but I must say that
its due to agitators from our side Of the
border
Yes: 1 saw something in the papers
the other day about an impending strike.