Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-01-29

my way, and he nearly killed me-the
little soldier-as | crossed a strange
field"
When they had jerked the truth from
Zmai, Chauvenet flung open the door
and bawled through the house for the
innkeeper
"Horsesl Saddle our two horses quick,
and get another If you have to steal
it," he screamed. Then he turned into
the room to curse Zmai, while Durand
with a towel and water sought to ease
the ache in the big fellows head and
cleanse his face.
80 that beggarly little servant did
II, did he? He stole that paper | had
given you, did he? What do you i'm
agine i brought you to this country
for If you are to let two stupid fools
play with you as though you were a
clownT
The Servian, on his knees before
Durand, suffered the torrent of abuse
meekly. He was a scoundrel, hired to
do murder, and his vilification by an
angered employer did not greatly trou-
BILE him, particularly since he under
man.
In half an hour Chauvenet was
again in a fury, learning at Lamar
that the operator had gone down the
road twenty miles to dance and
would not be back until morning.
The imperturbable Durand shivered
in the night air and prodded Chauve-
net with ironies.
I'VE have no time to lose. That
message must goetonight. You may
be sure NJ. Armitage will not send it
for US. Come, we've got to go down
to Storm Springs"
They rode away In the starlight, leav-
ing the postmaster alarmed and won
dering. Chauvenet and Durand were
well mounted on horses that Chauvenet
had sent into the hills in advance of his
own coming. Zmai rode grim and 81
lent on clumsy plow horse, which
was the best the publican could find
for him. The knife was not the only
weapon he had known in Servia. He
carried potato sack across his saddle
bow. Chauvenet and Durand sent him
ahead to set the pace with his inferior
mount. They talked together in low
tones as they followed.
HE is not so big a fool, this Armi-
tage." remarked Durand. "He is quite
deep, in fact. wish it were he we are
trying to establish on throne and not
that pitiful scapegrace in Vienna"
Il gave him his chance down there
in the valley. and he laughed at me. 1t
is quite possible that he is not a fool
and quite certain that he Is not a cow
ard"
"Then he would not be a safe king.
Our young friend in Vienna is good
deal Of a fool and altogether a COW
ard. We shall have to provide him
with a spine at his coronation"
'If we fail''- began Chauvenet
you suggest a fruitful but unpleas
ant topic. If we fail we shall be fortu
nate if we reach the hospitable shores
of the Argentine for future residence
Paris and Vienna would not know Us
again. If Winkeried succeeds in vi
emma and we lose here. where do We
arrive?"
I'VE arrive quite where Mr.. Armitag'
chooses TO land us. He is a gentleman
of resources; he has money; he laugh.
cheerfully at misadventures; he ha'
had you watched by the shrewdes
eyes in Europe and you are considered
hard man to keep track of. my deal
Durand. And not least important, b,
has tonight snatched away that littl,
cablegram that was the signal to Win
kelried to 60 ahead. He is a very an
noying and veXatious person, this Ar
mitage Even Zmai. whose knife made
him a terror in Servia, seems unable Il
cope with him"
"And the fair daughter of the val
ley
"Pish! We are not discussing tn,
young lady"
81 can understand how unpleasant
the subject must be to you, my dea
Jules. What do you imagine she know
of NJ. Armitage? If he is the man w
think he is. and possible heir to
great throne. it would be impossible
for her to marry him."
His tastes are democratic. In Mon
tana he is quite popular"
Durand flung away his cigarette ant
laughed suddenly.
HAS it occurred to you that thi
whole affair is decidedly amusing
Here we are in one of the free Ameri
can states about to turn a card tina
will dethrone king if we are lucky
And here is man we are trying to &c
out of the way-a man we might maxi
king if he were not a fool! In Ameri
ca! 1t touches my sense of humor, III.
dear Julesw
An exclamation from Zmai ARRESTED
them. The Servian jerked up his horse
and they were instantly at his side
They had reached a point near tn
bunting preserve in the main highway
1t was about half past l o'clock, al
hour at which Virginia mountain
roads are usually free of travellers
and they had been sending their horse