The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-07-01

forests Of the coast. Now. what ]
propose is this: You are free, Capt
MARRIOTT"
II have a good many social engage.
ments-dances, dinners, and so on
Marriott answered, but it Is perfect
ly simple to get out Of these. 1t will
mean writing a few notes. l have
several months leave from my ship,
and this promises to be as sensational
IN adventure as ever | have had any,
thing to do with"
Good" Grant replied. Then I'll
tell you exactly what / propose. We
will just go up to my chambers and
have a peg. | think it would do both
Of us good. Then, If you will go and
write your letters, and come and dine
with me here at 7 o'clock, we will
spend the evening talking the thing
over in all its aspects, making definite
notes of any conclusion we arrive at.
Finally, l will arrange an interview
with the duchess for the first thing
In the morning, and we will get every
possible fact we can from her-every-
thing hat will be likely to help us in
our quest-and in the evening we will
catch the night train"
The night train?" said Basil.
where tor"
well, in the first instance, to Co
logne," said Michael Grant. 81 think
that If the solution of the mystery is
not to be found in the little kingdom
upon the shores of the Rhine, then it
will never be solved at all. Even now,
I dare wager anything that the little
duke is speeding as fast as the train,
or yacht, as the case may be, can take
him, to the kingdom of Wohlau-
LandSkrona."
well, you may be right, Of course"
Marriott replied, "but surely an elder
ly lady Of distinguished appearance
like Miss Decies and a bright and
cheerful little boy cannot travel over
Europe nowadays without discovery?
Why, the wires must have been work
ing all over the continent within an
hour after the discovery that the duke
was not in his nursery"
when, by your own showing, my
dear Marriott, he was still concealed
somewhere in the house; because it
was his body-dead or living-you
saw swung on to the hay cart, with
out a doubt, though by what mechan-
zeal means the trick was accom-
plished | cannot pretend to say. |
expect the contrivance was a simple
enough one. 1t was certainly the on
ly possible way by which the duke
could be got out of the house. At any
that the brains which could evolve a
plot like this are not going to proceed
in any ordinary way? That the duke
will arrive at NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ooner or later, and is probably on his
way there now, l am quite certain;
and l am equally fairly certain that
his arrival will only be known to two
or three people in the whole of Eu-
rope.
my theory is that the duke has
been kidnapped, and will not be
harmed-not, at least, until he is safe
ly at his destination. And, therefore,
1t is there, in the very heart of the
plot, the center of Wolhau-Landskrona,
where the life's blood of this foul con-
spiracy is to be found"
Discussing the matter earnestly,
and with an almost crushing sense Of
their grave responsibility, the two
young men turned into the great
courtyard of st. Anselm's Mansions.
The people who were coming in and
out OF the flats saw nothing but two
fine, well made young E%nglishmen Of
the upper classes, dressed In the ex-
IRENE of fashion. Except that, per-
haps, there two were noticeable, even
In the West end. during an afternoon
in the season, for their physique, they
were an ordinary couple enough at
that time and in that spot. No one
knew that these two young men. who,
d%isdaining the lift, mounted the stairs
toward the fats upon the second floor,
carried In their hands the threads OF
as deep and subtle a conspiracy as
aver convulsed Europe. No one knew
that in the hands of these two issues
of almost national Importance lay,
that It was upon them hat the matter,
which was eve then ~agitating all the
capitals Of the civilized world. depend
ed.
Grant opened the door of his nat
with a latch-key.
II let my man cut in the afternoon"
he said. 'and, of course, all my meals
are sent up from the central kitchens,
so we shall be really quite alone. Now
let us have q brandy and soda"
II think l would just like to wash
my hands," Marriott answered.
"Oh. do. please. Come into my bed.
ROOM"
He led the sailor into a o on the
left Of the hall--a large. airy place
with a tiny iron cot, Spartan in its
simplicity. A row of huge Indian
clubs was standing against one wall.
The bedroom communicated with the
diningroom. and in a minute the two
men passed into the latter.
1t was q small but comfortable fur
nished apartment, with the usual side.
board, on which stood a tantalus.
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