The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-27


My intelligence tells me that 1t has to
do with Graustark AS he wishes the
prince no good. 1t must be for evil"
But there is nothing he can do. He
has no following here. The prince is
adored by the people. Count Marlanx
would not be such fool as to-
"He is no fool" she Interrupted
quickly That's why am afraid. If
he is plotting against the crown, you
may depend upon it he is laying his
plans well. John Tullis. that man is
devil-a devil incarnatev' She turned
her face away. A spasm Of utter re-
pugnance crossed her face.
II am afraid of Peter Brutus. He is
here to watch-everybody."
She leaned against the great carved
mantel post, tall. slender. lissom
creature. exquisitely gowned in rarest
Irish lace, her bare neck and shoulders
cleaning white against the dull tim
bers beyond, the faint glow from the
embers creeping up to her face with
the insistence Of maiden's flush. He
gazed In rapt admiration, his heart
humping like fury in his great breast.
She was little more than girl. this
wife of old Marlanx. and yet how
wise. how clever. how brilliant she
was.
She was we'll named Ingomede the
Beautiful.
''Does Baron Dangloss know this
man Brutus?' asked Tullis. arising to
| stand beside her.
II don't know" she said thought
fully. II have not spoken to him con-
corning Brutus. Perhaps he knows
The baron is very wise Let me tell
you how l happen to know that Peter
Brutus is still serving Count Marlanx
and why think his presence signifies
a crisis Of some sort"
Her voice. always low and even.
seemed lower still. Sin the first place,
l have faithful friend In one of the
Oldest retainers at Schloss Marlanx.
His daughter is my maid. She is here
with me now. The old man came to
see Josepha one day last week. He
had accompanied Count Marlanx to
the town of Balak. which is in Ak
phain. a mile beyond the Graustark
line. Peter Brutus was with my hus-
band in Balak for two days. They
were closeted together from morning
till night in the house where Marlanx
was stopping At the end of two days
Brutus went away. but he carried
with him vast sum Of money pro-
vided by my husband. 1t was given
out that he was on his way to Serros,
in Dawsbergen. where he expected to
purchase a business block for his mas
ter. Marlanx waited another day in
Balak. permitting Josepha's father to
come on to Edeiweiss with a message
for me and to see his daughter. He
"And Josepha's father saw Brutus II
Edelweiss?'
"No. But he did see him going into
Balak as he left for Edelweiss that
morning He wore a disguise. but
Jacob says he could not be mistaken
Moreover. he was accompanied by sew
eral men whom he recognized as Grau
stark mountaineers and hunters OF
rather unsavory reputation. They LEFT
Brutus at the gates of Balak and went
off into the hills. All this happened
before l knew that Peter was living
in Edelweiss. When l saw him here
knew at once that his presence meant
something sinister. ! can put many
things together that once puzzled me
the comings and goings Of months. the
secret reports and consultations. the
queer looking men who came to the
castle. the long absences of my hus
band and my-my own virtual impris
onment-yes. Imprisonment. l was
not permitted to leave the castle fol
days at time during his absences"
"Surely you will not 60 back again!
he began hotly.
ash" She put a finger to her lips
A manservant was quietly crossing
the hall just off the library. HE II
new man. do not like his appear
ance"
The servant disappeared through &
door at the end Of the hall.
"Then there were the great sums Of
money that my husband sent off from
time to time." she continued, land thu
strange boxes that came overland tt
the castle and later went away agair
as secretly as they came. Mr.. Tullis
/ am confident in my mind that thos'
boxes contained firearms and ammu
milton. | have thought it all out. Per
haps I am wrong, but it seems to mi
that | can almost see those firearm:
stored away in the caves and cabins
outside of Edelweiss. ready for instan
use when the signal comes"
God. An uprising. A plot so huge
as that he gasped, amazed. 1t is for
tunate that he was not facing the door
The same servant. passing once more
might have seen the telltale consterna
ton in his eyes. 1T cannot be posi-
BILE! Why. Dangloss and his mel
would have scented 1t long ago"
81 have not said that am sure o.
anything, remember that. | leave i
to you to analyze. You have the foun
dalton on which to work. I'd advise
you to waste no time. Something tells