Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-02-20
A StorE of
 LyrouSfark
 By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON


 between us-he despises Graustark, while l love her in every drop of my blood. l know that in his heart he has never ceased to brew evil for the throne that disgraced him. He openly expresses his hatred for the present dynasty and has more than once said in public gatherings that he could cheer fully assist in its utter destruction. That, of course, is commonly known in Graustark. where he is scorned and derided. But he is not man to serve his hatred with mere idle words and inaction.
 1T am seeing you here in this big room openly" she went on. flor the simple reason that if I am being watched this manner of meeting may be above suspicion. We may speak freely here, for we cannot be heard unless we raise our voices. Don't be- tray surprise or consternation. The eyes of the wall may be better than its ears"
 You don't mean to say you are be- ing watched here ill your fathers house?" he demanded
 I don't know. This l do know--the count has many spies in Edelweiss. He is systematically appraised of every, thing that occurs at court, in the city or in the council chamber. Day before yesterday l saw his secretary in the streets, man who has been in his em nlpu for Ava and who now pretends to be lawyer here. His name is Brutus. l spoke with him. He said that he had left the count six weeks ago in Vienna, determined to set out for himself in his chosen pro- fession. He knows, of course, that I am not and never have been in the condolences of my husband. asked him if it was known in Edelweiss that he had served the count as secretary. He promptly handed me one of his business cards on which he refers to himself as the former trusted and con fidential secretary of Count Marlanx. Now, happen to know that he is still in n,y husbands service, or was no long CT ago than last week. He is here for a purpose. as my husbands represent ative. have not been asleep all these months at Schloss Marlanx. have seen and heard enough to convince me that some great movement is on foot. My intelligence tells me that it has to do with Graustark. As he wishes the prince no good. it must be for evil"
 Inf thara ic hinny hn n n 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 we'll. John Tullis. that man is a devil-a devil incarnate!' She turned her face away. A spasm of utter re- pugnance crossed her face.
 T am afraid of Peter Brutus. He Is here to watch-everybody."
 She leaned against the great carved mantel post, tall, slender, issom creature, exquisitely gowned in rarest Irish lace, her bare neck and shoulders gleaming white against the dull tim bers beyond, the faint glow from the embers creeping up to her face with the insistence of a maiden's flush. He gazed in rapt admiration, his heart humping like fury in his great breast. She was little more than a 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.
 T don't know" she said thought fully q have not spoken to him con- cerning 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 "In 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, 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. It was given out that he was on his way to Serros, in Dawsbergen, where he expected to purchase business block for his mas ter. Marlanx waited another day in Balak. permitting Josepha's father to come on to Edelweiss with a message for me and to see his daughter. He"-
 "And Josepha's father saw Brutus in 
 "No. But he did see him going into Balak as he left for Edelweiss that