The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-04-14
Copyright. 1909. by George Barr
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd. Mead q
Company

y
Does Baron Dangloss know this
man BrutusY' asked Tullis arising to
stand beside her
81 don't know" she said thought
fully 81 have not spoken to him con-
corning Brutus. Perhaps he knows.
The baron is very wise. Let me tell
you how 1 happen to know that Peter
Brutus is still serving Count Marianx
and why I think his presence signifies
a crisis of some sort"
Her voice, always low and even.
seemed lower still. "In the first place.
/ 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 Ay-
phain, mile beyond the Graustark
line Peter Brutus was with my hus-
band In Balak for two days. They
were closcted 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 Dawsbcrgen, where he expected to
purchase q business block for his mas
ter. Marlanx waited another day in
Balali, permitting Josepha's father to
come on to EdelwciSs with message
for me and to see his daughter. He
"And Josepha's father saw Brutus in
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 / knew that Peter was living
in Edelweiss. When l saw him here
knew at once that his presence meant
something sinister. 1 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. was
not permitted to leave the castle for
days Mt n time during his absences"
Surely you will not go back again.
he began holly.
"Sh!' She put finger to her lips.
A manservant was quietly crossing
the hall just OF the library He is
a new man. do not like his appear
ance.'
The servant disappeared through n
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 the
strange boxes that came overland to
the castle and later went away again
rs secretly as they came. Mr.. Tullis.
l am confident in my mind that those
boxes contained firearms and ammu-
milton. I have thought it all out. Per-
haps l am wrong. but it seems to me
that I can almost see those firearms
stored away in the caves and cabins
outside of Edelweiss. ready for instant
use when the signal comes"
God! An uprising. A plot so huge
as that" he Easped, 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. "lt cannot be posi-
BILE. Why. Dangloss and his men
would have scented it long ago"
Il have not said that l am sure of
anything, remember that leave 1t
to you to analyZc. You have the foun-
dhtion on which to work. I'd advise
you to waste no time. Something tells
me that the crisis is near at hand"