Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-04


adored by the people count Marlanx
would not be such a fool IA to-
"Ho is no fool" she Interrupted
quickly. THAT'S why am afraid. II
ne IS plotting against tho crown, you
may depend upon 1t he 10 laying his
plans well. John Tulis, that man Is
devil-a devil incarnate!" She turned
her face away. a spasm Of utter re-
pugnance crossed her face.
Il am afraid Of Peter Brutus. He Is
here to watch-everybody"
She leaned against the great carved
mante post, Il 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 tho
embers creeping up to her face with
the insistence of muiden'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 Ingomeie the
Beautiful.
Does Baron Dangloss know this
man Brutusf' asked Tullis arising to
stand beside her.
II don't know" she said Thought
fully. II have not spoken to him CON
cerning Brutus. Perhaps he knows.
The baron Is very wise Let me tell
you how | happen TO know that Peter
Brutus is still serving Count Marlanx
md why I think his presence signifies
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 MnrlanX.
His daughter is my maid She Is here
with me now. The old man came to
zee .Tosepha one dny last week. He
had accompanied Count MaranX 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. Ihey
were coseted together from morning
TIL night in the house where MarlanX
was stopping. At the end of two days
with him vast sum of money pro-
vided by my husband. 1t was given
out that he was on his way to Serros,
In pawsbergen. where he expected to
purchase a business block for his mas
ter. MarlanX waited another day In
Balak. permitting Iosepha's father to
rome on to Edelweiss with resSage
for me and to see his daughter. lie -
"And Josepha's father saw Rrutus in
Edeweiss:"
mo. But he did see him going into
Balak as he left for EdelwoisS thAt
morning. He wore disguise. hut
Jacob says he could not be mistaken
Moreover. he was accompanied hy sev'
eral men whom he recognized as Grau'
stark mountaineers and hunters OF
rather unsavory reputation. They LETT
Brutus at the gates of Balak and went
off into the hills. All this happened
before | knew that Peter was living
In Edelweiss. When | saw him here
knew at once that his presence mean,
something sinister. l 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 1mprls
onment-yes, imprisonment. l was
not permitted to leave the castle fol
days at time during his absences"
Surely you will not go back again!
he began hotly.
20 hnr inc
A manservant was quietly crossln:
the hall just of the library. He i
new man. ! do not Ike his appear
nnce."
The servant disappeared through
door at the end Of the hall.
Then there were the great sums o
money that my husband sent off iron
time TO time she continued, and tn
strange boxes that came overland t
the castle and later went away agai
as secretly as they came. Mr.. Tullis
am confident IN my mind that thos
boxes contained firearms and ammu
milton. l have thought It all out. Pei
hapS l am wrong. but II seems to III
that | can almost see those fircarm
stored away in the caves and cabin
outside Of Edelwess, ready for instan
use when the signal comes"
Cod. An uprising. \ plot so hug
as that he gaspcd, amazed. 1t is fol
tuuHte that he was not facing the dool
The Same servant. passing once more
might have seen the telltale consternG
ton in his eyes SIT cnnnot be poss
bic, Why, Dangloss and his me
would have scented it long ago"
II have not said that | am sure O
anything. remember that. | leave
20 you to nnnlyZe. You have the four
fation on which to work. I'd advis
you TO waste no time. Something tell
me that the crisis Is near at hand"
CHAPTER VII.
AT THE wtTCHS HUT.
YN the meantime our eXceller