The Washington times., 1911-07-20
CHAPTER XIV (Continued).

upon the bench beside the DusDS
You will understand" sal
he. that 1 arrived about half Ia a
hour ago. having left the eScoL SCOT
with the baggage some distance pac;
on the road. 1t was not difhcuI
to get a few words with the countess
and ] was anxious to inquire What tool
place during your journey. She toiu IN
of the note of warning she slipped int
your hand" ,,o
(which was unnecessary? Then. wha
the deuce was the countess up to!
why. g. desire to save you from De
ing eaten by the wolf l will wager
good dinner that for the last hours yol
have been thinking pretty seriously o.
the frontier over yonder." He waved
his hand toward the distant mountain
range. ,o,,
fesse,' hummed Margon lightly.
For a moment l felt my temper ris
ing, then decided to make the best o.
I'm not made of iron, like this swash
huckIer here. and the countess note un
steadied me a bit. But explain; why
was it unnecessary. when it is plain she
thought she was doing us a good turn'
] said as calmly as possible.
'Oh" Haupmann answered, the ex
planation is simple, If you'll only
bear IN mind that list found on Hal
fenstein. Fortunately, perhaps, l IN
cluded the name Of the gentle
man who examined you by the nSh
of a burglars lantern. He is zeal
would give the governor a shock to
find him playing fast and loose with
his authority. Fortunately. also, Tor
I did not know then he was the one
went to the city to make a report
yesterday. He got no farther than
Into the presence of the baron; the
old man shook the list under his nose;
cursed him roundly, and ordered him on
to prison. He will not trouble you'
you may be sure"
But there were Others, suggested
From whom you have nothing to
fear: they will scarcely thrust them
selves under the governors notice
after what happened to their leader
There are half a score prisoners IN
the castle who are debating whether
the governor is crazy, Of If they have
lost their minds
And young Won Holleun?"
"Oh, l have attended to that matter.
And you will hear something from
1t, or l am mistaken; it is not so
difficult to free a prisoner If one
And you have seen the countess
since arriving here; she knows our
Not everything: 1 have not spoken
of the papers, for 1t is dangerous;
and, besides, had only a few words
with her But she understands there
is some scheme afoot to prevent the
governor having his way"
ITO marry her to that precious son
What else? But she does not un-
derstand plainly why you should risk
so much to befriend her. And she
told me another thing; probably the
bitterest enemy you have just now in
this neighborhood is Major Shulhof." :"
But he understands; l have told
him" began Morgan.
He understands only you worked
your way into his good graces, learn
ed something and then reported
everything to the governor. In other
words, he believes that you are spies
in the barons employ"
I'm Gods name! because we came
with the governors party?"
probably, and you must confess it
looked suspicious. Even the countess
has been unable to explain how mat
ters stand, for he has locked himself
in his room. where he sits in ter
rible rage. To be fooled in that man
ner. and to know the countess is to
marry that fellow and he can do
nothing is more than the old fellow
can swallow at mouthful.'
Morgan took a quick turn across
the summer-house; his face was very
grave. 1T may be possible some one
may see him, and, when the matter
is explained"
But VINO Will explain II. IN IDe
first place no one will be permitted to
talk with him freely, for he is really
a prisoner; and in the second, he
probably would not listen. except to
the countess" replied the captain.
Then the countess must explain. so
he will understand"
She can do nothing" Haupmann
answered. "A little time ago, when
she would have spoken to him, he
growled through the panel his opin-
Nar NF hot hA h.
left alone. When she would have
spoken further a dragoon appeared
from some hidden corner.
Pardon, madame said he politely,
but l have my orders to permit no
one to talk with Major Shulhof ex-
cept in my presence.
"Of course she could do nothing
under such circumstances. and we are
in the same boat"
Surely the devil is in league with
our enemies, for when we overcome
one obstacle another arises; and this
is perhaps the worst" exclaimed Nor
gan impatiently. Don't you under
stand? / hid the documents in that
room. II this old fool of a cavalryman
insists on sulking in his den how can
we obtain them? Granted we carry
off the girl and prevent the marriage
VIII that injure your, governor so
hind us. and the day of reckoning
drawing near? We save the countess,
to turn her loose in Europe penniIess;
and we fail of the errand far which
your father gave his life And all
because this precious Shulhof flies at
conclusions and sulks like a spoiled
child"
He turned his face, flushed with an
noyance, toward the distant noun
tains. Suddenly the fit of anger and
left him as quickly as it
had arisen. 1t was succeeded by the
familiar expression of determina-
ton.
"But because one source of assist
Gnce has failed US at the supreme mo-
ment shall we also retire from the
contest? II unforeseen obstacles
spring up in the path it is for us to
overcome them: first, to secure the
documents, and afterward to render
aid to the countess" he concluded
earnestly.
1T is as you say" Haupmann re-
piled. but they go together. Were 1t
possible, l would myself see the major
and explain matters, but we appear to
have reached the limit of my serv-
ices"
Morgan walked across the summer
house, to where he could obtain
view Of the villa on that side. "Ah, |
II McGregor were here" we heard |
him mutter.
He is with the baggage, and must |
arrive tonight" veptured the Bres- |
clan.
Which may be too late, for we |
must form plan quickly. 1t is prob !
q bic the governor will be inuuirinR |
Tor us directly, and to remain too long |
absent may arouse suspicion. The |
danger will be lessened if McGregor |
comes in time"
lit