The Washington times., 1911-07-05
CHAPTER V.
The Chase Across Country,

was tnTee nOuTS ldIeT WHEN We
pulled into the station of the capital
of Brescia, having stopped en- route
to partake of light breakfast some
miles beyond the spot where the soldiers
held up the train.
By putting a few questions to a guard
] learned that the horsemen had prob
ably reached the city in advance of Us.
In order to avoid the foothills the line
made a wide detour while, by taking
advantage OF one of the numerous
mountain passes. the cavalrymen could
cover the distance in couple of hours.
AS we stepped from the train onto the
crowded platform l could not help fam
cying Morgans substitute already be-
fore the governor or confined in Sc
cure place awaiting the coming of those
who would put him through a rigorous
examination. II was also certain the
mistake must be discovered, at least
within a few days, and the Briton liber-
ated; but in the meantime we would not
be molested
We travelled light, being unencumber-
ed with baggage, except for two small
trunks and the necessary handbags;
and, leaving McGregor arguing win
crowd Of porters, we entered victoria
with orders to drive us to the best hotel
the city afforded. Within twenty min
utes we pulled up before the door OF
pretentIous hostelry: a two-story, gray
stone building facing a great square-on
the opposite side Of which, we learned
later, was the residence Of the governor
of Brescia.
II was Morgan who registered In the
book the clerk presented for our sigma
lures; and, looking over his shoulder,
realized more fully that We could not be
counted with the pleasure-seektng tour
lists who found their way into that out
lying edge of the Balkans; that we were
entering upon a dangerous game, the
ending of which il was beyond our
power to foresee. For though my com
panion did not hesitate to set down my
lawful Cognomen: Henry Robinson,
U. S. A." he wrote beneath II, in a now
ing hand-"John Bascom, Montreal
and as John Bascom he was entered In
the notebook of the secret service Off
cial who scanned the register as soon
as our backs were turned.
/ understood perfectly the wisdom of
Concealing from the authorities that two
men named Morgan had crossed the
frontier that day: yet, upon seeing my
companion take the first step toward Sc
crecy l experienced an unpleasant
shock. 1t was not the last to which
certain ones in Brescia were to treat
me. And the incidents began to crowd
in upon us even before we ventured to
set foot out across the threshold of the
hotel and examine the city into which
we had come as enemies Of the existing
government.
1t was already we'll past noon when
we found our way into spacious court,
situated in the center Of the building
and used for the serving of light re-
freshments. There were great number
of little tables scattered about, the ma
jority shaded bv palms and semi-tropi-
cal foliage, and at that hour perhaps
half were occupied. Selecting one in a
secluded corner, we gave our order and
leaned back. watching the scene around
us.
The crowd numbered fifty or
more, of which perhaps two-thirds
were civilians, but there was
a goodly scattering of uniforms:
for the place was favorite resort of
the officers stationed in the garrisons
OF the capital. l saw the white and
gold of the guardsmen, the light blue
and red Of the huzzars, the yellow OF
the cavalrymen, and the green and red
such as had been worn by the detach-
ment which held up the express. IT re-
minded me of certain similar scenes
had witnessed in some of the other cap
itals of Europe, but under far different
conditions
l turned to Morgan to pass remark
when something in his ATTITUDE checked
me. A moment before he had been
! leaning carelessly back in his seat,
gazing about through half-closed eyes;
! but now every evidence OF incidence
was gone and he was looking toward
the screen of palms which separated
our table from one on the right, con-
cealed by the heavy foliage.
1t was evident that several men were
our neighbors, for their voices came to
I US, and a fash Of red told me one at
g
but little attention TO the conversation
around us; now leaned forward to
! listen: for such took to be the mean
ing of Morgan's impressive gesture to-
ward the screen of palms. For several
. moments 1 failed to become interested
! then suddenly ! caught name, uttered
by some one at the other table-Von
Holleun!
The speaker was not a-dozen feet
away and pronounced the name. dis
tinctly. One Of his companions re-
piled:
spend more time in the city: 1t would
almost seem she had gone into retire
ment. That isolated country. villa must
be anything but an entertaining place
An which to shut oneself"
Some one laughed-a burst OF careless
hoyish mirth-and we heard the
words: ,-. -...-.
,nent is not overdificult; at the villa
she Is free, at least a portion OF the
time; while here in the city Seldorf
found the opportunity to visit her on
an average Of twice a day. To avoid
the greater evil she chose the lesser