The Washington times., 1911-07-01
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
THE GRAY WOLF
Ly F. X. SCRLBNER
Copyright, 1911, The Frank A. Munsey Company

I haIting at times, then growirE stronger.
as though Is will was battling with the
fatal drug.
Had it not been for what came after
ward I could have believed II was 2
wild flight Of the Imagination to which
| we listened; but give the gist or what
he told us before his voice wholly fafed
under the onslaught of the mysterious
drug. And for a palmer understandings
Of the story one must go back little,
| some five years before the night on
| which he heard it from the lips ot
dying man.
The exact geographical position OF
Brescia IL Is unnecessary to describe,
| except to state that II lies just WITHIN
! the Balkans and on the Austrian
| frontier. 1t is one of those little states
which is quite lost in the shadow OF the
more important countries Of Europe ana
until that night / had never heard OF
it. 1t has, of course, the little circle or
nobility, the middle classes, ana the
more numerous peasants. IL Is ue-
tendency of the greater state on lne
west and possesses no reigntng mousse,
but its affairs are governed by council
of the mobiles, who in turn elect one OF
their number as over-Iord, or gofe'nor;
Five years before. this governor nao
member of the council, by name Count
Won Holleun, who thereby assumed the
title of chancellor. The title in this in
stance appears to have been an empty
for Won HOlleun Ddu TCCClNCo NhO
honor in return for having placed at the
disposal of the state-in the nature nf
l0an-his, from the Brescia standpoint,
immense property. This loan was 10
run for five years and payment was
guaranteed by certain documents bear
ing the state seal and the signatures of
the members of the governing council.
For a few months the count enjoyed
his exalted position, though he did not
pretend to direct the course of the All
H.. =
shrewd in certain ways, but Of state.
craft he knew nothing.
But others made up for what he
lacked, as they also lacked his good
faith and straightforward honesty. By
accident he discovered that a plan was
on foot to ruin him both in purse and
reputation. Those shrewder than him
self had Matched a plot whereby he
should he proved traitor 20 the state
and imprisoned in a fortress, where
later he might be murdered at the con-
spiratOr's convenience. An open trial
would have proved dangerous, for the
evidence against him was of the finn
siest.
or course. this plot had its conception
in the determination to render the COL
lection of the loan impossible. and the
first care of his enemies would be 10
obtain possession of the documents With
which he must prove his claim. After
arresting hin4r- his house was to be
SSoiClCu pdpClS ldhChp
even If liberated, he would be power
less to regain his own whe nthe five
years had expired. In the meantime,
the conspirators might divide among
themselves, robbing the state so skill
fully none would be the wiser.
The day almost the hour, had been
set when the plot was discovered. His
secretary, a man devoted to his inter-
estS, earned everything and realized the
danger He II was who persuaded the
fn ha af OF n
pose of his enemies. By instant flight
with the papers the proof of the debt
against the state would remain extant,
and in the hands of the rightful owner.
But to leave Brescia with the docu-
ments on his person seemed almost i'm
possible. He was being watched close
ly, and the least suspicious move must
bring matters to crisis. And II was
there the ingenuity of the secretary
came into play. He succeeded mi
the count across the frontier
under the very nose OF the watchful
enemy. But Won Holleun was obliged
to leave behind his two children: a girl
of sixteen and his son, some two years
That they were fairly pro-
vided for. and scarcely stood in danger
from the conspirators, did not lessen the |
fathers grief. 1t was only after heat |
ed argument on the part OF the faithful
secretary that he consented TO save him
self and the papers: the latter in order
that his children might profit in the |
end
But, having escaped across the
safety was by no means as
sured. Hungary. Austria, and Russia |
were hardly safe havens of refuge. |
Urged by the secretary, the count fed
to France, only to discover he was be- |
ing followed and spied upon. England |
itself, for the methods usual |
in the Balkans coud scarcely be en- |
ployed there with safety to the con-
SDiratOrs Again the secretary used his |
wits and Won Holleum so far thwarted |
his enemies to cross the channel Sc
cretly.
A Confirmation of This Story VIII |
Re Found In Tomorrow,.