The Washington times., 1911-07-16
CHAPTER XII (Continued).

POSSIBLY, ana especially IL tnls pre-
cious governor gets his hands on u.s."
remarked dryly.
1T is evident you regret having Joined
me; but, now that you are mere. fancy
you will stick 1t out
Naturally, until our errand Is accom-
plshed. 1t Is fortunate We have Shul-
nof with US; doubly so that Haupmann
turns out to be related 20 our Paris
victim. / have the idea we could not
have worked this out alone.
Perhaps not, one never knows before
hand" answered Morgan carelessly.
But l knew he would have gone ahead
had he come alone to Brescla with the
papers.
For half an hour we smoked and
watched the ever-changing crowd which
drifted in and out OF the sarden.
was watching group seated al table
Morgan's hand upon my arm. My back
was half turned to the entrance, but at
a sign from him l changed my posi-
ton.
two were strangers. but their cOmpan-
ions were young Won Holleun and Cap
taain Haupmann. 1t did Iot surprise
me to see the former. but that Haup-
mann had returned SO soon. and in
such company, was unexpected.
"What?" l began. but Morgan inter-
rupted.
Take your cue from the captain; un-
less he recognizes us openly, lie low"
he cautioned.
The newcomers glanced around the
garden, evidently looking for a vacant
table. A little beyond where we were
sitting. and near shallow fountain,
several were unoccupied. With Won
Holleun leading, the party advanced in
our direction.
1t did not require keen perception to
see that Won Holleun and the man be-
hind him had been drinking freely,
. hn,Y Oh tFVSG veil q
The third member of the party, thick
Set fellow, was in a dragoon's uniform.
Captain Haupmann brought up the
rear
Won Holleun stopped beside half
dozen tables exchanging pleasantries
with the occupants. The attention Of
nearly every one in the garden was di-
rected toward the party. and fancied
glance with his neighbor. Through the
crowd they pushed toward us. and
suddenly l saw Won Holleun's eyes meet
mine.
l had hoped he would pass. but there
was no such luck. He stopped directly
over US and nodded gOod-natu-edly.
The man behind him stared at US in
sOlently 1t was plain the fellow was
getting drunken every moment, for the
warm air OF the garden mad not i'm
proved his condition. Probably, under
ordinary circumstances, he possessed a
sullen disposition. and the fumes of the
wine in his head developed the trait
tenfold. 1t was evident that Won Hol-
leun's habit of stopping en- route to
their table did not meet with his ap-
proval, and his temper was rapidly get
ting the upper hand.
Who are they? l did not know you
knew any foreigners in the CITY," he
asked.
The young dragoon. only a little less
drunk, and in excellent numor, replied
fnS; 1G1dS guests of fee T@
Should know them, seldorf. l present
you to one another"
Possibly he had forgotten our names.
but it probably made little difference:
at least the governors son did not no
tice the omission.
The deuce!" he said. grunrly, Il did
not know the countess had been enter
tanning lately-and especially a pair OF
Englishmen. When We are married 1t
will be different"
Some of those at the nearest tables
began to laugh. The thlck-set officer
in the dragoon's uniform caught Won
Seldorf by the sleeve. Don't forget
yourself here" said he, sharply.
AS for our Brescian. he said nothing;
neither had he greeted us openly, save
by little nod which no one had OBJ
served
Won Holleun was smiling like fool.
Either he did net realize his compan-
ions condition. or wished to assume
authority before the crowd In the gar
den.
But not yet being married I presume
the countess can entertain whom she
pleaSeS, especially if l approve. And
1t was l who took them 20 the villa
yesterday; understand that, Seldorf."
he burst out.
stand he had been insulted; but, being
in his cups, made no discrimination.
His wrath fell upon us, VINO had not
uttered a word.
straining hand of the dragoon. he
lurched toward the table and brought
his fist down upon 1t so violently that
the glasses were sent jumping heaven
ward, the contents of one bespattering
Morgan and Won Holleun.
For the moment 1 feared my COM
panion would forget our position and
resent the insult by knocking the fellow
down. To have done SO must have
brought serious consequences. in that
the news would have quickly been all
over Brescia and turned the limelight
full upon us. But though dark flush
overspread Morgan's face. he gave no
evidence Of temper.
Take that drunken fool away before
he further disgraces the uniform Of
Brescia," said he, coldly, addressing
Captain Haupmann and the dragon.
But Won Holleun decided the affair,
and in a manner which permitted US to
fall into the background.
The major portion of the contents Of
the glass had fallen upon him, and on
the Instant his drunken good humor
vanished. With an oath his hand went
to his sword and half the BLADE flashed
from the scabbard.
The dragoon struck his knuckles
sharply, and snatched the hilt from the
relaxed fingers. But, though the young
fellow was weaponless. he did not give
over his purpose. Before anyone could
interfere, and the crowd had pressed in
upon US, he threw himself on Won Sell
dorf and together the pair crashed over
a table and became a tangled heap of
flying legs and arms upon the smooth
floor of the garden
A dozen hands reached forth, but now
both men were fighting in drunken
frenzy A well-meaning citizen received
a kick in the stomach which sent him
sprawling, the dragoon a blow from a
flying fist. For a moment the would-be
peacemakers hesitated, and in that
moment the affair was decided in a
manner entirely unexpected.
AS I have said, the table toward
which the party had been making Its
way was near the edge or a shallow
fountain. Scarcely dozen feet sepa-
rated the scene Of the contest from the
the two Brescians rolled across this
space and toppled over the edge into
two feet Of water.
hush In the garden. Then some one be-
gan TO laugh. 1t was contagious. The
whole garden rang with merriment ana
shouts Of advice directed at the men
| foundering in the water.
-, caIdorf WAS the first to rise His