Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-14
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR MAY IA. 1911


managed that he should do little more than
dream. Their methods-well, the less said
of them the better They re not new. Cath
arine de- Medici used them when poison or
dagger thrust was announcement. DlplO-
macy has stopped to base means to preserve
the. status quo in the Balkans Why it has
not even hesitated to make use of Miss
NIilburn"
"Of Ami Surely she hasn't knowingly
"Helped Rodoslav's enemies? No, no.
How can make it clear to youo They be-
lieved, these people, that if he fell in love
with her he would have no more thoughts
for politics, that she would be all in all to
him. But it hasn't turned out that way
Rodoslav must have taken Ann into his con-
fidence from the first. He has used her as
a shield to go on with his revolutionary
schemes. At least he thought she shielded
him. But he was mistaken. Every move
he made, every move he hopes to make, IS
known | can't tell him this, can't let you
tell him. I've given my word OF honor. l
can only warn YOU that he is most dangerous
company for anyone while he remains on
this soil. If you take Ann away, he may
follow and give up his wild hopes, save HIM
self"
But he had lost his auditor. Mrs. Blair
could see only the hysterical fugitive who
had fled to her in the night. Her one thought
was to gather her again under her protecting
wing. Buckley, painting in her wake, found
her alarm contagious, blundcred through
court and corridor after her, and SO came to
AIMS own room. The girls belongings lay
as she had disposed them last evening. Of
Ann herself there was no sign.
Chapter XVIII.
MRS. BLAIR turned bewildered from her
IVA survey. "She has packed nothing!' she
cried. II don't believe she has been near her
room since she left me-
"Snce she left your" Buckley 1abored for
composure. "When was that?"
"I don't know"
"But YOU must have some idea"
al mean did not hear her leave my room.
Ann came to me in the night"
"What?"
"She was nervous, and we slept together.
It's a lonely enough place by daylight; but
at night Neither of us wanted to stay
here any longer. We meant to get up early
and pack. But oversight. was tired out.
Ann must have seen that was tired, and
dressed without waking me. But why hasn't
she got her things together? l sham have
a moments peace till we find her."
"I'll rout out one of the servants" said
buckley, less calmly Jfld1l lie lHOuS1t. we III
probably find that she is exploring the
ruins"
By himself, his face became mirror of
acute dismay. He hurried through the APP
parently habitable quarter of the castle with
out meeting anyone except the puzzled
Truscotts, and, evading their solicitude at
his manner, made his way outdoors and
stared round at the more dilapidated wings,
uncertain which part to essay next. AS his
eye plumbed the archway leading to the en-
trance proper, it was lured across the outer
court to the gateway itself by the flash of a
cherry colored apron and he dashed to meet
its owner with precipitancy that so con-
fused the girl that his first linguistic broad
side was wholly wasted. His face treasured
her, however, and she promptly told all she
knew. She was the stewards daughter; but
she had no knowledge of Prince Rodoslav's
whereabouts. She had gone at an early
hour with her mother and sister to work in
the fields below. At the same time the men
of the family had left for their usual shep-
herding. 1t was understood that the Swiss
was to prepare breakfast for the guests. If
the lazy fellow had not done So then she her
self
Buckley quieted her hosptable concern
"But | want to talk to the valet" he said.