The Washington times., 1911-07-04
CHAPTER w.
Across the Frontier.

N ing of brakes. and the hiss
" of escaping steam the eX.
press came to a stop.
opened my eyes and stared at Morgan
across the compartment He had thrown
aside his rug and was tigging at the
fastening OF the window. The glare oi
the rising sun struck full in my face,
but outside 1 could see. as through q
haze. a stretch Of green landscape and
a background Of somber-colored noun
tains. AS got upon my feet, Morgan
succeeded in dropping the window with
What is it-an accident?'' I asked.
He leaned out and looked up and down
the row Of cars; then drew in his head
and replied:
building of any description in sight, so
we cannot have stopped at station.
Perhaps something on the line ahead,
or a breakdown to the engine"
looked out. The doors of several of
the carriages had opened and some OF
the passengers had clambereG to the
ground. A guard was hurrylnG along
the side Of the train. and l called to
him:
What is the trouble, and where are
we?' asked.
I'VE have stopped on signal: and are
3ust across the border" he growled.
ain Brescia'"
A bare half mile and at the begin
ming of a long ascent. The deuce take
them for stopping US here! 1t will be a
fine affair-getting started once more. "
And he shrugged his shoulders and went
off muttering forcibly.
You might have asked him TO unlock
the door," Growled Morgan over my
shoulder. so we have stopped on sig
nal, have we? Apparently not usual
procedure. And Just over the line-into
Brescia-"
l reached down and awaited the han
die OF the door; the lock clicked and l
pushed the thing open. My foot was
already on the running board when l
felt Morgans grasp on my shoulder.
"Wait!' said he sharply. Il believe
we are going to have little excitement.
have been expecting something-eNer
since we crossed the line into AUS
tria"
! booked at him blankly. and a faint
smile came into his eyes.
Perhaps forgot to mention IL, but l
have a pretty fair idea we are. or at
lot of the ordinary stranger who elects
10 visit Brescia. 1t is not every traveller
no can eXpeot an escort furnished by
Inc government when crossing this from
tier. Robinson"
"a what" l demanded.
"A red-legged escort: a reception COM
mittee that has so far troubled itself
as 10 hold up an express train, prooaolE
some miles from the nearest station II
Eou'll inst glance outside you may catch
nv meaning" he replied.
followed the suggestion, and the first
object upon which my gaze rested was
q little group of horsemen advancing
from the direction of the engine. The
riders were clad in green tunics, tight
fitting scarlet trousers, and carried
heavy cavalry sabers: one bore aloft
lance from the top of which f1uttered a
red flag. the signal which stopped the
train.
"A fine looking lot. are they not?' My
companion remarked
''Rrescian cavalry! But why should
they stop us' And what did YOU mean
bv an escort for us-or your l de-
manded.
He shrugged his bread shoulders.
"You might have guessed, but as you
have rot. perhaps / can enliShten you,
he replied. 1T is that internal match
safe 1t was known that ]. Morgan left
Paris en- route for the south. You may
he sure the SOY understood his business;
that business was TO keep tabs on one
Morgan who dropped a match box OUT
eide the door of room No. S. To tele-
graph TO the government of Brescia that
II might be the part of wisdom to keep
an eye open was the most natural thing
in the world. II was known l left Paris
at a certain hour; nv arrival III Vienna
did not escape observation. A wire in
formed the governor of Erescia that n
gentleman named Morgan would arrive
at his capital on certain express and
Mt q certain hour. The Baron Won Sell
dorf became interested in the stranger
who was so careless rs to drop a match
Eafe, inscribed with his name. outside
the door Of the man who was supposed
TO carry on his person the papers prov
ing the debt of his sovereign state to
the heirs of the Count Won Holleun. De-
string to ask a few questions, he dis
patches an escort which. having held up
the train on which this stranger Is
passenger. has orders to convey him
to a place of safety, where the governor
can carry on his investigations unmo-
Tested.
perhaps. under ordinary circum-
stances, nothing would come of 1t; for
search would reveal nothing, and
should be liberated with an apology.
Just now. however, It happens that
carry upon NV person the papers the
government Of Frescia desires to OBJ
tain. To resist half a dozen cavalry
men, who have stopped the express for
the sole purpose of arrestinE me, would
profit nothing. for their orders are
doubtless imperative When several
million is at stake. the government Of
Prescia will scarcely hesitate at taking
into custody n foreigner VINO. by cross
fnE it's border. has placed himself iii its
power"
his intention Of visiting BresCia and
hunting I'D the Countess Won Holleun,
I had looked upon the plan as a piece
OF foolish rCcklessness; but pride had
not permitted me. TO refuse to accom-
tope that there would be nc danger in
4he undertaking. Now. this hope was
rudelv shattered: for. at the very out
set he--and ! did not propose to desert
hin-was to be arrested and treated rs
an enemy Of the country into which
We had ventured. And. from what
had heard Of the governor Of Brescia,
Ne would not hesitate to employ eX-
freue measures in the case of one who
knew Of the existence Of the fateful>
documents I could sec Morgan thrown
ont Of the way. and no one the wiser.
Looking from the window I could see
that the squad Of cavalry had halted,
and one. evidently an officer, had dis
mounted. This fellow was approaching
;ba1 string of motionlesS carriages, ac-
coTnnanied bv a train-Euard. who mani.
tested the utmost Difference for the
Official. Seized by ar in
sriration | turned to Morgan, who was
rerarding the scene with calmness
entirely out of keeping with the situ-
alton.
IONS: then, If they search YOU. they will
find nothing" / whispered
(which would probably mean losing
them for good and all. and have not
come SO far for that If those fellows
are not fools they will not neglect to
search the compartment before permit
ting the train to proceed" he an
Another plan flashed into nv mird,
DutT hesita tad. Then the knowledge that
II was cowardice which held my tongue
banished the scruple.
"Ciive them to me" suggested.
He shook his head.
fa1afhar and will scarce |