Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

for the night and still avoid disclosures, had
not circumstance ordered that the Countess
and | should be working in the garden at the
very moment that brought them pounding
at the postern gate. Old Conrad opened
the gate in complete ignorance of our pres
ence in the garden. The quartet brushed
past the old man, and l. hearing their chat
ter, foolishly exposed myself.
| shall not attempt to describe the scene
that followed their discovery of Countess
Tarnowsy Be it said, however, to the
credit of Elsie and Betty Billy, the startled
refugee was fairly smothered in kisses and
tears and almost deafened by the shrill, de
lighted EXPLANATIONS that fell from their
eager lips.
They brought rather interesting news
concerning the Count 1t appears that he
and the Baron had quarreled, and at the
time of my friends departure from Vienna
it was generally understood that there would
be a duel.
When the Hazards and Smiths departed
the next morning they were in full possession
of all our plans, hopes, and secrets; but they
were bound by promises that would have
haunted them throughout all eternity if they
allowed them to be violated. They offered
to help us in every way possible, and, to
prove it, abandoned the trip up river in
order to be in Vienna in case | should need
them for any purpose whatsoever.
At ten o'clock the next morning | was
called to the telephone Smith had start
ling news to impart Count Tarnowsy and
Baron Umovitch had engaged in a duel
with pistols at sunrise, and the latter had
gone down with a bullet through his lungs.
He died an hour later. Tarnowsy was al
ready on his way to Berlin, where he would
probably remain in seclusion until the affair
/
tended to him.
There was cause for satisfaction among
us, even though the Baron had fallen in
stead of the Count The sensational affair
would serve to keep Tarnowsy under cover
for some weeks at least, and minimize the
dangers attending the Countess's flight
from the castle.
The Countess, pale and distract, gave ut
terance to her feelings in most remarkable
speech She said, "This is one of the few
fine things that Maris has ever done. l am
glad he killed that man. He should have
done SO long ago-the beast! He was-ugh!
the most despicable creature I've ever
known"
On top of all this came the astonishing
news, by cipher despatch from old Jasper
Titus's principal adviser in London, that his
offer of one million dollars had been de
clined by Tarnowsy two days before, the
Count having replied through his lawyers
that nothing short of two millions would in
duce him to relinquish all claims to his child.
l had been ignorant of this move in the
case, and expressed my surprise.
Il asked Father to do it, Mr.. Smart" said
the Countess dejectedly. at seemed the
easiest way out of our difficulties, and the
cheapest. He will never give in to this new
demand, though We must make the best
of it."
"But why did you suggest such thing to
him?" l demanded with heat.
She looked hurt. Because you seemed
to think it was the right and honorable
thing to do" she said patiently Il do not
forget what you said to me days and days
ago, even though it may have slipped your
mind. You said that bargain was bar
gain, and had Mr.. Bangs write
Father just what you thought about it.
There was suspicion of tears in her voice
as she turned away and left me without an
other word. She was out of sight round the
bend in the staircase before fully grasped
the significance of her explanation
might better say, her reproach. 1t slowly
dawned upon me that l had said a great
many things to her that it would pay me to
remember before questioning her motives in
any particular.
A S the day for her departure drew nearer,
y If wac now on1v fortyeiuht bourc