New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-04

for the night and still AVOID disclosures. ndl
not circumstance ordered that the Countess
and should be working in the garden at the
very moment that brought them pounding
at the postcrn gate. Old Conrad opened
the gate in complete ignorance Of our pres
cncc in the garden The quartet brushed
past the old man. and |, hearing their chat
ter foolishly exposed myself.
shall not attempt 10 describe the scene
that followed their discovery OF Countess
Tarnowsv. Be it said, however, 10 the
credit Of Elsie and Betty Billy, the startled
refugee va, fairly smothcred in kisses and
tear, and almost dcafcncd by the shrill, de-
lighted ordinations that fell from their
eager lips
They brought rather interesting news
concerning the Count It appears that he
and the Baron had Quarrclcd. and at the
time Of my friends departure from Vienna
it was generally understood that there would
be duel
When the Hazards and Smiths departed
the next morning they We're IN full possession
Of al orr plans, hopes. and secrets; but they
were bound Toy promises that would nave
haunted them throughout all eternity they
allowed them 10 be- violated. They offered
10 help Us in every way possible, and, TO
prove il. abandoned the trip up river IN
order To- be- in Vienna in ease | should need
them for any purpose whatsoever.
Al ten O'Clock the next morning | was
called 10 the telephone Smith had start
Eng news 10 impart. Count Iarnowsy and
Baron Umoyitch had engaged in duel
with pistols AT sunrise. and the latter had
gone down with bullet through his lungs.
He died an hour later. Tarnowsy was al
ready on his way 10 Berlin, where he would
probably remain in scclusion until the affair
blew over or imperial forgiveness was cX-
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 flight
from the castle.
The Countess, pale and distract, gave ut
tcrancc 10 hcrtccllngs IN most remarkable
speech. She said. This is one Of the few
fine things that Alaris has ever done. am
glad he killed that man. He should have
done SD long ago-thc beast He was ugh.
the most dcspicablc creature I've ever
known
On top Of all this came the astonishing
news. bv cipher despatch from old Jasper
Titus's principal adviser in London, that his
offer Of one million dollars had been de
cincd by Tarnowsy two days before. the
Count having replied through his lawyers
that nothing short of two millions would in
ducc him 10 rclinquish all claims to his child.
had been ignorant Of this move in the
case. and expressed my surprise.
81 asked Father to DO it, Mr.. Smart. said
the Countess dclcctcdly. 1T seemed the
easiest way out Of our difficulties. and the
cheapest. He will never give in 10 this new
demand, though. We must make the best
Of it,
But why did YOU suggest such a thing to
him?" | demanded with heat.
She looked hurt Because YOU seemed
10 think it was the right and honorable
thing to do, she said patiently. 81 90 not
forget what YOU said to me days and days
ago. even though it may have slipped your
mind. You SAID that bargain was a bar
gain, and-wcll. | had Mr.. Bangs write
Father just what you thought about it.
There was a suspicion of tears in her voice
rs 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 rcproach. 1t slowly
dawncd upon me that ! had said a great
many things to her that it would pay me to
remember before questioning her motives in