The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-21
CONTINUED

he and the baron had quarreled. and at
the time of my friends departure from
Vienna 1t was pretty generally',under-
stood that there would be duel.
u never liked the baron" | said.
with grim smile that could not have
been misinterpreted but / hope to
heavens he isn't killed"
Mrs. Titus sighed ''rarnowsy is re
garded as wonderful marksman."
Worse uckr' growled Colingraft,
gloomlly twildling his thumbs
What kind of shot is the baronf"
asked Jasper junior hopefully.
No one was able to enlighten him,
but Billy Smith shook his head dole
fully.
"Maris Tarnowsy Is dead shot.
He'll pot the baron sure"
Hang II ALL. said |. and then lapsed
into a horriied silence.
When the Hazards and Smiths de-
parted the next morning they were in
full possession of all of 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. I do not
recall having seen two more intensely
excited. radiant women in my life than
Elsie and Betty Billy. They were in
an ecstatic state of mind. Their hus-
bands. but little less excited, offered
TO help MS in every way possible. and
to prove their earnest. turned the
PROV OF the motorboat down stream.
abandoning the trip1p the river in or.
der TO he in Vienna in case | should
need them for any purpose whatsoever
You may rest easy so far as | am
concerned. Mrs. Titus" said the young
diplomat. AS a representative of the
United States government can't be-
come publicly involved in this inter
national mudde. I've just got to keep
my lips sealed. II it were discovered
that knew OF all this. my head would
be under the snickersnee in no time at
all Swish Officially suicided"
At 10 O'Clock the next morning was
called to the telephone. Smith had
startling news to impart Count Tar.
nowsy and Baron Umovitch had en-
gagged in Il duel with pistols at sunrise
and the latter had gone down with Il
bullet through bis lungs! He died an
hour later. Tarnowsy. according to
the rumors flying about official Wen.
ua, was already on his way to Berlin,
where he would probably remain in
seclusiou until the affair blew over or
imperial forgiveness was extended to
him.
There was cause for satisfaction
among us, even though the baron had
fallen instead of the count The sen.
sational affair would serve 10 keep
Tarnowsy under cover for some weeks
st least and minimize the dangers at
tending the countess flight from the
castle. Still. could not help feeling
disappointed over the outcome of the
meeting. Why couldn't Count Taruow-
sy have been the one TO fall?
The countess. very pale and distrait,
gave utterance To her feelings in a
most remarkable speech She said:
This Is one of the few fine things
that Maris mas ever done ] am glad
that he killed that man. He should
have done so long ago. the beast. He
was-ugh!-the most despicable crea-
ture I've ever known"
She said no more than this. but one
could readily grasp all that she left
nnuttered.
Colingraft rather sententiously re.
marked to little Rosemary. who conld
not have comprehended the words of
course. well. little Rosebud. your
papa may be a spendthrift, but be ncv-
er wastes bullets"
Which was entirely uncalled for.
contend. ! was struck by the swif,
look of dread that Ieaped into Aline':
eyes and her pallor.
On top Of all this came the astonish
ing news by cipher dispatch from ole
Jasper Titus principal adviser In Lon
don that his offer Of 100000 hat
been declined by Tarnowsy two day.
before. the count having replied
through his lawyers that nothing short
Of two millions would induce him tc
relinquish all claims to his child.
l had been ignorant of this move in
the case and expressed my surprise.
u asked father to do 1t. Mr.. Smart,
said the countess dejectedly. 1T seem
ed the easiest way out of our difficult
ties-and the cheapest. Ere will never
give in to this new demand though
We must make the best of it,
But why did yon suggest such q
thing TO him?" demanded with heat
She looked hurt Because you seem
ed to think it was the right and hon
orable thing to do" she said patiently
Il do not forget what you said to me
days and days ago even though 1t may
have slipped your mind. You said
that bargain is bargain and-well.
had Mr.. Bangs write father just what
you thought about it."
There was a suspicion of tears in hel
voice as she turned away and left me
without another word. She was quite
out of sight around the bend in the
staircase and her little boots were
Gathering swiftly upward before
fully grasped the significance of heI
explanation-or. might better say
her reproach. 1t slowly dawned upor
me that | had said great many things
to her that it would pay me to remem
ber before questioning her motives In