The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-01
CONTINUED

Don't Z shout. Iohn"
Billy Smith regarded me speculative
~. II daresay MIR Smart nas read all
about the afrnir In the newspapers"
Il haven't seen anything about It In
the papers" said 1. trying to recover
my self possession which had sustained
q most tremendous shock
THANK nenvenr' cried Elsie de-
voutIy.
1.-The poor fellow Is almost distract
ed Really. MIR. Smart. we planned
this little visit here simply In order to
to take him ont OF himself for awhile
II mas been such a tragedy for him. He
worshiped the child" Ii was Mrs. Bill.
ly who spoke
"And the mother made way with
him." | queried. resorting TO sudden.
ly acquired cunning.
"lt is a GIRL" said Elsie In Q loud
whisper-"the loveiiest girl, The moth.
er appeared In Vienna about three
weeks or a month ago and whitf!--ofY
goes the child Abducted-kidnsped!
And the court had granted him the Gus
tody of the child. That's what makes
1t so terrible II she Is caught any.
where In Europe-well, don't know
what may happen to her. II ts Just
silly acts as this that make American
girls the laughingstocks OF the whole
world"
By this time l had myself pretty
well in hand
81 daresay the mother loved the
child. which ought to condone one
among her multitude OF sins. 1 take It,
of course. that she was entirely to
blame for everything that happened"
They AT once proceeded to tear the
poor little mother to shreds, delicateiy
and with tinesse, to be sure. but none
the less completely.
What was ner social standing In
New York;" / inquired
"Oh. good enough" said Betty Billy.
"She was in the sinartest set. ir that Is
recommendation"
To my disgust the three of them re-
fused to enlighten me further as to the
history. identity or character OF either
Mr or Mrs. Pless. but of course
knew that / was entertaining under
my roof by the most extraordinary
coincidence the Count and Countess of
Something-or-Other, who were at war.
and the child they were lighting for
with motives OF an entirely opposite
nature.
What time do we diner asked Mr..
Pless later. with suppressed yawn.
AT g. said Elsie promptly.
81 think I'll take a nap" said he.
With lanyuid smile and a little Haunt
OF his hand as II dismissing us. he
moved lapgudly OF. but stopped after
few steps to say to me, Wen ex-
plore the castle tomorrow. Mr.. Smart,
If it's jnst the same to you" He spoke
with very slight accent and in pc
culiariy attractive manner. There was
charm to the man. was bound to ad-
NIT. IL know Schloss Rothhoefen very
we'll. II Is an old stamping ground Of
mine.'
Indeed" said I. affecting surprise
81 spent a very joyous season here
not so many years ago. Hohendahi Is
a bosom friend"
] was eager to steal away to the east
wing with the news. so somewhat lat.
sr knocked at the countess door. I
realized that 1t was a most unseemly
hour for calling on young, beautiful
and unprotected lady. but the exigen
cies of the moment lent moral support
to my invasion.
The countess French maid peeret
out at me.
Tell your mistress that I must sex
her at once"
Madame is not at home. m'sieur,
said the young woman.
"Not at homer I gasped- "Wher,
II she?"
Madame has gone to bed"
"Oh"' ] said blinking. Then she l,
at home Present my compliments ant
ask her to get up. Something very ex
asperating has hap
Madame has request me to inform
m'sieur that she knows the count d
here and will you be so good as to cal
tomorrow morning"
what! She knows hes here7 Wht
brought the informationT
The bountiful Max. m'sieur. III
bring II with dejeuner. again with din
er and but now with the hot water
m'sieur."
"Oh. I see!" said profoundly. 'Tr
that case I-shan't disturb her,"
Very stiff1y and ceremoniousiy 1 ad
vised caution for the next twelve hour
and left.
| Now II may occur to you that any
self respecting gentleman In possession
of castle and grain Of common
/ sense would have set about to 6nd on
the true names of the guests beneath
his roof. But it so happens that
rather enjoyed the mystery. The situ
alton was uliQue. the comedy mos
exhilarating. or course there was I
tragic side to the whole matter. but
now that was In for It. why mini
mize the novelty by adopting arbitrary
measuresf Somewhat gleefully de
cided that 1t would be good fun d
keep myself in the dark as long Al
possible.
When ] reached the room where m.
guests were assembled ] found Mr.
Pless and the Baron Umovitch engas