The Washington herald., 1915-01-31

| ly. He was killed little more than an
hour ago-that's the amazing part Of it!'
"KflledT' Cleek hunched up his shoul-
ders and gave vent to a little clicking
sound, and sat very '"I for a moment.
Then, How did it come about?"
He was carrying the original texts Of
several secret treaties. The Hungarian
government had been having them drawn
up here in the embassy, and Count Esta-
mar, the father. had a lively dread lest
the nature of the contents should have
leaked out and an attack be made upon
the young man."
"One moment please. Did any one in
London know that these treaties were be-
! ing copied?'
''Only one-his secretary, Fritz Tarles-
chen, a young man absolutely devoted to
| the family and equally incapable of be-
! traying his master even if he were un-
| grateful enough"
why ungrateful?" asked Cleek quickly.
Because he owes his life to young
| Count Egon. Several months ago he fell
overheard while on board a pleasure
yacht, and Count Egon jumped in after
him and rescued him. But the nervous
shock had injured his throat, and he was
rendered incapable of speech"
"A bonny boy, indeed" said Cleek with
an approving nod of the head. 1T doesn't
seem as if anything could leak out If
this secretary was unimpeachable.'
"Oh, yes; they are sure of him. 1t was
Fritz Tarleschen who copied the treaties,
and got them ready for his young master
to take to Dover this morning by the n:4O
from Victoria. And SOL say. what the
dickens are you muttering about? I don't
believe you're listening"
Cleek gave a dry little smile and
twitched up his head.
"Oh, yes, I am, Mr.. Narkom," said he
serenely. But that name-Tarleschen-
it sounds familiar. But of course not!
He couldn't speak. Hmm, Nor he
pinched up his chin refiectively. WELL
90 on. Then what happened?'
We'll, when the papers were ready,
Count Estamar came down to me private
ly and asked me to appoint two plain
clothes men to watch over his son from
the time he left the Hungarian consulate,
at II o'clock, till he reached Dover, when
the papers were to be handed over to
another envoy. The count thought that
he could trust no one better than his own
son. Well, it seems, as far as I can
make out, that young Estamar came out
of the consulate, presumably with the pa
/ pers; had a taxi summoned, and directed
to Victoria, in order to catch the I:40
i Dover express; and our men followed at
discreet distance. When he got to
Grosvenor road. however. he evidently
gave fresh directions to the driver, and
of he went to this empty house in Hare
bourn square, where he was blown to
pieces before their eyes. No sight or
sound of a bomb or shot-not a soul in
sight but the two police ohcers-the
house and room empty. as they could see
by their glasses. What do you make Of
it, old chap"
Him. said Cleek. And what has
been done so far?"
Nothing" admitted the superintend-
ent. Il had to communicate with Count
Estamar, who is nearly crazy, and has
had the body identified and removed by
special permission to his own house.
II see," said Cleek. We'll, I've fancy
to be out Of town myself, so you might
put Lieut.. Deland on the JOB this time;
and. with your permission, III use your
locker and fix that gentleman up. Tell
Lennard to drive round through the park
to Curzon street" And while Mr.. Mar
kom gave the necessary instructions his
famous ally pulled down the blinds, whip
ped open the useful receptacle, and was
soon busy in Transforming himself into
the smart young army ohicer who be-
longed to a regiment that never existed.
| Here we are at last" said Mr.. Mar
kom, as the limousine drew up in front
of Count Estamar's town house in Cur
zon street. Two minutes later they were
ushered into the presence of Count
| Friedrich Estamar himself.
Thank heaven you have come 50
swiftly" he said. But, alas! it is too
late. Oh, it is terrible-awfuly'
Cleek let his eyes rest upon the stricken
man. with an infinite pity in their depths.
He may have been Iured there" Cleek
said gently, and even as he spoke came
a sound, a sharp intaken breath, almost
like a gasp.
i He turned to look into the eyes of a
girl, sweet-faced and smiling, like
young lily sprung up suddenly in the
darkness of the somber room.
She was standing between the crimson
plush curtains that screened on one room
from the other, and it was evident that
she had heard Cleek's remark. He did
not need the introduction to tell him that
this 'as Adela, Countess Won Altburg.
nor did it need keen eye to detect that
she was suffering not only the pangs of
1 grief, but Of wounded love as we'll
"Lured there you said. Lieut.. De-
Iand,' she reiterated, when they had
seated themselves Then why did ne
have a key handy. and why was he talk
ing so earnestly to a woman, promising
to meet her at that same house only this
/ morning-so engrossed that he never
heard me call him? He had locked him
self in the study here, so that he should
not be disturbed. Lured, indeedi Oh, no;
there is no help for it. He was traitor
"a traitor to his country and to me. II
only / had known what it all meant I