Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-08-05

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mad at length unclosed his eyes. The
next moment his glance fell on me,
and he showed unmistakably his anx-
iety to address me.
II stepped hastily to his side, and
knelt down to catch the taintest whis-
per.
Can you speak,? 1 asked. II so,
tell me now this happened"
"He made a feeble movement as
though to rise. | bent over him with
my ear close to his lips.
1.-The cripple-the papers he
gasped, and ceased.
THAT was all. | was destined to
hear no more. Corpses make no con-
fessons."
The ambassador allowed a decent
interval to pass, as if to proclaim his
respect for the memory of the MUIR
dered statesman. Then he resumed:
Poor Starovitch had hardly drawn
his last breath when the chief of police
rushed in, at the head Of staff Of Of
ficers. He frowned when his glance
encountered me there by the side Of
the dead man; but instantly softening
his expression he advanced respectful
ly, and said to me:
81 perceive that have arrived too
late. Perhaps, NJ. lie Baron, your friend
was able to give you some hint as to
the author of this abominable crime?
ctn n
and replied with the most perfect cool
ness:
"'No, unfortunately. NJ Starovtch
expired, on the contrary, just as he
was on the point of commencing a
declaration
THE truth of this assertion was con
frmed by the doctor and the other per
sons who had been present during the
scene.
I'm that case said the chief, pre-
serving his compOsure, i must proceed
to make my investigation from the
clues which are already in my pos
session.
Il bowed in silence, and took my de
parture, returning home with Montai
embert, to whom | said nothing about
the anxietles which were torturing me.
"The moment | had reached my own
house, however, / sat down and wrote
an order to a certain manufacturer In
Vienna with whom had formerly had
dealings, to forward me without delay
one of those shirts composed OF steel
inks which are sometimes worn by Of
hcers engaged in warfare among saw
age tribes.
you will have recognized, OF course,
my motives for saying nothing to the
police officials. Where political con-
sderations are involved, the police are
not to be depended on. If the crime,
which had just been committed were
the work of private individuals, on the
other hand, had no doubt that the po-
lice would prove equal to the task OF
bringing them to Justice"
"All | did was to dispatch tele-
gram to Dourenskl, in the cipher which
he had requested me to employ, in
forming him of what Lad occurred, and
urging him to return Immediately.
"The news of the tragedy must IN
any case have reached him within
few hours. The most profound i'm
preston was created all over Europe
by this assassination Of a statesman
whose name was as familiar to the
public as that of Prince George him
self
at is needless for me to describe the
sensation produced in the principality
itself. So great was the agitation and
alarm in the capital, that the govern
ment gave orders that the funeral OF
the murdered premier should take
place at night, and should be attended
by no one except few public func-
tonaries, and the immediate relatives
and friends of the deceased
"The funeral was fixed for the sec
ond night after the murder, and it was
of course necessary that | should be
present. In accordance with the Gus
tom of the country there were to be no
carriages, the coffin being carried by
friends, and the other mourners follow.
ing on foot. This was the first time
that | had ventured outside my door
since the events have described, and
before putting on my overcoat l could
not forbear gancing fearfully at the
place where | had discovered the
white thread.
Judge of my CONSERVATION, when |
tell you that beheld the fatal token
there once more! The assassins had
foreseen that should be obliged to at
tend the funeral and had conceived
the atrocious idea of dispatching me
on my return.
"My first feeling was one Of over
powering horror; my next, of truly un'
governable rage. Leaving the thread
in its place, | swore that l would keep
the assignation which these wretches
had prepared for me, and teach them
the danger of attacking brave man.
Luckily my mail shirt had arrived
from Vienna that very day; and con-
graduated myself on having had 1t
sent to me from a quarter the least
likely to provoke suspicion. l retired
to my room instantly and put it on.
While was adjusting it, sent for my
attache and told him everything-that
is to say, everything except what bore
on my suspicious as to the real motive
of the conspiracy.
"Montalembert was young man
who had real courage and intelligence.
AS soon as had explained my inten-
tions, he eagerly consented to accom-
pany me, and to assist me in the man.
ner which | pointed out to him. We
then left the house together and ar
rived in time to join the funeral pro-
cession just as it was setting out for
the cemetery.