Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-06

would be In the thick Of all the plot.
tings. OF course. If that romantic
looking chap, Mirko, would take q
fancy to the stepdaughter, who is ma
turally favoured protegee Of Tur,
key, things might get uncomfortable
for Alexander in Dalvania."
What sort Of girl Is she?" asked
Christopher
They say beautiful, and quite a
woman. though only seventeen. The
mothers Catholic, and follows Euro
pean customs when in Europe; the
girl, Valda, has been brought up in q
Paris convent. Lately they've had her
spection: but nobody seems to know
whether the affair marches or not. u
Christopher would gladly have
learned more. but the source of in
formation was pumped dry, and he
Norburns so long from their engage
ment
"Rudovics is surely In this" Chris
topher said to himself; and suddenly
an idea of what he would do in Rudo-
vics' place sprang into the young
mans mind. If Rudovics had done
that-well, It would make things diff.
| ficult. But. perhaps after all, by
this time Mirko had some home. with
simple explanation to the mystery
Before seeing Eloise again he decided
to call for the second time at Lord
Dendon's house to make inquiries.
Has His Royal Highness Prince
Mirko come back?" he asked Of the
hall porter.
mo, sir; but His Royal Highness
Prince Peter has arrived from Paris, "
was the answer.
Christopher thought for a moment,
and then scrubbed few lines on a
card for Prince Peter. whom he had
never seen. Presently he was invited
to enter the library, where he had
once been received by Mirko, and
there stood the younger brother, a
surprising likeness of the elder.
Such a face as Peters could be
trusted for loyalty, If not for pru-
dence, and Eloise had said that the
boy knew of the engagement. Now
Christopher claiming friendship with
Mirko and Miss Dauvray, spoke with
partial frankness Of his suspicious.
81 believe" he said, that somehow
the Dalvaniah ambassador has got
wind Of the princes engagement, and
has tricked him, by means OF a letter
which your brother received this
morning, into calling at the embassy.
There he'll keep him, If my idea Is
right until after the appointed we'd
ding day, perhaps indefinitely, to
separate him from Miss Dauvray, and
If possible to bring about a. marriage
with his stepdaughter.
Great heavens, sir" The day that
by brother marries Valda will be the
day of my DEATH" exclaimed Peter
II love her-she loves me. But Mirko
doesn't know. He might take her
without dreaming that he wronged
me; and Valda Is so young that she
would not dare thwart her stepfather
| have been with Mirko often at the
embassy and the first moment l saw
Valda / loved her-as II was with my
brother and Miss Dauvray. knew
I had nothing to fear from his rivalry,
so / kept my secret, though l knew
his; for there seemed no hope Of mar
riage for me until my brothers rise
in fortune should give me something
to offer-and I feared he would dis
approve. as we are both so young.
Mirko sent me to Paris some days
ago with a letter to friend Of his
who is enlisting recruits and raising
money. But yesterday came a tele-
gram from Valda, forwarded to me
from his house-U don't know who
could have helped her, unless her
maid)-begging me to come back, as
she foresaw trouble / wrote my
brother / must return. wound up his
affairs as well as 1 could, and here
am, only to find that trouble has
come indeed. What shall I do? Shall
l demand Mirko at the embassy"
Certainly not" said Christopher.
But I'll tell you what you might do
elope with Mile. Valda. That would
be a valuable move. If her maid
helps her to send off secret kilograms,
she will help smuggle you into the
house. Do you know her name?"
"Anastasia," replied Peter.
Disguise yourself as a man of her
own class, and ask for her at the
servants door. II you can get Mile.
Valda out of the embassy before the
day fixed for Prince Mirkos wedding
with Miss Dauvray your brothers.
happiness as well as your own will be
assured. Take the young lady to
Scotland with her maid for chaperon,
and marry her quickly: afterwards
you can do things again in proper
form. If her stepfather or her mother
knows nothing Of your love, neither Of
you will be watched or suspected
you ought not to have great difficult
ties; and I'll lend you my motor car
for the elopement."
What! The Scarlet Runner, Of
which my brother wrote? But that
will bring me luck"
II hope so, for everyone concerned"
said Christopher, II can't take you
myself. for | shall have business in
London; but I'll get you a good
chauffeur"