Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-22
yEHAPTER XIV (Continued)

M HrIt Is the trifles of the world which
T&H0ke or prevent its great disasters
~ man with the lantern at the bridge.
81 had at Brod did not know that he held
{<h4 destiny of Europe in his hand. And
yet this is the truth Had he permit
Z fed us to pass unquestioned we should
: have reached Sarajevo in time TO pre-
Vont the greatest cataclysm of all the
aees."
Marishka turned toward him, her in
q AtereN now fully aroused.
What do you mean?"
"war, Countess Strahni--the mos
\ bloody <he history of tbs
world--the event that striren al
my life to prevent All of Europe Is
ablaze. Millions of men are marching
v--battles have already been Fought
''Horrible? l cannot believe
8 "It is the truth. n followed swiftly
upon the assassination at Sarajevo--
'Serbia :"
'Serbia first-then Russil-Grrmany
EBelgium-France-E1 too
"You are speaking the truth?'
II swear it
"And AUSTRIA"
y "Germany and Austria-against a
ring of enemies bent on eNterm'na''"s
"England-?"
And while with eager ears she
listened, he told her the history of the
long weeks, now growing into months
N which she had been hidden from the
world-including the defeat of the Aus
q frians by the Serhians along the brlna'
and the advance Of the Russians in East
Prussia and GaliCia
She heard him through until the end
questioning eagerly, then aware OF me
dreadful significance of his news l"r'
rettjng for the moment her own am
Ynosities, her own questionable position
T., the greater peril of her country-and
hts His country and hers at war
! against the world
Russia has won victories against
Austria--in Galicia?" she urged.
(. aYes-the Cossacks already are ap-
proaching Lemberg-
"Lemberg ,sr,,
rilonneters from us at the present
moment ,.
"And will they come-here?
II hope not" he said with SLOW
smile But Schloss Szolnok Is harulY
equipped to resist a siege OF l''oue' !"
ordnance" ,,"
The ingenuousness of her impetuo"s
uuestio1 seemed to amuse NM
"Io' he said Il am here becaI
well. because you--because hao no
other Hace 10 GO ~
"Will you explain
at see no reason why ! should hot'
I chose the place as a temporary lsims ,,e,,
Troy, nurs,lit. Your Illness marreu my
mans. The war continues to mar them'
~ "How?'
He smiled.
..-rba insect has curiosity, then?
schloss Szolnok has proved safe. ! nave
no desire to take unnecessary i''N'
s sss"You were pursued! ,o.ad
20 get away-here, but the otner S smI
a. this pass is now strongly suai Sret
Il could have gone through when sI l YrN. Ynu
S,,d Sam,ed pT probabIv have died If l had
zone on. Now it is 200 late. ,,,a You
See" ne said with shrug, i am au''e
cheerful about IT. ,,,,os hin, with an
She turned and examined n''' W."
.syou mean that - that to save my
life you--you have sacrihsea a., no'e
of winning through to Germany
.with you, yes-for the present. he
stea' she turned away and leaned upon
tns srwI think that IL have done you you
ssome injustice; Herr nfrdri naup'"''"'' ~
murrhured with an ellor''
aRmf ! cannot understand. The papers
which passed you through lung :"
signed by General I1p rs HSs'Ne'f of no further
service. An order for my arrest mas
been issued in Vienna, oon
"Your arrest? For taxing me "a he
For many things Anu "e
vyh What do you propose to do
"Remain here for the present ne ne
said slowly. 1T is doupttut :rhss Trhs
one would think OF seeklns US ,Honp The
sccnnJrvside. None of the peasants
Sorns 70 come within a league OF the
place, -. IT, si,od
ut seems, Countess Strahni,' he sala
slowly, smiling at her. that our w.
TONS are now reversed--you the captor
II the prisoner; Ana m yer, n,a,sing no
effort to escape. You have led cap
His phrases We're too well sIokSen' zen
and the look u y,sH ms me eSeS to S understand
tnat saardIy ali, that" he interrupted with a
short laugh. only, TINS morr,SS n, Ied cd
do not relish the notion OF being ue-
iivered into the hands of the pnuce, ."
= aYou think that | would DO that'
she questioned
"Wouldnt you
.i am am sure Of it. am no longer
under any illusions with regard rhiS tS
,,our sentiments toward nSseI. iniS
morning | uncovered my heart 70 you
and YOU plunged a dagger INTO W ',
was too much-beyond my deserts,
IN, no man for woman TO splt upo''
Countess Strahni. You are sun a
orisoner-as completely under my pow.
es though you and ! were the last
people upon the earth. nuo ,..s a
His tone was mild, but there was
K danth of meaning under 1t. . >,
ia "f-I can scarcely be unaware OF ~
she murmured: What are sou
TO do with me?' , ..o,, bere
4. "For the present we shall stay mere
I. until an opportunity presents
81 could GO alone tonight--and reacm
: Germany-without you. That Is not my
purpose. ,so 70 take me with
you?" !, o,aor-ves"
sand If the coast should no' oe
( clear"
& at shall remain
/ The situation was as she had SUPPOSE 81
&h,,t his motive-the real motive She
Srex, the wrap more closely around nei
Shroat and turned away from him agaln
rn escape from, him, That was the ON!
fhing she could think of now. Upon t tnt
road his attitude of firm conslderatloir.
= oh