The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-06
MAGAZINE

all went. l did not understand him at the
time, for I supposed that Anton and his
family still dwelt there. But without doubt
he wished to know what was being done
about the dead man-very few persons
come here, is it not so?'
Nobody, Lord Englishman. Nobody but
yourself"
well, see to it that you admit nobody
until the dead man is removed. When do
you bury him."
II have dug his grave. We bury him
tonight. I was just mailing him down when
you came," faltered the man uncertainty.
"Will you have help for the burial?"
eyes, lord. Another of the Great Lords
vassals."
''That is very we'll. Now let me see how
you have got on with your work, that may
report to the Great Lord of your progress"
Without asking permission he pushed
open the kitchen door and strobe in.
Upon three chairs, one at each end, one
sideways in the midst for support, a rough
coffin of deal boards had been placed
Planks had been nailed across it about half
way up, but the face of the corpse was still
exposed.
The face of slender of medium
height, with rough struggling locks of gray
which fell over his forehead, and shaggy
red eyebrows.
He still wore the clothes in which he had
died, leather sleeveless coat lined with
sleeps wool, and a brown under-jacket.
Varley felt sure that it was the peddler
whom he had seen with Beruna upon the
mountain path. The hands lay folded across
the body. They were partly covered by
the planking, but not quite. The fingernails
were visible, and the Englishman knew at a
glance that those were not the hands nor
the nails of Kilistrian peasant He felt
a thrill of horror, knowing that if he
touched the profuse gray hair it would come
off and show the head of different man
beneath. Stepping back, pale with the
shock, he caught his foot upon the peddler's
pack which was lying on the ground near.
He pointed to the tell-tale object, saying
hurriedly--
"You should not leave that about"
"No, Lord Englishman. l am going to
pack it away as soon as I have closed the
coffin"
"The sooner the BETTER" replied Varley,
staring upon the dead face. The sight of it
made all things insecure and unreal He
fancied an ambush among the dark groves
on the hillside-he discerned pattering
footstep in the trickle of the water which
flows muffled over the comparatively level
stretch whereon the cottage stands.
81 will tell the Great Lord that all will
soon be DONE" he muttered hurriedy; and,
thrusting another coin into the hand of the
amateur undertaken, he rushed forth into
the calm air of the mellow evening, repeat
ing to himself, 81 must think, I must think"
but knowing himself less capable of con-
nected thought than ever in his life.
The lights shone wanly, as all night they
had shone, in that room of the Nordern
embassy at Gailima where in the match be-
tween Evadne and the Prince of Grenzen-
mark had first been mooted, on the occa-
sion when Captain Rosmer had pointed out
the advantages of the hotel at Veros
The prince ambassador sat hudled in his
chair the stump Of his tenth cigar in his
stained fingers. His cheeks looked loose
and yellow, and the pouches under his
ever.
On a sofa near, Won Reulenz had fallen
asleep, and his hearty snores punctuated
the silence.
All night they had been in communica-
ton with their government, trunk calls pass
ing along the wires almost without pause;
for the news from Pannonia was critical.
No telegraphic messages were coming
through to Oesterland. A general massacre
of the Oestern garrisons was feared; and
Nordernreich, of all things, could not af-