, 1924-10-22

The captain shrugged his shoulders
His highness Is needed in Denmark"
he said. sour secret service knew he
would be needed soone or later. and
when he disappeared we tried to find
him. Little by little we picked up the
trail. We learned of Archman and of
Morbach and Of the existence of chill
dren." His eyes wandered to Nellie.
"And now we have found him. In the
search we have had to dc things that
we regret but n cannot be squeam-
ish when kingdoms-even small ones
are at stake. Success excuses all !"
He shrugged his shoulders. Enough !"
he snapped. Lead me to his high
ness"
Archman bowed. "Come!" he said.
and turned toward the house.
Side by side the two mounted the
stairs and entered the door. Behind
them came the rest of the civilians.
The sailors, under the command of
the lieutenant, remained outside.
Archman threw open the door of the
room to the right Of the hall and usb-
ered in his companions. He took off
his hat as he entered; and the others,
after a gasp of comprehension. did
likewise.
In the middle of the room. on two
trestles. surrounded by flaring tapers.
rested a coffin draped in black, who's
open glass front revealed the figure of
a huge man whose waxen features
bore, even in death. an ineffaceahle air
of majesty and mastery. Archman
looked at him reverently. This is his
highness." he said.
The officer blinked. II recognize
him." ne said, after an instant. "He
Is not very greatly changed since l
knew him."
II. tool" Lord George stepped for
ward. ~ knew his highness years
ago. That was why I was selected by
my government to follow u clew asso-
ciated with Mr.. Archman and try to
find him. l recognize him. He was a
real statesman-one who gave promise
of being a powerful figure in Europe,
captain. Naturally my government,
like many others, was interested in his
strange disappearance. There have
been rumors of a great war. you
know"
Strindberg bowed. 81 thank you,
Lord Caruthers,' he said. His high
ness death will be a great blow to
Denmark. And his sons and daugh-
tiers? What of them?' he looked at
Archman.
He leaves no sonsl" Archman
spoke deliberately.
aDo~1a~- ft Il, 4, ~ ,,-atI Tho ~ rri W.
of his highness was morganatic and a
son might complicate matters. But "A
daughter would be different" III
captains eyes wandered to Nellie, who
stood hand in hand with Van Kull.
His majesty instructs me to say that
his feelings toward any daughter are
of the kindest. He offers her a title,
great wealth, and a noble husband
everything that the customs of our
country permit" The captain turne
to Archman. "You can. of course. fur
questioned.
"YesT" Archman rose from a safe
into which he had been delvlng and
came forward. In his hands he held a
sheaf of folded papers. "Yes!" he re-
peated. THE proofs are all here and
are In due order. His highness
to give them to his daughter yester-
day. Unfortunately he decided to walt
till today, hoping to be stronger. But
last evening he died. l was with him
when 1 received the news OF the arri-
delayed But the proofs are indubi-
table. l hand them to her who is more
concerned"
With a sudden gesture he placed the
papers In Nellie's hands. take them.
my dear!" he said. his voice breaking.
Van Kull dropped the girls hand
and stepped bnck. His face was very
white.
Nellie glanced at him. Then her
eyes circled the room, and she shrank
back slightly as she met the eyes cen
tered upon her. Then with a quick
indrawing of breath she spoke.
Captain ~Strlndberg." she said clear
ly, "'let me understand. Would the
daughter of his highness have to give
up her Americanism, her home, her
lover. her ali?"
The captain bowed. Madame" he
said. 1T would be almost impossible
for her to avoid doing so"
Nellie nodded. "And In return she
would get-what7 An Introduction to
n court of strangers. a sun OF money,
a husband picked out for her by some
n else7 I'm sorry. but the price is
too high |" With n sudden movement
she thrust the papers into the flame
of n of the tall tapers that burned
ut the dead mans hend.
As they famed up Strlndberg made
n sudden movement to snatch them.
Then, as abruptly. he deslsted and
stood still while the papers burned.