The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-01-10

"Are you sure you weren't fol-
lowedT' she said. II mean, II you
were, they now know you're in touch
with me-"
"I'm sure l wasn't" said l.
With my words the car stopped at
the church.
swell, you can't get out here" said
the girl. 1--WE must find much Quieter
place. Besides, you must hear my
story. sit back in the car and don't
move. It's only quarter Of nine"
She gave some direction to the
chauffeur and then sat back in her
seat.
my father died last November, leav-
| ing my brother and me. We're Aus
trian, you know: but my mother
taught me English-she was American.
| My brother is younger than am, and
he's away just now: so rather run
the castle, although, Of course, he's
the Count This duty takes me to
Salzburg once a month. 1 made the
journey by car four days ago. On the
way an attempt was made to waylay
| me, and when / got through was
driving - they chased me for thirty
miles. I had a man with me called
Florin. Three generations of Florins
have served our house. His fathers
my warden - has charge of all the
keys. Well, six men act as night
watchmen, taking the duty by turns.
| Old Florin chooses the men, and his
son was one of the six. He was on
duty last night, and this morning he
| couldn't be found" Her voice be-
gan to quaver, and 1 heard her smoth-
| err a sob.
To see her so near to weeping must
have wrung anyone's heart.
"I'm most dreadfully sorry" safl.
"And if you'll let me help you, We'll
| bring the blackguards to book. But
you see my cousin was right. Florin
was nothing to them, but he got in
their way
"Yes," said the girl, "that's clear.
The night-watchman got in their way"
| With a sudden movement she turned.
But you must keep out of this. Can't
you go homer"
I'm not going home" said I, "till
I've seen this through"
"Don't be foolish" she said. "This
quarrel is mine-not yours. Young
Florin was not your man. Besides,
you can do no good because they've
| got your number: lift finger against
them and they won't do another thing
till they've put you out"
"The point Is this" said /. "That
you don't want to fight them with me
is natural enough. I've given you in
formation which it was right you
should have, and that, frankly ad-
nit, is the end of my duty to you:
but l owe that dead man duty, and
I'm going to do it."
I broke off to mop my face. my
cousins with me-" added, "and so is
his man."
II WISH" said the girl, II could have
a word with your cousin. Do you think
he could meet me this evening at-at
a farm that know"
9Th bring him with me-" said /,
wherever you Please.
Lady Helena looked away.
"You can come if you like" she said.
"But want to see him."
Then she took up large-scale map
and showed me the farm. This went
by the name of Plumage and lay some
four miles from Annabel, quite by it.
self.
Eat five O'Clock, then?" says she.
nodded. ~,
1--WE shall be there"
sand now" she said, II must drop
you. Please don't stand still when
you're out: start walking at once. And
thank you very, much for doing your
dus5p to me. And-and don't forget
that that's ended"
AS / took her slim hand, her steady
gray eyes met mine.
"True," said I. "But my duty to
Florin remains: and I'm not so sure
as I was that he called upon me for
vengeance"
"What else?" said the girl.
"He loved his Mistress" said. "As
he died, he may have been thinking
that she would be short of a man."
And then I went out of the car and
was ,sanntering down the pavement.
Except for a crone with a bucket,
there seemed to be no one in sight.
AS the Rolls swept over a crossing
and on to the Salzburg road
"I'm almost sure" said Godfrey,
shat we've stolen a march on our
friends. OF course they may stick to
Barley. but that doubt. And In any
event he'll give them the slip at Salz-
burg"
"At Salzburg?" I cried.
"That's right" said my cousin. Hell
be in that city tonight. Tomorrow he'll
come back to Villach, and there we
shall pick him up as soon as it's dusk"
you're taking no chances" said I.
"D'you blame me, John? I mean,
the return of your letter was pretty
good work. Talk about a riposte. >.
And you may have been seen with
my lady; in which case, as she OBJ