Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-04-24

E lectors' passion for these things.
: would appreciate it very much II thu
Baroness would read this to me now.
"Just one more then" the BaroE
conceded. swiftly changing his ground
MY wife Is not strong and the doctor
insists on early TO bed and q Ions
} nights Sleep"
The Baroness was now standing By
the cedar box and neither her voice moi
her face betrayed the terrible import
of her words. Her eyes were on the
glowing vellum IN her hands.
"They want TO kin me because
know Something-I found a secret so
ciety meets in the caStle-he loves his
name and his lands-he Is rich because
he sells what he knows to enemy spies
he works In the war department
lives on the nfeblood Of his country
I am q priSoner-they are afraid
viii tell want TO go home
She laid the vellum down. Nash
picked it up and looked at 1t intently,
commanding his brain to think-think.
The silence in the room was so In
tense it seemed to be chopped into
fragments by the measured tick of the
clock. Beautiful" he said fervently
especially the passage where the wind
/ tears up the tent and the last hope Is
gone" He spoke now in Persian as If
he read the last lines again. Find a
way for me to meet you. I viii plan
| your escape. am in the room with
deer forest carved on the fireplace.
Send me message"
Flick came to the bed and woke him
quietly in the darkness of early morn
ing. Nash told the dog not to growl,
sat up and saw his door opening soft
~ The visitor was carrying a candle
and did not switch on the light. She
was a peasant girl with a smudged
face and a basket Of brushes on her
arm. Nash waited for her to bring him
message, but she did not. After clos
ing the door she went straight to the
hearth and knelt down before it. He
watched her. She brushed induStriously, !
took out the charred wood and began J
to lay q new fire. There were big black I
gloves on her hands. Odd, for q Ger /
man kitchen grill He looked at the /
contour of cheek and chin as the light |
flickered over 1t. 'Marianl" he whiS-
pered, ''Adarianl"
She turned and looked up at him
yes 1t Is I. Don't get up. must stay
where I am in case anyone comes"
Then quickly, Marian-explain to
me. I will return to Berlin today. You
viii go out and hide and I win pick
you up in the park"
She laughed ruefully under her
breath. "n I could do that could
easily escape myself. I can't get out Of
the SchloSS without being seen. Every
door is watched-the servants have
been trained to believe I am crazy"
Then viii go to the embassy and
arrange to have you rescued"
mo use at all. would be dead be- /
fore they got me. Some curious ac-
He wouldn't dare If they were look {
ing for you"
SHe would. His accomplices are pow I
srful people in high places. Their rep
ltations are at stake, too. I was ex-
Oloring the SchloSs one day because
vas terribly lonely and had nothing {
% do. In the turret I found the way q
Town into a secret chamber and S
'aw what I saw. 1t would be more dams I
yerouS for him to let me escape than e
% murder me before their eyes. I A
COULDN'T even stay on in the country If :
got free-not that I'd want to-" b
She sat on the fur hearth rug with o
brush in her hands ready to turn o
lack to the fire If the slightest sound o
hould be heard. lotto is q little mad b
limself," she said; mo one believes b
/, but I'm sure of it. He lives for the -
ichloSs and the lands the tradition
nd the name. His father dissipated
he Heiling money. He was penniless
vhen I met him. He can be extremely
fascinating. I thought he really loved
re. A lot Of my money was used to
estore the Schloss and put the estate
/ order. The rest was In American
onds and disappeared in the depres-
on. We was in terrible straits for a
me and he nearly went out Of his
lind.
Suddenly It was all over. There was
loney for everything. He was rich
gain. He had a salary at the war de-
artment and he said he had been
taking fortunate Investments Then
found my way into that secret place
nd heard enough to know what was
)ing on before they looked up and
W me standing In the doorway. Sasha
as there speaking in Russian. There
ere five others, two I recognized as
FL known foreign diplomats from the
erlin embassies. There were maps
read on the stone tables. Otto hur-
ed me away, and have never been
lephone, go into the park alone, see
visitor or make any contact with
e outside world from that day to
is. When saw you in the dining
ON thought I really had gone
azy. I don't know why he let you
me. I am always under guard"
Good God, then how did you get
I live alone locked in a suite Of
pms in the turret. Hilda comes in
do the work. I gave her some Jewels
let me out and lend me her clothes
W she Is safe. She knows nothing
d Sasha loves her. He wouldn't XIII
II they told him to-but he has
ed to murder me"
There was a peremptory knock on
door and it opened Immediately
e Baron entered. I'm sorry to dis
b you, Herr Nash, but have a mes
Re recalling me to Berlin. I shall be
ring in half an hour I think it
uld be agreeable for you to start
h me.
I have my own car with me, Baron"
3 Nash, very taken aback.
Yes, yes, know. But 1 would like
! to join me at breakfast, and there
be nothing TO stay for when I am
le." Nash yielded gracefully to the
Vitaole. "Of course. will dress at
e and join you in a few minutes"
'etore he went the Baron turned TO