1(5 THE OM/VTTA DAILY BEE : SVXDAY , JTJXE 18 , 18 ! ) ! ) .
c. & u , ncnoN.
( Copyright , 103 , by Double-day & McClure
Co. All rights rccrved. )
CIIAl'TUK I.
A Mriiti-iiiint of I'roiillc-r Cnvnlry.
During four months of the year the In
dependent state of "Maasau , " wo will call
it which Is not very noticeable even on the
largest-sized map of Europe Is tormented
by a dry nnd wearying northeast wind. Anil
nowhere Is Its Influence more unpleasantly
felt than In the capital , Hcvondo , which
elands shoulder-on to the hustling gales , Its
Btatcly frontages nnd noble quays stretching
out westward ! ) along the shores cf the Kofn
almost to whcro the yellow waters of the
xlvor spread fnnwlse Into a gray green sea.
The tsa was blowing strongly on a certain
ffs'ovomber afternoon , cddlng and whistling
about the wldo spaces of the Grand square
ns John Ilnllywood , a tall figure In a mili
tary cloak , turned the corner of a side street
nnd met Its full blast. Ho faced It for
corao yards along the empty pavcmcntu ,
then ran up the steps of his club. A few
minutes later 1ic passed through a lofty corridor
rider nnd entered a door over which Is set
a. quaint Invitation to smokers , which may
not bo written down here , for It Is the
Jealously guarded copyright of the club.
It chanccil that the room for the moment
liad but one- occupant , who sat In n roomy
armchair by the whlto stove. This gentle
man did not raise- his head , but continued
to gaze thoughtfully at his well-shaped
though sqtlaro and comfortable boots.
Hallywood paused almost Imperceptibly In
3ils stride.
"Hullo , major ! Glad to see > you , " he said ,
las ho dropped Into an armchair opposite.
Major Counsellor stood up with his back to
the stove , thereby giving a view of a red ,
challenging face , heavy eyebrows and a huge
whlto droop of mustache. Ho looked down
nt Hallywood consideringly before he spoke.
' 'So you'ro hero ; I Imagined they kept you
jirotty closely on the frontier. The world
Ibeen kicking you ? "
Hallywood laughed.
"No , but It would do mo good to kick
Iho world , " ho answered as ho helped lilm-
Belf from the major's cigar case. "Five
years , almost six , spent on the frontier ,
with nothing to show for It , Isn't good
enough. I've come up to send In my pa-
porn. "
"Then you'll bo a fool , " returned the
major with decision.
Rallywood was busy lighting his cigar ;
when tliat was arranged to his satisfaction
lie sold easily :
. "Just so. History repeats Itself. "
f Counsellor stood squarely upright with his
[ ( hands behind ( him.
J < rAny other reasons ? " ho abked.
"Plenty. "
"Pity ! Are they serious or otherwise ? "
Rallywood pulled bis mustache.
"Why Is It a pity ? " ho asked slowly ,
i' "Because tliero Is going to bo trouble
hero , and with trouble comes a chance. "
Hallywood smoked on In silence. Ho was
n big , shallow-Hanked man with the marks
of the world upon him , and that Indescrlb-
nblo air which comes to ono who has passed
n good portion of his timeIn laughing at
the arbitrary handicaps arranged by fate
In the race of Hie.
"W'hero ' do you propose to go ? " naked
Counsellor after an Interval.
"Back to Africa , I think Buluwayo ,
Johannesburg , anywhere. South Africa's
Still In the bud , you see. "
"Yes , but It Is a biggish bud and will take
lmo to blow. You can afford to wait nnd
lt may bo worth your while. "
Hallywood throw a swift glance at Coun-
( sollor's Inscrutable face.
"Seven years ago , " ho said In a deliber
ate manner , "you told mo It was worth
ntillc , but llfo has not grown more Interest
ing since then. "
"Ah ! " Counsellor paused , then wont on
with a grim , smile , "at your age , John ,
there are possibilities. Think over It.
After hanging on hero for more than flvo
years why lose your chance- now ? Look at
those fellows. " Ho pointed out Into the
square.
Hallywood rose lazily and gazed out also ,
prospect was not encoring. A few
troopers , their cloaks Happing In the wind ,
were gaUoplug across the square on the way
to relieve guard nt the palace , and under the
Btatuo of the late granil duke on horseback
three men In tall hats stood talking to
gether ; then they turned and walked to
ward the club.
"Know them ? " asked Counsellor.
Hallywood shook his head.
"Tho man with the beard Is Stokes of
< ho Times ; next him Is Bradley ; he's on an
other big dally. Their being hero speaks for
Itself. Mnnsau Is going to take up people's
( attention shortly. The grand duke la In a
tight place , and there wilt be a llareup
sooner or later. "
"And you ndvlso in a to stop and sco It
through ? " said Hallywood meditatively from
the window ; then ho lounged back to his
Chair. "How will It end ? "
Counsellor shook the ash from his cigar.
"Selpdorf Is the man of the hour , " ho said.
On the mitumn evening when these two
men were 'talking ' at the club the duchy of
ilaasau was , In the opinion of Maasaun pa
triots , going ns fast as It could to the devil.
"With them , It may bo added , the devir was
personified and bore the name of a neighbor
ing nation. The ono person who Ignored this
fact was the grand duke. With nn Inset ,
stubborn prldo he believed that his country
must remain forever , as the long centuries
bad known It , 'Maasau ' the Free. This being -
ing the case , ho felt himself at liberty to
upend his tlmo In cursing the fate that had
refused blue peas nnd skies to wintry Ro-
\ondc , thus depriving It of these sources of
revenue which depend upon climate , and
which nro onlojcd by places far loss natur-
nlly beautiful than the capital of 'Maasau. '
The duke , prematurely aged by the man
ner of his life , made It bis chief business to
dovlso schemes for raising money whereby
ho might carry on the staling pleasures of
Ills youth. Beyond this tno administration
of public affairs was left entirely In the
"Ilium iinotl your vnlunlilo CASCA-
IIHTS and llml them perfect. Couldn't do
wltuout them , 1 lava used ihom Jort.ome tlmo
for Indigestion nncU > lllousness nnd nm novr com
pletely cured , Itcoommcnd them , tu every ono.
Once tried , you will never bo without them In
the f amlly.'r EDW. A. MAHs , Albany , N. Y.
Fleitant. palatable , I'otcnt , Teito flood. Do
Good , Korer blckeu , Weaken , or Gtlpo , IDo.Uc , We.
. . . CURE CONSTIPATION. . . .
BUrlUf tltntd4'ovptKf , Ctlrtf o , Uoalrtll , X w Y"k , Stl
tin Tfi n A O Sold and Bii raiitrcd Mr nil druf
MU'TU-UAu gutxo VVU E Tobacco UaolC
Btippfo hands of the chancellor , M , Selpdorf ,
\vhlle the duke , \\lth those who surrounded
him , pluigud Into the ncuust excitement of
the hour , for who knew' what a day might
bring forth ? The .court was like ft stage lit
hy lurid light , on which the actors laughed
and loved , danced and fought to the music
of a wild finale , that whirled and maddened
before the crash of the coming end.
Once uson a time Mnasau was accounted
of no particular Importance or value amoni ?
Ito bigger neighbors ; but of late , for vnrl-
! oils reasons , Its fortunes had bccomo the
I subject of attention and discussion In nt
1 least three foreign chancelleries , whore old
| maps were being looked up and now ones
I bought and painted In different colors , ac-
I cording ns seemed most desirable by the
I bearded men , who sat In council to appor-
! tlon the marsh , rock , dune and forest of
I which the now absorbingly Interesting pigmy
[ state was composed.
In fact , Manwiu , with Its twenty miles or
i so of seaboard , containing ono excellent
port. In case and two others In posse , had
become n Naboth's vineyard to a country
almost land-bound and yet dreaming of the
supremacy of the four seas. On this am
bition and Its possible consequences the
ether great powers looked , to speak diplo
matically , with coldness.
It was generally understood that the En
glish foreign otnco desired the maintenance
of the status quo ; Franco was supposed to
bo ready to clap a young republic on the
back and to accord It her protection , while
Russia played her own dumb and blinding
game , of which none could definitely pro
nounce the Issue. The political world thus
stood at gaze , watching every change and
prepared to take advantage of every chance
that offered. The honors of the game so
far had lain with M. Solpdorf , who scored
each trick with the same bland smile.
Whenever the treasury of Maasau was at a
low ebb Selpdorf usually had a thirteenth
card to lay upon the table , and as the na
tions cautiously proceeded to frustrate each
other's purposes royal remittances frdm
heaven knows where flowed In abundantly
to replenish the bankrupt exchequer of the
state.
When Major Counsellor expressed his em
phatic disapproval of the intended resigna
tion of Rallywood a now development was
In the air. Hitherto the lead had mos y
devolved upon Selpdorf ; on this occasion he
was known to "bo " hanging back , and the
question of who would take the Initiative
was the question of the day. The fact
that Germany had lately accredited a new
representative , a certain Baron von Elmur
to the court of Mnasau , nn able man whoso
reputation rested mainly on the successful
performance of missions of a delicate na
ture , added to the tension of the moment.
"So you say they are getting eteam up In
Maasau ? " said Hallywood again. "I have
been out In the wilds for the lost six months
nnd don't know so much about events as I
might. "
"Steam up ? " growled Counsellor. "Steam
enough to wreck Europe ! I almost wish I'd
never godfathered you Into this blofeed little
stoke hole. Why the deuce didn't you enlist
at homo Instead of coming hero ? "
"That was out of the question , of course. "
"Why ? Isn't our army good enough for
you to fight In ? "
"If it was only that ! I coujd fight In the
ranks , God knows , but I couldn't parade In
them ! Besides , the llfo hero suited me
then. "
"What's gene wrong with It now ? 1
should have thought you would have got
used to It by this time , " observed Coun
seller with the air of the older man. It was
not the first occasion on which ho had
played the part of elderly relative toward
Uallywood during the course of their queer ,
rough-grained friendship a friendship of n
typo which exists only between man and
man , and oven then Is sufficiently rare.
"Precisely , I'm too Infernally used to It !
It was not half bad as long as the newness
lasted , 'hut ' I can't stand It nny longer ! I'm
sick of the monotony. Do you know old
Fltzadams' criticism on the service hero ?
"Dust and drill , drill and dust , and nil In
the chinks with homicidal maneuvers , "
"iMaaoau only apes Its ibetters. Those
Continental armies devote themselves very
assiduously to rehearsals , and there Is no
end of waste about the process , " remarked
the chancellor. "They rehearse In Bummer
and get sunstroke ; then they rehearse In
winter with rheumatisms and lung troubles
growing on every bush. The 'bill ' for blank
cartridges alone Is enormous ! And all be
cause they have no India and no Africa , as
wo have , where wo can give our fellows a
taste of the real thing any day In the -week.
Wo carry on a email war with a regiment ,
or dispatch a youngster with half a company
to teach manners and honesty to 20.000 nig
gers. The peculiarity of our army Is that It
Is always at war. In this way wo escape the
dangers of theory , and got practice , with
something for our money Into the bargain. "
"Our plan has Its advantages , " agreed
riallywood lazily. "I saw In South Africa
what n little active service does for a man.
The first tlmo ho l under fire ho U per
suaded that ho Is going to bo killed , and that
every shot must hit him. Hut after a trial
or two ho begins to think that the odds are
In his favor and ho becomes a much moro
offt-ctlve fighting machine. "
"Necessarily ho docs. Wo don't half
realize the value of our colonies yet as a
training ground for our soldlow. The
Ilrltlsh army U the smallest In Europe , but
It remains to bo seen what account It will
glvo of Itself If It la over brought Into con
tact with these huge , peace-trained conscript
monsters. "
"When the duke dlos " began Rallywood ,
harking back to the former topic of con
versation.
The door was softly opened and a waiter
advanced Into the room , 'bearing ' a letter for
Hallywood , who took It and laid It down on
the table Reside him , then looked at Coun
seller for an answer to his half spoken
question. Counsellor shrugged his shoulders.
"Who can tell ? " ho replied. "Meanwhile
take 'the gifts the gods have sent you today -
day , " and ho pointed to the long , heavily-
scaled envelope that lay at flallywood'o
elbow. "Selpdorf , 1 see , already has hla
fingers upon you. "
Hallywood broke the great seals , and , hav
ing read , ho tossed the paper Into the other's
hands.
"Ho wishes to ece mo at 9:30. : What can
ho want with me ? " he asked.
"Probably ho haa heard you Intend to cut
the service. It appears to me , Rallywood ,
that your chance has cjmo out to meet you. "
"How could ho have heard that I meant to
go ? And what can It matter to any ono If I
do ? " went on Rallywood Incredulously.
Counsellor shook his head , but made no
other reply.
"A lieutenant of the frontier cavalry. " re
sumed Hallywood , "Is merely a superior
make of excise ofllcer ! "
"You will bo something more or eome-
tlilng else before 10 , I expect. As for what
ho wants with you , that Is for you to flud
out If you can. "
"It Is to bo hoped ho may feel moved to
let mo have my arrears of pay , " said Rally-
wood , relapsing Into hla usual tone of In
difference ; "that is the chief consideration
with us on the frontier Just now , "
"He probably will If It eults him or
rather , perhaps , If you suit 'him. Como over
and dine wltli mo presently nt the Conti
nental. There's generally a decent dinner
to bo had thero. "
John Hallywood , ono of the old Lincoln
shire ) Hallywood , had been born to a for
tune , nnd , moreover , with an Immense ca
pacity for enjoying It after a wholesome
fashion. Queens Kaln had fallen In to him
while still nn Infant upon the death of a
great-uncle , and with ttio old place were
connected nil those hundred untranslatable
tics and associations which go to make up
a boy's dreams. Ho was n man of suppressed -
pressed , perhaps half unconscious , but
nevertheless deep rooted enthusiasms ;
hence when the blow fell which deprived
him not only of his Inheritance , but also
cut short the llfo of his mother , the un-
expe tcd , almost Intolerable anguish ho
silently cndurctt had left a deep , defacing
scar upon his personality.
Up to 22 the resord of his life , If not
( striking , had been clean and manly. He
had passed throtiEti Sandhurst , and Joined
a dragoon regiment for something over a
year , when an older branch of the family ,
supposed for a quarter of a century to bo
r.dlnct , suddenly presented Itself very much
allvo In the person of n mlddlc-ngcd , mld-
dlc-clnfis American. Within three months
the man's claim was subjtniHlatcd , and
estate , fortune , position and homo ns far
n.i John Hallywood was concerned had
melted Into thin nlr.
vcrsatlon , and a political opinion backed by
hU name bec-amc at once Important.
tn.vi'ir.it u ,
" .V Contloinnii of thetlnnril. . "
Shortly before 0:30 : Hallywcod presented
hlmsnlf at the granite palace , with Its four
cirpolas , which M. Srlpdorf occupied In his
capacity of first minister of state. After
some slight delay ho was ushered Into a
comfortable study , where ho found Selpdorf
with A reading lamp at his elbow , glancing
rapidly through a nmss of papers that ho
throw one after another , with apparent care-
IcfsnrsJ , on the floor besldo him.
The chancellor of a smnll state might very
well have been pardoned had ho Introduced
a certain amount of what nn old official T < * t\ \
to call "desk dignity" into his dealings with
those who approached him , but Selpdorf
habitually affected an easy manner nnd an
easy chair. Ho. waa a middle-sized man ,
posscf cd af a very round head , bald at the
crown , but having still a lock of dark hair
on the summit of his round forehead ; very
round cyos set far back In smooth holes ,
showing little lid ; a nose blunt and thick
over lips that might have been coarse , but
were controlled and betrayed a lurking
humor at the corners , to whlc-h the upstand
ing muataclia seemed to add point. For all
his peculiarity of aspect , ho was a man who
left an Impression on the memory of some
thing pleasing and attractive , especially In
the minds of women.
growing tired of Hevonde. 1 know nothing
of It , "
"Hut you would prefer Rcvondc. believe
me. "
At this moment an attendant appeared
with n card upon a salver , Selpdorf road
the name with the faintest contraction of
his brows.
' "You will excuse me , M. Hallywood , " ho
said ; "I must ask you to wait In the nnte-
room for a few minutes. "
The ante-room was a long , pillared corri
dor , In which Ilnllywood found himself quite
alone. Ho fell at once Into speculations as
to the meaning and aim of Sclpdorfs rate
awakened Interest In himself. Also the al
lusions to Counsellor had probably been
made with calculated Intention.
Hallywood understood that each of these
two men had the same end In view ; each .
desired to dUscnible hla own character. And i
each of them succeeded with the many , but j
failed as .between . themselves. Solpdorf
posed as the suave , sympathetic , good-na
tured friend of these with whom ho came
In contact ; Counsellor , ns a man of no ac
count , a rugged soldier , honest , strong , out
spoken , a good agent to act under the direc
tion of more astute brains , but , If left to
his own resources , somewhat blunt nnd
blundering.
To do Hallywood justice , ho was far more
occupied with this last thought than with the ,
thlnpa which bore moro directly on his own
proepccts and future. At this period his
ffi
Kf * 1 / / / / /
WWjti ,4
m SA Vtfr
r - //ML
/
\
YOU WlSti FOH AN INTRODUCTION ? THEN ALLOW MB TO PRESENT YOU TO EACH OTHER. "
During this period of disruption and
troubtu Counsellor , who happened to bo
distantly connected with him , came Into his
life. They did not meet very often and
spoko. little when together , but mutual
knowledge and liking resulted. Friendship
Is a living thing ; It cannot be made ; It
grows.
Rallywood , when bo .turned to seek the
means of a livelihood , found himself , as ho
said long afterwards , standing In the corri
dor of life with all the doors shut and no
key to open them.
His tastes aud training alike Ird In the
direction of a military career , nnd presently
ho went out to the cape , where 'ho spent n
year or two In a police force which was In
tlmo disbanded , and ho returned to Eng
land once more at a loose end.
At this juncture Major Counsellor sug
gested to him the possibility of obtaining
a commission In the little nrmy of the
duchy of iMaasau. This hint sot him on
the right track. The regiments of Maasau ,
though few In number , carried splendid
traditions. Their ranks wore drawn from
a stolid , silent peasantry , and olllccred by
a wire-strung , high-tempered aristocracy ,
'barn of a mixed race. It Is true , but none
the less frantically devoted to the freedom
nnd Independence of their shred of a father
land.
In compliance with a private request on
the part of Major Counsellor , the Drltlsh
minister at Revondo bestirred himself to
procure a commission for Rallywood , who
thus became a lieutenant In the frontier
cavalry , and for more than five years had
taken his share In riding and keeping tbo
marches of Maasau , gaining much experi
ence In capturing smugglers and In super
intending the digging out of snowed-up
trains , nut llfo on the frontier , though
crammed with physical activity and routine
work , was in every other resnect monoto
nously empty , and breaks In the shape of
furlough were few and far between. Half
liked , wholly respected nnd a little feared
among his comrades , hut always remaining
n lieutenant to whom the state owed eight
een months' arrears of pay , Rallywood , In
return , owed to Maasau only the qualified
service of an unpaid man , but gave It thu
full devotion of a capable ofllcer.
As to Counsellor , no one could quite ac
count for his presence nt Rovondo at the
present moment. Ho was supposed to bo
attached In some Indefinite way to the lega
tion , but ho described himself as a bird of
passage , whoso appearance In nny European
capital simply meant whim or pleasure , for
he was growing old and lazy , and could not
bo brought to account for'TiIs wanderings ,
which ho assured those who ventured to In
quire 'were ' chiefly undertaken In search of
health. Nevertheless , wherever he went or
cntno something Interesting in a political
sense and more often than not In favor
of Ilrltlsh Interests was almost euro to
happen.
In former days ho had filled the position
of military attache to twxi or three of the
more important embassies , and was said to
be the 'best ' known man In Europe. He had ,
moreover , the right to carry upon hU breast
the ribbon and decoration of more than one
exclusive and distinguished order. Of the
many rumors associated with him this cay-
Ing was certainly true , that one could never
enter the smoking room of any diplomatic
club In any city In Europe without ( Handing
n fair chance of encountering Major Coun
seller wanning himself beside the stove.
Therefore ho had naturally an enormous
circle of acquaintances , each Individual
Vnowlng very little about him , though be
Always formed an Intcrenlng subject of coo-
Ho received Rallywood with that air of
deep personal Interest which told with such
happy effect on those whom he desired to
Influence.
"Ah , ray dear lieutenant , I understood you
wore In Tlevondo and took advantage of
your presence to put into effect a little plan
which had been for some time in contem
plation. I recollect having had the pleas
ure of meeting you net so long ago when
you arrived in 'Maasau. ' "
"Nearly wlx years ago your excellency , "
replied Rallywood with a smile.
"I can scarcely believe It to bo so long.
At any rate I remember perfectly that I
had the honor of presenting you to his
highness as the latest addition to our fron
tier cavalry. "
"Your excellency might easily have for
gotten. From the nature of the case that
could not bo possible -with me. "
Selpdorf listened /'with a little astonish
ment. This Englishman was not quite such
a fool as ono might have expected from the
fact of his having been content to remain
without preferment and only o proportion
of his pay for over live years on the fron
tier. 'He had hoped to llnd the fellow
adaptable , but this long-limbed , slow-spoken
gentleman was not altogether so transpar
ent an Individuality as Selpdorf had led him
self to expect.
"Buy why have you secluded yourself for
so long amoug those barbarous marshes and
forests ? " demanded the chancellor In a ral
lying manner. The young man made no
reply , though the obvious one was In his
mind.
"Hy the by , " resumed the chancellor , as
If struck by a now thought , "I have heard
that your countryman , Major Counsellor , has
como to pay us a little visit In Maasau ? "
"Ho is here. I have Just seen him , " re
plied Rallywood ,
Selpdorf's round eyes glanced once more
nt his companion. The simple directness of
the reply was admirable but baining.
"Ah , ho Is Invaluable , the good major ,
quite Invaluable ! England may well bo
proud of him. Ho Is ono or the ablest men
in Europe , besides " hero he smiled , showIng -
Ing a row of strong oven teeth i"besldes be
ing ono of the most honest. For diplom
atist what praise ! "
Rallywood mot his glance Imperturbably.
"For a diplomatist , jour excellency ? " he
repeated ,
"Dut assuredly , " replied the chancellor
warmly , "flguro to yourfcclf , my friend , the
condition of politics It all statesmen were
like him honest ! An Invaluable man ! "
Ho paused for a reply , but Rallywood
merely bowed. He felt that so much , at
least , waa expected of him on the part of
England.
"Hut now , monsieur , with regard to your
own affair. You have been five years In the
service of his highness. And your com
mand ? "
"At present Ufty troopers at the block
houses above Koto Ford und a.'ong the river.
In the winter , during the long , dark nights ,
when tliero are many attempts to run Illicit
goods across the frontier , I shall have , per
haps , a score or BO more. "
"And you are not tired of It ? " M. Selp-
Uorf raised his hands.
"So tired , your excellency , that I am half
Inclined to let a better man step Into my
shoes. "
"Rut come , come , that Is Impossible ! " re
turned his excellency agreeably. ' "Are you
also tired of our capital , of Revcode ? "
"I have had very llttfo opportunity of
life was comparatively tasteless and void
of Interest ; there -was nothing to look for
ward to nnd the recent past meant extremes
of heat and cold , long , solitary rounds
ridden by night and days rendered so far
alike by iron-handed rule and method that
one was driven to mark the lapse of tlmo
by the seasons , not'by ' the ordinary divisions
of weeks and months.
'As ho lounged in a chair , full of these
thoughts , a slight rustle , soft and silken ,
like the rustle of a woman's dress , caught
his car. He turned his head quickly. The
corridor , with Its slender pillars , which
stood at long Intervals , was steeped In the
clear electric light and from where ho sat
ho could see there was no person visible
throughout its entire length.
Then , as his gaze traveled iback , it rested
on something -which had certainly not been
lying 'where ' he now saw it at the time of his
entrance.
Not six paces behind him , stretched across
the dark carpeting , in the very center of
the pillared vista , lay a woman's long glove.
A woman's glove possesses a peculiar
charm for all men. Perhaps It suggests
Borne of the sweet mystery of womanhood.
The first action of most young men In
Rallywood's place would have been to raise
It at once nnd to examine It , ns though In
eorno Impalpable manner It could tell some
thing of Its unknown wearer , who might
turn out to ho the Hnthor , the ono woman
In the world.
Dut the circumstances of Rnllywood's life ,
and , perhaps , nUo , some exclusive element
In his character , had heretofore set him
rather opart from the Influence of women ,
Ho had grown to regqrd them without curi
osity , which Is the last stage Indifference
can reach.
It must bo admitted that It was with a
feeling nkln to repugnance that ho at last
lifted the long , soft , palo-hued , faintly
scented suede from the floor and dangled It
nt nn unnecessary distance from his eyes ,
holding it as ho did so daintily between
flnger and thumb. Its subtle appeal to his
senses as n man failed to reach him. It
simply aroused an old fooling of reserve
toward the sex It represented. His face
altered sllfidtly and ho dropped It suddenly
with nn odd repulsion , ns he might have
dropped n snake , on a couch nearby.
Then ho reaumed his chair and turned his
back upon It , till the reflection that the
woman to whom It belonged must have
como and gone while do sat thinking with
his back to the corridor sent him wheeling
round again.
The glove still lay where he had placed
It on the edge of the couch palm upward
nnd with a suggestion of helplessness and
pleading. It annoyed him unreasonably.
Ho frowned and looked at his wutifi. Hall
nn hour had passed since SelpdoTf dismissed
htm.
htm.At
At that moment a gutteral voice broke the
silence of the house and a heavy curtain
over the door at the nearer end of the
anteroom was thrust back by a brusque
hand and a tall , hlghshouldered , handsome
man , dressed as If ht > wore about to at
tend some court function , stood In the
opening. Behind him Rallywood caught
sight of a flurried and explanatory lackey.
"Ah , f.o J have lost ray way after all , "
said the personage In a bland voice. "A
mistake ! But I hope you will accord mo
your forgiveness , mademoiselle ? "
Rallywood sprang to his feet at this most
unexpected ending and looked around.
Clcea beside him stood a tall girl wrapped
In a long cloak of fur and amber velvet She
WOd Blncularlv beautiful , with a nala cJuar.
beauty. Her black. lotiR-laohed oyfs
woreon him and they wore full of laughter.
"Enter , then baron , " said the girl , glanc
ing across at the courtier. "Old you purw
you would find me here , or were you seeking
monsieur ? " and she waved her bare loft
hand toward Rallywood.
"I lost my way , nothing more. " returned
the baron , coming forward ; "but perhaps , as
In my heart , all roads lead to want " Ho
bowcxl deeply once more , this time Mooplng
to kiss the girl's hand with ft certain show
of restrained eagerness.
She drew 'back ' with A little Impatient
gesture1.
"I Fhotild not have been here 'but ' for nn
nrcldcnt , " she replied coldly. "In fact. I was
en the 'point ' of starting for Ills hlghncai' re
ception , had not monsieur detained me. "
And , to Rallywood'H amazement , she Indi
cated himself.
Before he could spcnk she pointed to his
spurred boot.
"Monsieur has set his licet on my poor
glove , " ho added.
Uy hfl ! hnsty movement In rising ho had
apparently dislodged the glove from Its pisl-
llon nn the edge of the courb. Ho stooped
with a hurried word of apology and picked
It up. On the dollcnto palm waa stamped'tho
curved stain of his boot heel.
"Ho you always treat a lady's glove so ? "
she asked gravely , and held out her hand
for It.
Ilnllywood looked down nt her very de
liberately , nnd something that was neither
his will nor his reason decided hlB next ac
tion. Ho folded the soft sucdo reverently
together.
"No , mademoiselle , " ho answered , as he
placed It Inside his tunic , "I have never
before treated n lady's glove so. For the
accident I offer my deepest apologies. "
She wntchod him with raised oycbrows
nnd a slight derisive smile. Then she drew
the companion glove from her right hand
nnd , giving It to the lackey , who still re
mained in the background , she said :
"Throw it nway , it is useless , and tell
Nanzolle to bring mo another pair. "
Monsieur , with whom I have not yet the
pleasure of being acquainted , " Interrupted
the baron rather suddenly , "monsieur Is ,
after all , the lucky man. ile retains what
I dare not even ask for. "
"Shall I call back the servant with Its
fellow for you ? " mademoiselle asko.1 haught
ily. "It Is nothing to mo who picks up
what I have thrown away. " With this re
buff to Uallywood she placed her hand upon
the German's , ns if to ask him to lead her
from the room , and added :
"You wish for nu introduction ? Then al
low mo to present you to each other. His
excellency , the Barou von Elmur. " She
paused , nnd her eyes dwelt for a moment
on Rnllywood's. "A gc-iitloman of the
guard. " And before Rallywood could ex
plain the mistake the curtain had dropped
behind them , nnd ho was left standing
alone.
In Baron von Elmur ho recognized the
oblique carriage of the heart nnd the hlgh-
ehouldered flguro of the third man ho had
seen with the newspaper correspondents In
the Grand Square that afternoon. Moreover ,
ho know that the German had entered the
anteroom through no mistake , but with some
object in view. As for the girl , who was
she and wbero had she come from ? Elio
was not of JInnsau , since she had Intro
duced him as belonging to the guard , for
not only was every ofllcer of that fas-orod
corps Individually known , but It was fur
ther impossible for a Maasaun to make the
slightest mistake with regard to nny uni
form. It was one of the boasts of the
country that even a clalld could tell at a
glance not only the special regiment , but
the rank of the wearer of any uniform be
longing to the duchy.
Rallywood had no time just then to pur
sue the subject further , as he was almost
immediately recalled to the chancellor's
presence.
"
"Now , monsieur , " began Selpdorf , as
though no break had occurred in the con
versation , "you are In truth tired of keep
ing our dreary marches ; Is It not so ? "
"TboKo are better places nnd worse , your
excellency. "
"Our gay little capital will be ono of the
better places , I promise you , " continued the
chancellor. "A position in the guard of his
highness has Just become vacant. Am I
right In berioving that n nomination to that
superb regiment would tempt you to remain
with us ? "
Rallywood for once was a little taken
aback.
"A gentleman of the guard. " Ho repeated
the girl's words of Introduction mechani
cally ; then , putting aside the thought of
her , ho took up the practical view of the
situation and answered , "I am an English
man , your excellency , ana though I have
taken the soldier's cath to the 'Maasaun
standard , I have not taken the oath of na
tionality. -could not consent to become n
naturalized citizen oven of the duchy of
Maasau. "
"Ah , so. " Selpdorf stroked his chin , then
despatching the objection with a wnvo of
his hand , he resumed. "Wo must overlook
that In your case. You have already served
the duke for live years with as sincere a
zeal as the truest Maasaun amongst us.
Wo must remember that and overlook a
drawback which Is far ICES Important than
it seems. "
He turned to a memorandum on tlio table
and consulted It.
"You were engaged In the affair at Xan-
thal , I sec ? "
"Thrco years ago , your excellency , " re
plied Rallywood In u tone that implied his
powers of usefulness had probably become
Impaired by lapse of tlmo.
Selpdorf moved his shoulders. Hero was
a man throwing rtlfllcultics In the way of
his own advancement. Yet ho could not
possibly bo so Indifferent to his own In
terests as ho chose to assume.
"To bo plain with you , " Selpdorf said
with an air of candor , "tho younger officers
of the guard have little experience. The
latest fashion In neckties or the most
charming dancer nt the Folio absorbs their
attention , to the exclusion of moro Impor
tant matters. There Is , ns you doubtless
know , a certain admixture of French blood
In the veins of our moat noble families , "
be finished abstractedly.
Rnllywood bad no remark to offer upon
this. The olllcers of the guard bore a very
distinct reputation. They were snld to bo
a pleasant set of fellows socially , unless
one ran foul of their prejudices , but they
were credited with a good many prejudices.
As for his personal acquaintance with
them , It was limited to acting second In a
hastily arranged duel fought out In the
yard behind a little country railway sta
tion.
tion."I
"I should like to see n somewhat different
spirit Introduced and to bo asured that I
could always rely on the presence of at
Irast one cool-headed officer at the palace
Your experience- the frontier has emi
nently fitted you for the position. To you ,
therefore , will bo allotted the quarters re
served In the palace Itself for the adjutant
of the guard. May I have the pleasure of
saluting you as such ? "
Rallywood hesitated. Ho foresaw certain
difficulties , but they appeared rather attrac
tive than otherwise at the moment Ho
throw back his shoulders , n light of laughter
came Into his eyes , ho raised his head and
looked Into Selpdorf'u face.
"I thank your excellency. "
The chancellor understood moro than met
hla ear. He approached the subject dell-
cately.
"Then you will allow mo to congratulate
you. Captain Rallywood , " ho said , bending
forward to shako hands with his visitor In
English fashion. "Thoro may possibly bo
Borao trifling difficulties at the outset The
llrst stt-p in
nny undertaking usually costs
something , but you will not , I beg , permit
youreelf to be drawn Into , ahem , any shallow -
low quarrclB , Our friends of the guard
you will understand , nro a little too prone
to pick up even a carolm word on tdo
snonl point. "
M. Solpdorf paused nnd referred once
more to the memorandum.
"Thero has been some smnll hitch nbout
the pay on the frontier of Into ? " he nskod
Innocently.
"A serious hitch for the last eighteen
month.1 ! or so , your excellency , " replied
Itallywood , with n smllo that did not reach
tils pycs.
"Indeed ? That must bo remedied. The paymaster -
master general shall have a note upon your
nlTnlr Immediately , Captnln Rnllywood.
Good night. "
Rnllywood stepped out Into the windy ,
frozen night , nnd nlso out of bin old llfo
Into the new. Above him the stars , written
In their vast , vnguo characters upon the
night-blue vault of sky , shone wltli n keen
luster ; below his feet , with scarce a break
In the great circle , It scorned us If they
drew together In denser clusters and sot
themselves In luminous tiers. These latter
were the lights of the city. For the Hotel
du Chiinceller stands high upon ono of the
twin ridges which form the rnvlno of the
river , and upon whoso converging slopes
Rovondo is built. Ilnllywood stood mid
looked down upon the dip and rise of the
Urrnced city with n now Interest , for now
It held a future- for him Individually , a
future which must bo stirring nnd might
bu something moro.
The eyes of the girl whoso glove ho had
trodden upon still challenged him from the
starlit darkness , eyes made of starlit dark
ness themselves. Ho followed the broad
black line of the river between Its sweep
ing curves of lamps , broadening out s i-
wnrd Into hazy dimness. Then ns n great
bell ncros-s the water boomed out ttie hour
bo turned his gaze to the cast , In the dire-
tton of the souul , to where the broken
brightness of the crowding streets gave
place to a majestic alignment of light nnd
shadow , showing the position of the ducal
pnlnco upon the river bank. Behind and
nbovo It tticno n blood-red gleam like an
angry eye ; this Rnllywood knew to be the
great stained dome of the historic in ens-
room of the guard.
Then the late lieutenant of the frontier
cnvnlry laughed nloud In the dark , bis blood
tingled In his veins , for the priceless ele
ment of a vague , unknown danger and ex
citement had entered Into his life.
( To Bo Continued. )
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