The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current, August 08, 1910, Image 5

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    The
tOOSE
By HAROLD
Corvritfht. 1009. by the
i
I
!
CIIAPTEtt II.
FOR HEIt COUNTRY.
c
OUNT. must I tell you again .
not to broach that subject? I
There can be no alliance be
tween Ehrensteln and Ju
gendheit."
"Why?" asked Count von Herbeck.
chancellor.
"One of my reasons is that 1 do not
want any alliance with a country so
perfidious an Jugendheit. What! I
make overtures I, who have been bo
cruelly wronged all these year9? You
are mad."
"But what positive evidence have
you that Jugeudhelt wronged you?"
'Tosltlve? Have I eyes and ears?
Have I not seen and read and heard?"
"Your highness knows that I look
only to the welfare of the country. In
the old days it was a foregone conclu
lon that this alliance was to be form
h1. Now, you persist In averring that
the late king was the chief conspirator
In abducting her 6erene highness, aid
ed by Arnsberg, whose successor I
have the honor to be. I have never
jet seen any proofs. Show me some
thing which absolutely convicta them
and I'll surrender."
"On your honor?"
"My word."
The duke struck a bell.
"My secretary and tell him to bring
me the packet marked A. He will un
derstand." The duke was frank In his likes and
dislikes. He hated secrets, and he
loved an opponent who engaged him
In the open. It was this extraordinary
Tectltude which made the duke so
powerful an aid to Bismarck In the
days that followed. The man of Iron
needed this sort of character as a cov
t and a buckler to his own duplicities.
Herbeck was an excellent foil. lie
was as silent and secretive as sand.
He moved, as it were, In circles, thus
always eluding dangerous comers.
He was tall, angular, with a thin, im
mobile countenance, well guarded by
his gray eyes and straight Hps. He
was a born financier, with almost lim
itless nmbltlon, though only he him
self knew how far this ambition reach
ed. Twice had he saved Ehrensteln
from the dragnet of war and with
honor.
The secretary came in and laid a I
thin packet of papers on the chancel-
lor s UeRk. I
IT"-.-!
a lit? uutvtr milieu iuc jfui'na uiiiii, i
took one of them and spread it out
with a rasp.
"Look at
that.
Whose writing. I
ask?"
Herbeck r n n
over it several
times. At length
h e opened a
drawer in bis
desk, sorted
some papers and
brought out a
yellow letter.
This he laid
down beside the
other.
"Yes, they arc
alike. This will
b e Arnsberg.
It u t "-mildly
"who may say
that it is not a
"FORfiF.RY!" ROARKD
THE IH'KE.
cunulng forgery?
"Forgery!" roared the duke. "Bend
this one from the late king of Ju
gendheit to Arnsberg then If you still
doubt."
Herbeck read slowly and carefully.
Then he rose and walked to the
nearest window, studying the letter
again in the shnrper light.
Herbeck returned to bis chair. "1
wish that you had shown me these
long ago. You accused the king?"
"Certainly, but he denied It."
"In n letter?"
"Yes. Here, read It."
Herbeck compared the two. "Where
did you find these?"
"In Arnsberg's desk," returned the
duke "Arnsbenr. niv hovhond nlnv.
mate, the man I loved and trusted and
wivaneeu to tne nignest otllee in my
power. Is that not the way? Weli.
dead or alive, lo.om crowns to him who
brings Arnsberg to me dead or alive."
"You are very bitter," said Herbeck.
"And have I not cause? Did not my
wife die of a broken heart, and did I
not become a bml.en !:i;ui? You d
not know all, Ilcrbck-not finite all.
Franz also so-'.-lit tlx Innd of th
Princess Sofhi. He. too. loved her. but
I won. Well. Ills revenge must have
been sweet to him."
"But your ibmglit'.T has been restor
ed to her own."
"Due to your Indefatigable effort
alone, a"! 1, 71 Tlieck, nothing will ever
fill up the cup between, nothing will
ever restore the mother." The duke
bowed his heild.
Herbeck opened another drawer and
took forth a long hood envelope crest
ed and sen led.
"Your highness, here Is a letter from
the prln-e regent of Jugendheit for
mally asklnr the hand of the Princess
lllldt g.-.rde for hU nephew Frederick,
who will shortly be crowned. My ad-
i
1
(Gil
MacGRATH
Bobbs Merrill Company
vice Is toTreeepl, to lefbygones be by-
gones."
"Write the prince that I respectfully
decline."
,in nnfhin, , hflstp Vour hlehness.
-reprize, Sny that you desire some
time to think about the matter. You
can change your mind at any time. A
reply like this commits you to noth
ing, whereus your abrupt refusal will
only widen the breach."
"The wider the breach the better."
"No, no, your highness; the past has
disturbed you. We can stand war,
and it is possible that we might win,
even against Jugendheit, but war at
this late day would be a colossal blun
der. Victory would leave us where
we began thirty years ago. And an
Insult to Jugendheit might precipitate
war."
"Have your way, then."
The duke departed, stirred as he had
not been since the restoration of the
princess. He sought his daughter.
She was in the music room. "My
child," he began, taking Hlldegarde's
hand and drawing her toward a win
dow seat, "the king of Jugendheit asks
for your hand."
"Then I am to marry the king of
Jugendheit?" There was little Joy in
her voice.
"Ah, we hnve not gone so far 09
that! The king, through hla uncle, has
simply made a proposal."
"It is for you to decide, father.
Whatever your decision is I shall abide
by It."
"It is a hard lesson we have to learn,
my child. We cannot always marry
where we love. Diplomacy and poli
tics make other plans. But fortunate
ly for you you love no one yet, and
the king is young, handsome, they say,
and rich. Politically speaking, it
would be a great match."
"I am In your hands. You know
what is best."
The duke was poignantly dlsap
p6lnted. Why did she not refuse out
right, as became one of the bouse of
Ehrensteln?'
"What is be like?" she asked.
"That no one seems to know. He
has been to his capital but twice in ten
years. The young king bus been in
Paris most of the time. That's the
way they educate kings these days.
I Tbev teach them all the vices. Your
I athnl. Iiu'dfl vml ntwl If trnll II Pit fnt'lln.
; )f , ls )n your
o a queen , 8hu Qot
let my prejudices stand in the way."
She caught up his hand with .
it range passion and kissed it.
"Father, I do uot want to marry any
one." wistfully. "But a queen!" she
added thoughtfully. "Would it be for
the good of the state?"
Here was reason, "Yes; my objec
tions are merely personal," said the
duke.
"For the good of my country I am
ready to make any sacrifice."
"Very well, but weigh the matter
carefully. There Is never any retrac
ing a step of this klud." He paused
and then said:
"You are all I have, girl."
"My father!" Sue stroked his cheek.
The restoration of the Princess Illlde
garde of Ehrensteln had Leen the sen
sation of Europe, as had been In the
earlier days ber remarkable abduction.
For sixteen years the search had gone
on fruitlessly. In a garret In Dresden
tne agents of Herbeck found her, a
alnger In the chorus of the opera. The
newspapers and illustrnted weeklies
raged about her for awhile, elaborated
the story of her struggles, the mysteri
ous remittances which had from time
to time saved her from direst poverty,
her ambition, her education which by
dint of hard work she had acquired.
The duke accused Franz of Jugendheit
Search as they would, the duke and
the chancellor never traced the source
of the remittances. The duke held
stubbornly that the seuder of these
benefactions was moved by the im
pulse of a guilty conscience and that
' this guilty conscience was In Jugeud
! belt.
And was the girl happy with all her
new grandeur, with all these lackeys
and attentions and environs? Some
times she longed for the freedom and
lack care of her Dresden garret, her
musician friends, the studios, the
crash and glitter of the opera.
She was lovely enough to inspire
fervor and homage and love in all
masculine minds. She was witty twid
talented. Carmlchael said she was one
! the most beautiful women in all
Europe.
Sue was still In the window seat
when the chancellor was announced.
"Your highness," he said, "1 am
come to announce to you that there
waits for you a high place lu the of-
fulrs of the world."
"The. second crown in Jugendheit?"
"Your father"-
"Yes. He leaves the matter wholly
In my hands."
"It Is for the good of the state. A
princess like yourself must never wed
an Inferior."
"Would u man who was brave and
kind and resourceful, but without a
UUe would he be an Inferior?"
"Assuredly politically. And I regret
to ray that your murrlaee could uever
be else thauV matter of politics." I
"I am. then, simply a certlflcate of
exchange?"
"The king of Jugendheit is young. I
do not see now tie tan help loviug you
the moment he knows you. Who citui"
And the etiaurf liur smiled.
"But he umy uot ! heart whole."
"Ue will be politically "
"Politics, politics-how I bate the
word! Sometimes 1 regret my gar
ret." The chancellor wrinkled his lips.
"Will you couseut to this marriage?"
"Would It do any good to reject it?"
"On the contrary, it would do Eh
reusteln great 1111.
"Give me a week," wearily.
"A week!" There was Joy on the
chancellor's face now. unmasked, un-
coucealed. "Oh. when the moment
comes that 1 see the crown of Jugend
heit on your beautiful head all my
work shull not have been in vain.
There Is one thing more, your high
ness." "And thatr
"There must not be so many rides In
the morning with his excellency Herr
Carmlchael."
There was a sinister note of warning
In the chancellor's voice.
The Black Eagle (Zum Schwartzon
Adler) in the Adlergasse was 200 years
old and had been in the Bauer family
ill that time.
Flad the manager. Frau Bauer, or
Frau Wlrtin. as she was familiarly
called, been masculine she would have
been lightly dubbed Bauer VII. She
was a widow. She was thirty-eight,
plump, pretty and wise.
Tonight the main room of the tavern
swam in a blue haze of smoke, which
rose to the blackened rarters. nung
with many and various sausages,
cheeses and dried vegetables. Dishes
clattered, there was a buzzing of
voices, a serving of feet and chairs,
a banging of tankards.
(Jretcbeu came In. a little better
dressed than In the daytime, the
change consisting of coarse stockings
and shoes of leather, of which she was
correspondingly proud.
"Will you want me. Frau Wlrtin, for
a little while tonight?" she asked.
"Till 9. Half a crown as usual."
Gretchcn sought the kitchen and
found an anron and cap. These half
crowns were fine things to pick up oc
caslonally. for It was only upon occa
sions that she worked at the Black
Eacle. In an obscure corner sat the
young vlutner. His face brightened
as he Faw the goose girl. In the very
corner Itself was the mountaineer who
possessed a Swiss watrh and gave
iwililrn coins to iroose srlrls. lie was
busily engngfd In gnawing the leg of
a chicken.
Carinlcbnel wa often a visitor nt
the Black Eagle. Luier he stepped
Into the big hall in his evening clothes.
?'Good evening. I'lau Wlrtin."
"Good evening, your excellency."
She was quite fluttered wheu this fine
yoiinu man simke to her. "What Is on
your mind?"
"Many tilings." He saw Gretcheu
"The goose girl." he murmured sud
tlcnly. "Is Gretchen one of your wait
resses?"
"She comes in once In awhile. She's
a good girl. I'm glad to help her."
Gretcheu saw Carmlchael and nod
ded.
'I shall be at yonder table." he said.
indicating the vacant chair. Carml
chael made his way to the table.
Across the room he had not recognized
the vintner, but now he remembered
lie had crowded hlin agalust a wall
"ALL AMERICANS ARR RICII," BHB SAID
HOIIKHLY.
two or three flays "before. The vlnt-
nec turned back the lid of his stein
and drank slowly. '
Carmlchael sat down. Now, this
vintner's face was something familiar,
Carmlchael stirred his memory. It
was not lu Drelberg that ho bud seen
him before. But where?
Gretchen arrived VCnTi the tankard
which she vat down at Carmlchael'
elbow.
"Will you not Join me. herr?" he in
vlted.
"Thank you." said tho vintner.
Gretcheu took up the empty tankard
and made off. Carmlchael was first to
speak.
"She Is the handsomest peasant 1
ever saw or knew."
"You know her?" There was a spark
lu tho vintner's eyes.
"Only for a few days. She Interests
me." Carmlchael produced a pipe and
lighted It.
"Ah, yes; the pretty peasant girl al
ways interests you gentlemen." There
was a note of bitterness. "Did you
come here to seek her?"
"Y'ou seem to possess a peculiar In
terest"
The vintner flushed. "I have that
right." with an air which rather mys
tified Carmlchael.
"That eiplaius everything. I do not
recollect seeing you before iu the
Black Eagle."
"I am from the north; aTintner, and
there is plenty of work here In the val
leys late in September."
The graie." mused CarmlchaeeU
"You will uever learn how to press It
as they do in France. It la wine
there; it is vinegar this side of the
Khlne."
"France." said the vintner moodily.
"Do you think there will be any France
in the future?"
Carmlchael laughed. "France ls an
Incurable cosmic malady; It will al
ways be. It may be beaten, devas
tated, throttled, but it will uot die."
"You are foud of France?"
"Very."
"Do you think It wise to say so
here?"
"I am the American consul; nobody
minds my opinions."
"The American consul." repeated the
vintner.
Gretchen set the tankard down, and
Carmlchael put out a sliver crown.
"And do not bother about the
change."
"All Americans are rich." she said
soberly.
The vintner laughed pleasantly.
CHAPTER III.
THE YOUNG VINTNER.
AKM1CIIAEL thirstily drank
his first tankard, thinking: "So
this vlutner Is lu love with
our goose girl? Confound my
memory! 1 would give 20 crowns to
now where I have seen him, A fine
beer," be said aloud, holding up the
second tankard.
The vlntuer raised his. There was
an unconscious grace in tho movement.
A covert glance at his band satisfied
Carmlchael lu regard to one thing. He
might be a vintner, but the hand was
as soft and well kept as a woman's,
Could a man with hands like these
mean well toward Gretchen? Gretchen
was both Innocent and unworldly. To
the right man she might be ensy prey
never to a man like Colonel von Wal
ensteln. whose power and high office
were alike sinister to any girl of the
peasantry. But a man In the guise
of her own class, of her own world
and people, here was a snare Gretchen
might not be able to foresee.
tankard rapping a table nearny
called Gretchen to her duties.
"Gretchen Is benutlful enough to be
a queen, and yet she Is merely a Hebe
in a tavern." remarked Carmlchael.
"Hebe?" suspiciously.
"Hebe was a cup bearer to the myth
ological gods In olden times," Car
mlchael explained. He bad set a trap,
ut the vintner had not fallen Into It
"A fairy story." The vintner nodded.
He understood now.
Caruilchael -would lay another trap.
"What happened to her?"
"Oh," said Carmlchael, "she spilled
wine on a god one day, und they ban
ished ber."
It must have been a rare vintage."
I suppose you are familiar with all
the valleys Mosell?"
"Yes. That Is a fine couutry."
The old man til tatters sat erect In
bis chair.
"You have served?"
"A Utile. If I could be an officer I
should like the army." The vintner
reached for his pipe, which lay on the
table.
Try this." urged Carmlchael, offer
ing his pouch.
This will be good tobacco. I know."
The vintner filled his pipe.
Ciirmlcliael followed this gift with
many questions about wines and vin
tages, and hidden in these questions
were a dozen clever traps. But the
other walked over them unhcsltnnt.
with a certainty of step which cha
grined the trapper.
By and by the vintner rose and bade
his table companion a good night He
had not offered to buy anything. This
frugality was purely of the thrifty
peasant. But the vintner expressed
many thanks. On bis way to the door
he stopped and whispered Into Gretcb-
en's ear.
The press In the room was thinning,
A carter sauntered past and sat down
unconcernedly at the table occupied by
tho old man, whoso face Carmlchael
had not yet seen. A little later a
butcher approncbed the same table and
seated himself. It was then a dusty
baker came along and repeated this
procedure, and Carmlchael's curiosity
was enlivened. Undoubtedly they were
Socialists, and this was a little con
clave, and tho peculiar manner of their
meeting, the silence and mystery, were
purely flctltlonal.
Had Carmlchael imt fallen a -dream
Ing over his pipe he would have seen
the old man puss three slips of paper
across the table, lie would have seen
the carter, the butcher ami the baker
pocket these slips stc'li lie would
have seen I lie uinuiitii nicer wave Ills
hand sharply iniil the trio rise and dis
perse. Ciirmlcliael left tin- Black
Eatle. nurslnc the mnken ember In
his pipe.
Intermediately the mountaineer pah
his score und started for the stairs
which led to the bedrooms above. Bu
he stopped at the Imr A very old man
was having a pail tilled with hot cab
bage soup. It was the ancient clock
mender ucross the way. The moun
taineer was startled out of bis habitual
reserve. The clock mender had tho as
pect of a weary, broken mnu. He
shu filed noiselessly out. Tho moun
talneer followed him cautiously. Once
In his shop the clock mender poured
tho steaming soup into a bowl, broke
bread In it and began bis evening
meal. The
against tho
stared-
other, his face pressed
dim Dime, stared and
Gott in hlmmell It Is her he
gasped chokingly.
Krumerwec was Indeed a crooked
way. It formed dewen elbows ami
ragged bah" r.".e its '.t jT.un ott from
the Adlersasse. It was half after 9
when Gretchen and the vintner picked
their way over cubbies pitted uere aud
there with mudholes. They were arm
in arm.
"Only a little farther." said Gretchen.
for the vintner had uever before pass
ed over this way.
"Long as It Is and crooked, heaven
knows It is short enough! He en
circled ber with bis arms and kissed
her. "I love you! I love you!" he said.
Her bosom swelled, her heart throb
bed, and she breathed In ecstasy the
sweet chill air that rushed through the
broken street.
"After the vintage." she said, giving
his arm a pressure. For this band
some fellow was to be her husband
when the vines were pruned and fresh'
ened against the coming winter.
Aye, after the vintage," he echoed.
But there was tragedy In his heart as
deep and profound as his love.
My grandmother-I call her that for
I haven't any grandmother ls old and
seldom leaves the house. I promised
tbot after work tonight I'd bring my
man home and let her see how band
some he Is. She Is always saying that
we need a man about, and yet I can
do a man's work as well as the next
one. I love you. too. Leo!" She pulled
his hand to her lips and quickly kissed
It, frightened but unashamed.
"Gretchen, Gretchen!"
She stopped. "What Is It?" keenly,
"There was pain in your voice."
"The thought of how I love you hurts
me. There Is nothing else, nothing,
neither riches nor crowns, nothing but
yon. Gretchen."
Frau Seuwarz, Gretchen's grand
mother, owned the house, It was
all that barricaded her from poverty's
wolves, and, what with sundry taxes
and repairs and tenants who paid In
frequently. It was little enough
Gretchen opened the door, which was
unlocked. There was no light In the
hall. She pressed her lover In her
arms, kissed hlin lightly and pushed
hlin Into tho living room. Gretchen
ran forward. lighted two candles, then
hissed the old woman seated In the one
comfortable chair.
"Here I am, grandmother!"
"And who is with you?"
"My man!" cried Gretchen gnyly,
"Bring him nenr me."' '
Gretchen gathered up two stools and
placed them ou either side of l"r
grandmother and motioned to the vlnt
uer to sit down.
Where are you from? You are not
a Drelberger," the old woman asked.
"From tho north, grandmother."
"Your name."
"Leopold Dietrich, a vintner by
trade."
"Give mo your band."
The vintner looked surprised for a
momeut Gretchen approved, bo he
nmtn lm Still T-Y
man bis left hand.
The grnnd mother
smoothed It out
upon her own and
bent her shrewd
eyes. A frown bo-
gan to gather on
the vintner's
brow and a sweat
In his palm.
"I see many
strange things
here," said the
palmist In a
brooding tone.
"What do you
see?" asked
Gretchen.
"I see very lit
tle of vineyards.
I SEE RICHES."
I see riches. 1 see vast armies moving
against each other; powder and fire;
devastation. I u5 -Hut SUe' ylHI,' young
mnn, among those who tramp with
guns on their shoulders. iou rldo,
There Is gold on your arms. You will
become great. But I do not under
stand."
"War!" ho murmured.
Gretchen's heart sauk.
"Shall 1 live?" asked tho vintner,
"There Is nothing hero snve death In
old age, vlntuer." Her gnarled band
seized bis iu a vise. "Do you mean
well by my girl?"
"Grandmother!" Gretchen remon
strated. Tho vintner withdrew his hand slow
It.
"Is this the h.ind of a liar and n
cheat? Is It the hand of a dishonest
man?"
"Thero Is no dishonesty there, but
there aro lines I do not understand.
It ls like seeing people In a mist. They
pass Instantly and disappear. But I
repeat, do you mean well by my girl?'
"Before God and his angels I love
her; before all mankind I would glad
ly declare It, Gretchen shall never
come to harm at these hands. I swear
It."
"I believe yon." The old woman's
form relaxed Its tenseness.
There was a sound outside. A car
riage had stopped. Some one opened
the door and hvgan to climb the stairs.
"There Is something strange going ou
up there," said Gretchen In a whisper.
"Three times u veiled lady has called
nt night on n sick lodger; threo times
n man in tidied up so one could not see
his face."
"Let us not question our 20 crowns
rent, Gretchen," Interrupted the grand
mother. "So long ns no one Is dis
turbed, so long as the police aro not
brought to our door, It Is not otir af
fair."
The vintner picked up his hat. and
Gretchen led him to the street.
He hurried away, giving no glance
ot the closed ciirrlnee, the sleepy driv
er, tho weary horse. Neither did he
heed the man dressed as a carter who.
when he saw the vintner, turned rrvl
Hi!
followed. Finally when fh3 vintner
veered into the Adlergasse he stopped.
his hand clinched, bis teeth hard
uon each other. He even leaned
Bsaltist the wall of a house, his fae
for the moment hidden In bis arm.
Wretch that I am! Damnabb
wretch! Krumerweg. Krumerweg!
Crooked way. Indeed!" He flung down
his arm passionately. "There will b
a God up yonder." looking at the
"I DO NOT WISH ANT QUARREL, MY CA
stars. "He will see into my neart ana
know that It ls not bud, only young.
Oh. Gretchen!"
"Gretchen?" The carter stepped lnt
a shadow and waited.
Carmlchael did not enjoy tho opera.
that ulght He had missed the first
acts, and the lust was growsome, and
the royal box was vacant Outside be
sat down on oue of the benches near
the fountains In the Platz.
He left the bench and strolled
around the fountain, his cane behind
his back, his chin lu his collar.
"Just a moment my studious friend,"
he was saluted.
"Wallensteln! I didn't see yon."
Carmlchael halted.
"I'm abseutmlnded." Carmlchael ad
mitted.
"Not always, my friend. Now, I do
not believe that It was absentmlnded
uess which made you step in between
tne and that pretty goose girl the other
night"
"Ah!" Carmlchael was all alertness.
"It was not, 1 believe?"
"It was coldly premeditated," said
CarmlchneL folding bis arms over hla
cane, which ho still held behind hla
back. "But that happens to be an In
nocent girl colonel. You're no Herod.
You really annoyed her."
"Pretense They always begin that
way. l do not wisn any qunrrei, my
captain. But that girl's faco has fas
cinated mo. I propose to seo her at
often as I like."
"I have no objection to offer. But I
told Gretchen that if any ono, no mat
ter who, ever offers her disrespect to
report tho matter to me at the con
sulate."
"Well, lu case she ls what you con
sider insulted whut will you do?" a
chullengo In his tones.
"Beport tho matter to tho police."
Wallensteln laughed.
"And If the girl finds no redresa
thero," tranquilly, "to the chancellor."
Tho colonel laughed harshly and
strode abruptly away.
Carmlchael saw a corrlogo coming
along. Ho recognized tho white horso
as It passed tho lamps. He stood still
for a space, undecided. Then be sped
rapidly toward the side gates of the
royal gardeiiH. The veL'cTS stopped"
thero. But this time no woman cam
out Carmlchael would have recog
nized that lauk form anywhere. It
was the chancellor. Well, what of It?
Couldu't the chancellor go out In t
common hack If ho wanted to? Bat
who was the lady In the veil? As
soon ns the chancellor disappeared
Carmlchael bailed tho coachman and
engaged him for a drive for 3 crowns,
Carmlchael slid over to the forward
seat and touched the Jehu on the back.
"Where did you take the chancellor
tonight?" he asked.
"I )u liber Golt! Was that his ex
cellency? Ho said bo was the chief
steward."
"So he Is, my friend. I was only
Jesting. Where did you take him?"
"I took him to Krumerweg. Ho was
there half on hour-No. 40."
"Where did you tako the veiled
lady?"
Tho coachman drew In suddenly.
"I I err, are you from tho police?"
"Thousand thunders, no! It was by
accident that I stood near tho gate
when sho got out Who was she?"
"That ls better. They both told me
that they were giving charity. She
went Into No. 40. You wou't forget
on extra crown, herr?"
"No; I'll nuiko It five. Turn back
and leave nie at the Grand hotel."
On the return to the hotel the station
omnibus bad arrived with a solitary
guest.
"Your excellency," said the concierge,
rubbing his bauds, "a coinpntriot ot
yours orrlved this evening."
"What name?" Indifferently.
"Ho ls Hans Grumbach of New
York."
"An adopted compatriot It would
seem. He'll probably be over to the
consulate tomorrow to havo his pass
ports looked Into. Good night"
So Hans Grumbach passed out of his
mind; but. for all that, fortuno and
opportunity were about to knock on
Carmlchael's door, for there was a
great placo In history ready for Hans
Grumbach
(Continued on page 8.)