Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 276: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A DASH FOR A THRONE. 269 ““T shall leave Captain von Krugen here; and if on any day he does not hear from me, that very day you and the Baroness Gratz must leave the castle under his care, cross the French frontier and fly to Paris. I shall leave full directions as to this with Von Krugen. From Paris your cause can be best fought. But, above all things, be careful not to let your where- abouts be known to any one except the captain. He will know from me how to act.” She sat trembling and agitated. “Why not say at once that the marriage has been broken off, that the plot is abandoned, and cross the frontier immediately? ”’ “ Because I hope to win our way to a far different ending than exile. That is well enough as the last resource of a helpless woman; but these men will find me—well, I will utter no big words till I know more and have done some- thing. I am looking for a stroke of double cunning somewhere, and I do not expect to look in vain. In my view you are safe so long as these men believe we have no suspicion of them; but their attitude toward you may change in a moment. | ” “And now, remember, that even Von Krugen, honest and stanch as [ believe him, must know nothing of our abandonment of the plot on which he has set his hopes. I am compelled to mislead even him; and the secret must be yours and mine—ours only. You promise?” “From the bottom of my heart,” she answered earnestly, putting her hand into mine. ‘“ When shall I see you again?” she added suddenly. “I can be brave when you are with me; and I will try not to play the coward in your absence. But ”—with a sigh—‘“ I have no friend but you.” _ “ Yes, you have a stanch and brave friend in Captain von Krugen,” I an- swered ; “and I shall be back within a few days.” I spoke cheeringly and as though with absolute conviction. “ You have opened a new gate of hope for me, cousin,” she said, as I rose from beside her. “ But the thought of your leaving me is almost like shut- ting it again.” “It shall never be shut if I can help it, until you have passed through to a safe and happy life.” I spoke earnestly as I felt, and with that I left her. I had much to do before I could set out on my journey, and one matter especially troubled me. I must stop Von Fromberg from selling the property of which the old lawyer had spoken to me, and I was at a loss how to commu- nicate with him. send a letter through the post [ dared not; to go to him myself was impos- sible; yet whom could I trust to carry a letter or message. If the sale was not stopped, suspicion would certainly be created; and after much considera- tion, I resolved to word a guarded letter addressed to Henri Frombe, and intrust it to Steinitz. I had meant to take him with me to Braunstadt, lest I should need assistance; but this other matter was more urgent. I sent for him now and charged him on his honor to take the letter, and place it himself in M. Frombe’s hands, when no one else was present; to ask no questions and to answer none; but simply to bring back to me direct to 'Braunstadt the reply, and not to breathe a word to a soul about the mission. COMiICoOOkKs (GO) i