s, where we can ask him some questions," declared Judge
Claiborne.

They discussed the matter in detail. It was agreed that Dick should
remain at the Springs for a few days to watch Chauvenet; then, if he got
no clue to Armitage's whereabouts, he was to go to Montana, to see if
anything could be learned there.

"We must find him--there must be no mistake about it," said the
Ambassador to Judge Claiborne, when they were alone. "They are almost
panic-stricken in Vienna. What with the match burning close to the powder
in Hungary and clever heads plotting in Vienna this American end of the
game has dangerous possibilities."

"And when we have young Armitage--" the Judge began.

"Then we shall know the truth."

"But suppose--suppose," and Judge Claiborne glanced at the door,
"suppose Charles Louis, Emperor-king of Austria-Hungary, should
die--to-night--to-morrow--"

"We will assume nothing of the kind!" ejaculated the Ambassador sharply.
"It is impossible." Then to Captain Claiborne: "You must pardon me if I
do not explain further. I wish to find Armitage; it is of the greatest
importance. It would not aid you if I told you why I must see and talk
with him."

And as though to escape from the thing of which his counsel had hinted,
Baron von Marhof took his departure at once.

Shirley met her brother on the veranda. His arrival had been unheralded
and she was frankly astonished to see him.

"Well, Captain Claiborne, you are a man of mystery. You will undoubtedly
be court-martialed for deserting--and after a long leave, too."

"I am on duty. Don't forget that you are the daughter of a diplomat."

"Humph! It doesn't follow, necessarily, that I should be stupid!"

"You couldn't be that, Shirley, dear."

"Thank you, Captain."

They discussed family matters for a few minutes; then she said, with
elaborate irrelevance:

"Well, we must hope that your appearance will cause no battles to be
fought in our garden. There was enough fighting about here in old times."

"Take heart, little sister, I shall protect you. Oh, it's rather decent
of Armitage to have kept away from you, Shirley, after all that fuss
about the bogus baron."

"Which he wasn't--"

"Well, Sanderson says he couldn't have been, and the rogues' gallery
pictures don't resemble our friend at all."

"Ugh; don't speak of it!" and Shirley shrugged her shoulders. She
suffered her eyes to climb the slopes of the far hills. Then she looked
steadily at her