"CLEAR THE TRACK!"

(FREIE BAHN)

A STORY OF TO-DAY

BY

E. WERNER

Author of "The Alpine Fay," "Banned and Blessed," "Danira,"
"Vineta," "At a High Price," etc. etc.

TRANSLATED BY MARY STUART SMITH

THE TRADE SUPPLIED BY

THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS COMPANY

LONDON   LEIPSIC

Copyright, 1893.
BY
ERNST KEIL'S NACHFOLGER

[All rights reserved]

CONTENTS.

CHAP.

1. The Feast of Flowers at Nice

2. In Council

3. "See the Path is Clear to a Grand Career"

4. Odensburg Manor

5. A Victory Wop

6. In Which More Than One Charmer Charms

7. Cecilia Visits Radefeld

8. A Bough of Apple-Blossoms

9. The Cross on the Whitestone

10. Maia's Choice

11. A Secret Foe and Open Enemy

12. The Goal in Sight

13. Runeck leaves Odensburg

14. How an Old Bachelor makes Love

15. A Wedding Day

16. Scenes at the "Golden Lamb"

17. Election Times

18. Fortune Smiles on Victor Eckardstein

19. "Off With the Old Love, On With the New"

20. Maia Must be Saved

21. From Heights of Bliss to Depths of Woe

22. His Sin had found Him out

23. A Lover's Tryst

24. A Deed that Wipes Out Old Scores

25. 'Twixt Life and Death

26. How Forces that Are Opposed May Blend

CLEAR THE TRACK!

CHAPTER I.

THE FEAST OF FLOWERS AT NICE.

A spring day at the South! Sky and sea are radiant in their deep blue, flooded with light and splendor, the waves breaking gently upon the shores of the Riviera, to which spring had already come in all its glory, while, at the North, snow-storms are still raging.

Here rests golden sunshine upon the white houses and villas of the town, that embraces the shore within the radius of a vast semicircle, adorned by lofty palms, and embowered in the green of the laurel and myrtle. Among thousands of shrubs, the camellia is conspicuous from its wealth of bloom, in every stage of perfection, its colors ranging from pure white to richest crimson; and could anything excel the richness of its glistening foliage? From the adjacent hills hoary monasteries look down, and modern churches surrounded by tall cypress trees; friendly orchards stand out from pine and olive groves, and in the distance the blue Alps, with their snow-crowned summits, are half hidden in sunny mist.

Nice was celebrating one of its spring-and-flower festivals, and the whole city