The San Francisco call., 1901-12-22

other dignitaries the fair ruler
came into the room and ad-
vanced between the bowling lines Of
courtfers to the spot where sat the
man who held Graustark in his grasp.
A slender. graceful figure in black.
proud and serious, she walked un-
hesitatingly TO the old mans side. II she
feared him, II she was impressed by his
power, she did not show 1t. The little
drama had two stars Of equal magnitude
neither of whom acknowledged supremacy
in The other
BolarOz arose as she drew near. his
Aaunt face black and unfriendly. She ex-
tended her hand graciously, and he, a
Prince for all his wrath, touched his
trembling lips to it's white smooth back.
Il come in grief and sadness to your
court, most glorious HetiVe. My burden
Of sorrow is greater than I can bear" he
said, hoarsely.
Would that I could give you consola-
tion," she said, sitting in the chair re-
served for her use at council gatherings.
Alas! IL grieves me than I can offer
nothing more than words"
You are the one he would have made
his wife" said the old Prince, sitting be-
side her. He looked into her deep blue
eyes and tears sprung to his own. His
voice 1aileo him, and long moments passed
before he could control his emotion. Truly
she pitied him in his bereavement.
Then followed a formal discussion Of the
crime and the arrangement Of details in
connection with the removal Of the dead
Prince from Graustark to his own land.
These matters settled, Bolaroz said that
he had heard Of the nurderer's escape
and asked what effort was being made to
recapture him Yetive related all that
had happened, expressing humiliation over
the fact that her officers had been unable
TO accomplish anything, adding that she
old not believe the fugitive could get away
from Graustark safely without her
knowledge. The old Prince was working
Cimsef back into the violent rage that
% had been temporarily subdued, and at last
broke out in q vicious denuncia ton of the
carelessness that had allowed the man to
escape. He first insisted that Dangloss
and his incompetent assistants be thrown
into prison for life or executed for Grim
mai negligence: then he demanded the life
Of Harry Anguish as an alder and abettor
In the fight Of the murderer. In both
cases the Princess firmly refused to take
the action demanded. She warmly de-
Tended Dangloss and his men, and an
nOunced in no uncertain tones that she
would not order the arrest Of the remain
ing American. Then she acquainted him
with her intention TO detain Anguish as
hostage and to have his every action
watched in the hope that a clue TO the
whereabouts Of the fugitive might be lis
covered, providing. Of course. that the
friend knew anything at all about The
matter. The Duke Of Mizrox and others
loudly Joined in the cry for Anguish's ar
rest, but she bravely held out against
them and in the end curtly informed
them that the American. whom she be-
lieved 70 be innocent Of all completely in
the escape. should be subjected to no n
dignity other than detention IN the city
under guard as she had ordered.
~
prison at once" snarled the white-lipped
BOlarCz
Her eyes flashed and her bosom heaved
with anger.
You are not at liberty to command in
Graustark, Prince BOlaroz." she said.
slowly and distinctly. I am ruler here"
The heart Of every Graustark nobIeman
leaped with pride at this daring rebuff.
BOlaroz gasped and was speechless for
some seconds.
You shall not be ruler long, madam"
he said, inadvertently, significantly.
But I am ruler now, and, as such, I
command you TO withdraw from my cas-
tie, sir. I did not know that I was to
submit TO these threats and insults, or 1
should not have been kind enough to
grant you an audience, Prince though
you are. When I came to this room #
was to give you my deepest sympathy
You have lost son, ! my betrothed. It
i'll becomes you. Prince Bolaroz, to vent
your Kindicuveness upon me. My men
are doing al in their power to capture
the man who has 50 unfortunately es-
capped from our clutches, and shall not
allow you or any one else TO dictate the
manner in which we are 10 proceed" She
uttered these words cuttingiy. and, al
their conclusion, arose to leave the room
Bolaroz heard her through in surprise
and with conflicting emotions There
was no mistaking her Indignation, so he
deemed x policy to bottle his wrath,
overlook the most offensive rebuke his
vanity had ever received, and submit 70
what was evidently a just decision.
Stay, your Highness. ] submit to your
proposition regarding the other stranger,
although ! doubt its wisdom. There is
but one IN whom 'am really interested
the ore who killed my son. There is to
be no cessation in the effort to find him,
am to understand. I now have a propo-
sition. With me are 300 of my bravest
soldiers. ] offer them to you in order
that you may better prosecute the search.
They win remain here and you may use
them fn my way YOU see fit The Duke
Of AIizrox will llnger IN Edelweiss and
with him you and yours may always con-
fer. He, also, is at your command. This
man must be retsken. I swear. by all that
IS cBOke ana DclDW me- ne Sl4dlA DE AOdllLs
i ] hunt the world over to accom-
plish that end. He shall not escape
my vengeancei And bark you 10
this On the twentieth Of next month 1
shall demand payment Of the debt due
Axphain. So deeply is my heart set on
the death Of this Grenfall Lorry that 1
agree row, before all these friends Of
ours, that If he be captured and executed
IN ny presence before the twentieth of
November Graustark shall be granted
the extension Of time that would have
lObtaine6 in the event Of your espousal
with the man he killed. You hear this
offer al2 1t is bound by my sacred
word OF honor. His death before the
twentieth gives Graustark ten years of.
grace. If he is still at large I shall claim
my own This offer. I believe most gra-
cious Yetive, viii greatly encourage your
people in the effort TO capture the man
we seek"