The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-11-08

Keep your promise and return to
this place by O'Clock tonight"
Il WILL
You need breakfast. Come with
me"
They descended into the not overin.
viting dining room of the inn of NJ.
Jacques, and breakfast was ordered.
by the way" said Wallace careless
ly. 'if return and do not find you, for
whom shall l ask?"
A quick. startled look came into the
eyes of the conspirator,
Now, now" he said, you must not
be too inquistive One would think
you We're of the bureau of safety.
When you return. if am not in sight,
go simply to NJ. Jacques and ask for
the person in whose room you slept
last night"
every WELL" said Wallace. He re-
gretted that he had said anything to
arouse suspicion.
While they were eating. another
sauntered in and whispered to Wal
laces companion. Buckford could hear
now and then a portion of whispered
sentence
"Arrived-th hotel-and the prin-
cess-incognito"-
Excuse me. will see you again to-
night" said the man. rising abruptly
from his unfinished breakfast
81 will be here" said Buckf0rd
The American took his time and
made a good meal He cneu called for
81 cigar. lighted it and Sauntered care.
lessly from the place
AS the gaze of Buckford roved up
and down the somewhat squalid quar-
ter he seemed to feel new emotions,
new sensations of life, that were vast
ly different from the careless and even
reckless boyishness Of former days.
He seemed filed with sense of re,
sponsibility and duty He felt that he
had in his keeping the safety and we'll
being of several people, all of exalted
station and ali perhaps of noble ma
ture He alone, with the exception of
the conspirators. knew that an attempt
was to be made to destroy a family,
The interest lie felt. the impulse that
was so strong upon him to save this
princely family from the assassins.
drove from his mind all bitterness con.
cerning his own affairs 1t was Buck,
fords nature TO throw his Whole being
INTO an interesting project, Therefore
he had no affairs now save the protec-
ZION of the three persons whose photo
graphs he mad seen in the conspira-
tors valise.
His poverty was forgotten. His many
disappontments and failures faded
into nothing He was alert, strong
and ready for the fray. He felt capa-
BILE Of grasping the weapons of craft
and graphing the mystery before him,
Curious eyes followed him from the
cafe. but lie did not see them. He
would not have cared if he had seen
them He walked with light tread,
/ He felt himself a conqueror,
After this little eXhiaration had
passed the stern realities and necessi.
ties Of the case forced themselves
upon him.
He did not know the name of one
OF the persons whose champion he had
become. He had heard the name
Marie AleXia, it was true. He had also
heard the name Princess Margaret.
But he had also heard the whispered
| word "incoGnito."
This Httlt word brought dsquieting
thoughts. 1t proved two things. One
was that the persons involved were {
higher degree than he had supposed,
for only princes of royal or ruliT =
houses Travelled ncognito Surely this
prince was of a powerful house or was
a man of exalted position and great
wealth and sought freedom from an.
noyance and attacks by the use of an
adopted name, The other thing proved
was that the matter of protecting or
warning this prince was going to be no
| light or easy matter
One can 90 to Brown, Jones or Rob
/ lhson and say: "Bewarei An enemy
is on your track" But when one
approaches the person of prince he 5
| as likely to be arrested as to have an
opportunity to give his warning. And
when the prince is incognito the diff
Guilty of finding him is added.
Buckford Il ought all these things
out as he walked along.
Well if | expect to accomplish any
thing ! must make a beginning" he
said to himself. The way TO begin is
to begin Now, what shall do frst?"
He had pondered this question but q
moment when another idea struck him.
1T is a good scheme to know your
resources" he said II will count my
money"
He withdrew into secluded place
and counted the money in the purse
the cOnspirator had given him.
Good" he said Money must come
easy to those fellows There is enough
here to keep me week. Now let's see.
If these people are already in Paris,
their names must be on the hotel reg,
lister at police headquarters. If they
are incognito ] could never find them,
must 90 TO the police"
This seemed not to please him, for
rueful look came on his handsome face.
Il don't like that, either" he said.
'Ill never see that lovely princess"
| Then again:
But what the mischief has a lovely