The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-30

49, N-N ~ f
Therefore 1 am in no way responsible for
the conditions which confront you. except
that I am an honest creditor. come for his
honest dues. This is the 10Th of November.
You have had fifteen years to accumulate
enough to meet the requirements of this
day. Should 1 suffer for your faults? There
is in the treaty a provision which applies
to an emergency of this kind. Your in
ability to liquidate in gold does not pre-
vent the payment of this honest debt in
land, as provided for in the sixth clause
Of the agreement. All that part Of Graus-
tark north of a line drawn directly from
east to west between the provinces of Can
look and Doswan, a tract comprising Dos
wan, SheIlotz, Varagan. Oswald. Sesmai,
and Gattabatton.' You have two alterna-
tives, your Majesty. Produce the gold or
sign the decree ceding to Axphain the
lands stipulated in the treaty. 1 can grant
no respite"
you knew when that treaty was framed
that we could raise no such funds in fifteen
years" said Halfont, forgetting himself in
his Indignation. Gaspon and other men
present approved his hasty declaration.
Am 1 dealing with the Princess of
Graustark or with you, sir?" asked Be-
laroz. roughly.
'You are dealing with the people of
Graustark, and among the poorest, 1. l will
sign the decree. There is nothing to be
gained by appealing to you. The papers,
Gaspon, quick! 1 would w this transac-
ton finished speedily" cried the princess,
her cheeks flushing and her eyes glowing
from the flames of a burning conscience.
The groan that went up from the northern
mobiles cut her like the slash of a knife.
There was one other condition. said
Bolaroz, hastily, unable to gloat as he had
expected. The recapture of the assassin
who slew my son would have meant much
to Graustark. 1t is unfortunate that your
police department is so inefficient" Dan
gloss writhed beneath this thrust. Yetive's
eyes went to him, for an instant, sorrow
fully. Then they dropped to the fatal docu-
ment which Gaspon had placed on the table
before her. The lines ran together and were
the color Of blood. Unconsciously she took
the pen in her nerveless fingers. A deep
sob came from the breast of her gray old
uncle, and Gaspon's hand shook like a
leaf as he placed the seal of Graustark on
the table, ready for use.
"The assassin's life could nave saved
you" went on Bolaroz, a vengeful glare
coming to his eyes.
She looked up and her lips moved as if
she would have spoken. No words came, no
breath, it seemed to her. Casting a piteous,
hunted glance over the faces before her,
she bent forward and blindly touched the
| pen to the paper. The silence was that of
death. Before she could make the first
stroke, a harsh voice, in which there was
combined triumph and amazement, broke
the stiffness like the changing of a bell.
Have you no honor?"
The pen dropped from her fingers as the
expected condemnation came. Every eye in
the house was turned toward the white,
twitching face of Gabriel of Dawsbergen.
He stood a little apart from his friends, his
finger pointed t~hroneward. TIL princess
stared at the nemesis-like figure for an in
slant, as if petrifed. Then the pent-up fear
crowded everything out of its path. In
sheer desperation, her eyes flashing with
the intensity of defiant guilt. bitter rage
yelling UP against her prosecutor, she half
arose and cried:
"Who uttered those words? Speak,"
'I, Gabriel of Dawsbergeni Where is the
prisoner, madam rang out the voice.
9TH man is mad!' cried she, sinking
back with a shudder.
Mad. Ell? Because I do as I did promise?
Behold the queen of peridy! Madam, 1 will
be heard. Lorry is in this c~astle!''
HE is mad!' gasped Bolaroz, the first
Of the stunned spectators to find his
tongue.
There was a commotion near the door.
Voices were heard outside.
you have been duped!' insisted Gabriel,
taking several steps toward the throne.
your idol is a traitress, a deceiverl 1 say
he is here, She has seen him. Let her sign
that decree if she dares! 1 command you,
Yetive of Graustark, to produce the crimi-
nal!'
The impulse to crush the defler was
checked by the sudden appearance of two
men inside the curtains.
HE is herel' cried a strong voice, and
Lorry, breathless and haggard, pushed
through the astonished crowd, followed by
Captain Quinnox, upon whose CHASTITY face
there were bloodstains.
A shout went up from those assembled, a
shout of joy. The faces of Dangloss and
Abode were pictures of establishment and
it must be ~said-relief. Harry Anguish
staggered but recovered himself instantly,
and turned his eyes toward Gabriel. That
| NOlluS , 1888 llCuIblSu anu Ills Jaw
dropped.
81 have the prisoner, your Majesty" said
Quinnox, in hoarse, discordant tones. He
stood before the throne with his captive,
but dared not look mis- mistress in the face.
AS they stood there the story of the night
just passed was told by the condition of
the two men. There had been a struggle
for supremacy in the dungeon and the
prisoner had won. The one had tried to
hold the other to the dungeons safety,
after his refusal to leave the castle, and
the other had fought his way to the halls
above. 1t was then that Quinnox had wit
enough to change front and drag his pris-
oner to the place which, most of all, he
had wished to avoid.
9Th prisoneri' shouted the northern
mobiles, and in an instant the solemn throne
room was wild with excitement.
do not sign that decreeI' cried some
one from a far corner.
Here is your man, Price Bolaroz!'
cried a baron.
"Quinnox has saved usr' shouted an
other.
The princess. white as death and as mo-
tionless. sat bolt upright in her royal seat.
'Oh!" she moaned, piteously, and, clench-
ing her hands, she carried them to her eyes
as if TO shut out the sight. The Countess
Halfont and Dagmar ran to her side, the
$500 - CT