The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
By HERBERT. S STONE g GO.

IecuOn than ever, AT the castle gates he
1ans, crazed with anger over the flight Of
the man whose life they had thirsted for
so ravenOusly. Had he been unprotected,
Anguish would have Jared badly at their
hands, for they were OutspOken in the
assertions that he had aided Lorry in the
glove in the Americans face and expect
ed challenge Anguish snapped his
fingers and sarcastically invited the in
sulter to meet him next winter in a bat
tie with snOwballs upon which the ag-
gresSOr blasphemed in three languages
and three hundred gestures. Anguish
and his men passed inside the gates,
which had been barred to the others, and
struck out rapidly for the castle doors.
The Princess Yetive was sleeping
soundly, peacefully, with smile on 1er
lips, when her Prime Minister sent an
excited attendant to inform her Of the
prisoners escape. She sat up in bed and
with her hands clasped about her knees
sleepily announced that she would come
down directly after her coffee was served
to the monastery, the dangerous return,
her entrance to the castle through the
secret subterranean passage and the safe
arrival in her own room. All had gone
well and he was safe. She smiled quaint
ly as she glanced at the bundle Of clothes
on the floor blue and black and red
They had been removed in the unC er-
ground passage and a loose gown substt-
tuted. but she had carried them to ne
chamber with the intention of placing
them for the time being in the old mahog-
any chest that held so many OF her child
hood treasures. Springing out Of bed, she
depths, turned and removed the key
which had always remained in the lock.
Then she summoned her maids.
Her uncle and aunt, the Countess Dag
mar (whose merry brown eyes were 50
full of pretended dismay that the Prin-
cess could scarcely restrain a smile), and
GaSpOn, the Minister or t1nance, WeFe
awaiting her appearance. She heard the
Counts story Of the escape, marveled at
the prisoners audacity, and firmly an
cd hat rrrG In
be done to apprehend him. With per-
picked frown on her brow and a dubious
twist to her lips she said:
Il suppose I must offer reward"
Certainly! exclaimed her uncle.
About fifty gavvos, UncleF
"Fifty! cried the two men, aghast.
isn't that enOugh?
'For the murderer Of a Prince?" de-
manded Gaspon. 1T would be absurd,
your Highness. He is a most important
person"
''Quite so; he is a most important per-
son. think I'll offer five thousand
more like it. He is worth that, at
least" agreed Uncle Caspar.
Beyond a doubt" sanctioned Gaspon.
81 am glad you do not consider me eX-
travagant," she said, demurely. You
may have the placards printed at once,
she went on, addressing the treasurer;
"Say that a reward of five thousand
gavvoS will be paid to the person VINO
delivers Grenfan Lorry to me-"
Would it not be better to say 'deltv-
ers Grenfau Lorry to the towerP' sub
you may say to the undersigned and
sign my name, she said, rehectiVely.
Very well, your Highness. They shall
be struck off this morning"
'In large type, Gaspon. You must
catch him If you can," she added. He Is
a very dangerous man and royalty needs
protection" With this wise bit Of eau
ton she dismissed the subject and began
to talk of the storm
AS the two young plotters were hasten
fpor ha al a nn attendant
approached and informed the Princess
that Mr. Anguish requested an audience.
her ewes Sparkling with triumph. In the
seclusion Of the boudotr she and tho
Countess laughed like children over the
reward that had been so solemnly or
Five thousand gavvos?' cried Dag
mar, leaning back in her chair, to en-
phasize the delight she felt. What
Tap, tap! came a knock on the door.
and in the same instant 1t flew open.
for Mr.: Anguish was in hurry. AS he
plunged into their presence a pair Of
heels found the floor spasmodically.
"oh. I beg .Rardonr' he gaassped. as If
Not unless You go outside. You are
already in, it seems said the Princess,
advancing to meet him. The Countess
was very still and sedate. Il am so glad
you have come.
Heard about Lorry2 The fool is out
and gone" he cried, unable to restrain
61nS6n. a
him to the dtvan, and, between them, he
soon had the whole story poured into his
ears. the Princess on one side, the COun-
tess on the other.
'rYou are a wonderP' he exclaimed,
when all the facts were known to him.
He executed a little dance Of approval,
entirely out of place in the boudoir Of a
vafIing sentiment. But what's to be-
come Of me?" he asked, after cooling
down. 'I have no excuse for remaining
III 10 70 In,xr
.'Oh, I have made plans for you.' said
she. You are to be held as hostage"
what"
'I thought Of pour predicament last
night, and here is the solution. This very
day I shall issue an order forbtdding you
the right to leave Edelweiss- You will
not be In prison, but your every movement
will be watched. A strong guard will have
you under surveillance, and any attempt
to escape or to communicate with your
his detection. In this way you may stay
here until the time comes to fly. The AK
phain people must be satisfied, you know.
Your freedom will not be disturbed; you
may come and go as you like, but you are
ostensibly prisoner. BY OBTAINING you
needed needed here. There IS ruS' no other way wa @i in
which you can explain continued pres
ence in Graustark. Is not my plan good
one?"
cheeks and glowing eyes,
"It is beyond comparison" he said, ris-
ing and bowling low. 80 shrewd is this
plan that you make me a hostage for
ever; I shall not escape it's memory if
live to be a thousand" J"
And so it was settled, in this pretty
drama Of deception. that Harry Anguish
was to be held In Edelweiss as hostage.
At parting she said, seriously:
"a great deal depends on your discre-
ton, Mr. Anguish My guards will watch
your every action, for they are not In the
secret-excepting QuinnOx-and any at
tempt on your part to communicate with
Grenfall Lorry will be fatal"
Trust to me, your HiShness. I have
had much instruction in wisdom to-day
'I hope we shall see you often" she
said.
''Dai1y-as hostage" he replied, glanc-
ing toward the Countess.
''That means until the other man IS cap
tured," said that young lady saucily
AS he left the castle he gazed at the
distant building in the sky and wondered
how it had ever been approached in a
carriage. She had not told him that AL
lode drove for miles over winding roads
that lead to the monastery up a geatler
slope from the rear.