The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-12-13
A harsh voice followed the words.

I
did you ever know Casparin Rock
millive to give up an idea until he had
made it success"
Buckford thrilled again. So this
speaker was Casparin Rockmillive.
The incognito Of the Prince of Denes-
| liza was the Count of Rockmillive.
They were, then. relatives of each 9th
er. The plot against the Prince of
Deneslia was beginning to take shape
and substance. Buckford had hereto
fore been working against vapor of
suspicion. Now he was gaining sub
stantial knowledge of what the plot
involved.
MY illustrious brother and sister
have already determined to leave Paris
and return to Deneslia," said the voice
of Casparin. "They will undoubtedly
take up their residence in the palace
at Trolle, the capital, until the birth of
| the heir"
"And it is this event that your high.
ness must prevent?"
For a moment there was silence.
II am not prepared to say" came the
millive, "that l wish particularly to
| destroy my sister-in-law, the Princess
Margaret. Had l been the heir to the
| throne of Deneslia instead of my broth
| er would have been the husband Of
| Margaret Granville, but the mighty
ambition of the American heiress rose
| even to the throne itself, and she took
my more fortunate brother. Yet, even
to accomplish my designs and win the
| throne of DeneSlia for myself, l will
sacrifice her. But prefer, as had al
| ready made clear when the bungling
Reber brought that American in to
| spoil our plan, say l prefer to XII
that is, get. rid Of the prince while I
| am yet heir presumptive. There is yet
time to accomplish this. l had sup
posed to find it easier in Paris, where
these things are done without difficulty
as rule, than in Trolle, where the en-
ergetic Duvally has his myrmidons at
all times on the alert.
81 know now, however, that the work
cannot be done in Paris. We must
wait till we reach Trolle. Then Duval-
| ly himself must go. And with him out
Of the way, we can easily reach the
prince"
Buckford became more and more alb
sorbed. He now felt a national inter-
est in the affair. He was fighting now
not only for the life of prince and
princess, but for the Inheritance of the
child of an American girl.
He remembered now when Margaret
Granville, one of the most beautiful
and richest of American girls, married
Prince Charles of Deneslia. He was
not then the ruling prince. The match
was love match, the wedding a quiet
one, and Buckford had thought little of
it at the time. And now he was listen
ing to the brutal details of dreadful
plot against his fair countrywoman.
His fists clenched, his teeth were set
firmly together, and he lost even his
last lingering regret that he had be-
come involved in case that so seri-
ously threatened his life.
Il will get out of this alive" he said,
"and will meet this wonderful Duval-
ly, and between us We'll see what can
be DONE"
Il suppose, then, your highness,"
sald one OF the men, "that we are
now released from all connection with
the case. If so, what about our re-
ward for what we have endeavored to
do?
There was a low sarcastic laugh
from Prince Casparin.
1T Is not the rule usually" he said,
Ito reward failures in matters of this
kind. Nor is it advisable to have sew
eral sets Of confidants in various parts
Of the world. l have laid before YOU
Oil my plans and have named the sew
eral rewards you may expect if 1 am
enabled by your assistance to make
myself the ruling prince Of Deneslia. 1
think, gentlemen, it will be much bet
ter for all concerned for you to go
with me to DeneSlia and there carry
out the plans that have been interrupt
ed here"
"Trolle is not Paris" said one. eve
would not have the assistance of the
brotherhood, who do our bidding with
| out even wishing. to know the object"
But l have willing servitors in De-
neslia," said Casparin. ''They are not,
l think, as shrewd as my Partisan
friends, but they will do in emergen-
cies. l wish, however, to confine the
secret to us four. 1t is enough. -Four
men who know the truth will be
enough for me to carry when come to
the throne"
"Then if we attempt that which is far
more dangerous and difficult than what
we agreed to do" said Vandal, ait is
| right that our rewards should be in
creased accordingly. For myself, l
have seen the Princess Marie Alexia.
Ir you become ruling prince of Denes-
lia, should desire to become your
brother-in-law. One does not assassi-
nate his brother-in-law so quickly as
Qn outsider"
But in the case before us 1t is the
brother" said Casparin, with a cruel
laugh. "What you ask is impossible.
l know that Marie is the fairest girl in
all Europe. But her hand must go to
Russia. In the plans have mapped
out for the future greatness of Denes-
liza have absolute need of Russian as
sistance and backing. Why can you
! not be content with the wealth and po-
sition l have offered? And, as for
lovely bride. there is one who is second
only to Marie. That is Adria Volner,
the f1ancee of Bosso Duvally. She is a
bpaufV aftpr fhp same STYLE as Maria