Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-16

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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
am yet heir presumptive. There is yet
time to accomplish this. / had sup
posed to find it easier in Paris, where
these things are done without difficulty
as rule, than in Trolle, where the en-
erget;c Duvally has his myrmidons at
all ties 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. lie now felt 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
1t 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 a 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,"
said 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
dow
There was 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 contidants in various parts
OF the world. l have laid before you
all my plans and have named the sew
eral rewards you may expect il 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 20
with me to Deneslia and there carry
out the plans that have been interrupt
ed here"
"Trolle is not Paris" said one. "We
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,
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 1 come to
the throne
"Then if we attempt that which is far
more dangerous and difficult than what
we agreed to do" said Vandal, sit is
right that our rewards should be in
creased accordingly. For myself, I
have seen the Princess Marie Alexia.
II you become ruling prince of Denes-
liza, l should desire to become your
brother-in-law. One does not assassi-
nate his brother-in-law SO quickly as
| an outsider"
But in the case before us It 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 20 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 a
lovely bride, there Is one who is second
only to Marie. That is Adria Yolner,
the fiancee Of Bosso Duvally. She is a
beauty after the same style as Marie
and will suit you as we'll"
81 suppose must be content" said
Vandal. "Then am. to receive mil
lion francs, high position among your
advisers and this beautiful Adria Vol
ner for bride?'
Eyes, and these, our two able friends
and aids, shall each receive half mil
lion francs and their pick Of Deneslian
beauties if they wish to marry and set
tie in my country"
THAT is fair offer," said one.
"What do you say, Reber?"
Buckford started. One voice had all
along seemed strangely familiar, but
the exciting circumstances made it i'm
possible to recall where he had heard
it. 1t flashed upon him.
Reber was the mon who had met him
on the bridge and introduced him into
this circle OF fascinating cutthroats.
81 think it is fair" said Reber "But
that face of yours, friend Robello
would not be pleasing to the young
Deneslian beauty"
Let my face alone!" growled the
man called Robello, and Buckford made
u mental note. -
Now" he said, 81 know the -four