Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-06

done here. The prince is no doubt safe
in his palace at Trollc."
AS the hurried whisper stopped, Vol
ner claspcd his hands in excitement
and paced up and down tie room.
NO! That is the worst of it"!' he
said, with q groan. 'If the prince had
come direct from Paris, he would now
be safely surrounded by his faithful
people. But he fingered in Berlin, and
now, worse the luck could never be,
he comes by way of Ontro, and Cas-
parin is strong only in the region Of
the Green forest. past which the prince
must so to reach Trolle.
"And here am /, with all my house
hold. penned up by an order of Cas-
parin. whose tenan in arrears l am SO
unfortunate as to be.
"Ha! 1 see through the plot now
as through a window glass. Casparin
is not strong enough here to attempt
open violence Ill my house. There
are friends of Prince Charles in these
parts. But for that, my brave Ameri-
can friend, you would undoubtedly
have been killed while you were IN
conscious and unable to tell this story
Of perfidy.
"But now Casparin, using only such
authority as he possesses as my land
lord, holds US all within the confines
CT our farm while he and his crime
stained comrades plan to STAY the
prince. Then, when Casparin is SUI
preme, we may be sacrificed as he
wills-my daughter to this French
scoundrel and l perhaps to death and
you certainly.
"By heaven! l will get out! / will sad
die my horse and fly to meet the prince
beyond Ontro. There l will warn him
and'-
"You will do no such thing" said
Adria, planting herself firmly before
her father. "a line plan that would be.
And what would become of my mother,
of me and of our guest here with you,
our defender, away?"
But the prince must be warned, my
daughter! Think! Would you have
me sit idly III the house, afraid to stir,
while our noble prince and his lovely
princess are perhaps shot down in cold
blood?"
1.-The prince shall be warned in time,"
said Adria firmly. 81 insist, however,
that you remain. Suppose you succeed
in dashing past the bailiff guards.
What then? The news goes to Caspa-
rim. HE understands that the plot is
exposed and the prince will be warned.
In revenge he will come here in force
and STAY us ALL"
Eyes, yes, there is truth in what you
sayw groaned Volner, with increasing
agitation. But what can we do"
81 shall warn the prince"
"You"
Volner stopped short and looked
aghast at his pretty daughter.
II shall warn the prince. Is there
one near here who can outride me on
the black mare? With the feetest
horse in Casparin's stables laundering
at her heels the black mare will reach
Ontro safely"
But you could not get away. How
would you pass the bailiffsy'
"That ! must leave till l reach them.
Trust me. father. This brave Amer
lean has already taught us a lesson.
He has placed his life a dozen times in
danger for a prince he does not know.
And now should we do less for that
same prince who is a friend and pro-
tector to all that is good in DenesliaT"
NO." said Volner, with a tremor;
mo, WE cannot do less than the stran.
ger. But ! dread. oh, how l dread, to
have you make this attemptY!
She did not wait to listen further.
Buckford, exhausted by the effort OF
making so long a speech, had sunk into
a deep slumber.
Adria spoke to her mother, gave di.
rections concerning the care of the
American and quietly slipped away.
In a short time she reappeared CLAD
In a neat fitting riding habit.
SADDLE my black mare" she said to
one of the stablemen.
"But, Miss Adria, you cannot leave
the place." was the reply.
Saddle the mare, and we will see,'
said Adria.
So the mare was saddled, and a pref.
ty picture made Adria as she cantered
along the smooth road to the principal
gate Of the farm.
"Why does she choose the gate?'
queried Volner, watching from a win.
dow. 81 would have tried a weaker
force. There are four men there"
But Adria rode on till the bride of
her mare was taken in hand by one of
the guards at the gate.
"Sorry, Miss Adria." he said. at Is
against u orders. His %highness Prince
Casparin has instructed us to allow no
one to leave the farm"
"Not even to ride to see Casparin
himself? asked Adria.
"Oh-ah-that Is something different!
l suppose that could be done. But an
escort must go with you"
81 agree to that, certainly" said Ad-
ria. Two or three of you should be
able to protect the country from re.
ceiving harm at my hands,"
He laughed an abashed, shamed
SORT OF laugh-and said:
Il trust you will pardon us. We are
but obeying orders. l will accompany
you to the castle, You will not be an.