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

she has not nored"
"Well," said the other, "Vandal is a
Partisan and knows thing or two"
The footsteps Of the two speakers
were now heard close to the little door.
Buckford, remembering the remark,
Lets take look at this one" lay
down on the floor and assumed posi-
before been lying.
!! A key sounded in the lock, and the
door opened.
"He has not moved
No one came near him. One glance
sutiiced to prove to the two men that
he had been lying in that position since
he had been brought to the room.
The door was again shut and the lock
clicked.
Buckford slowly opened his eyes to
make sure no one had remained in his
room. He saw no one and sprang to
his feet and applied his ear at the key
hole again.
His heart was heavy, for he realized
now that Monroe had been killed. This
brought wildly to his mind the danger
in which he stood, and his nerves be-
came stronger as he drew himself to-
gether and resolved to combat this
brotherhood Of crime with all the skill
and energy he possessed.
He heard the voices again.
what time did his highness say ne
would be here?" asked one.
"Oh you cannot limit his highness to
a moment Casparin is the most I'M
certain of men. But he will be here
soon, no doubt"
So there was another highness in the
game. Buckford was using his ears
and brains now as he had never used
them before.
This Casparin, whom they called his
highness, could not be the Prince Of
Deneslia, against whom they had plot
ted.
Monroe had told him who the Prince
of Deneslia was. He had described the
beauty of the Princess Marie Alexia
Buckford was more than ever resolved
to defeat the plot against them.
1T is unfortunate that Vandal was
shot" said one of the voices. THAT
American did some damage before we
got him.
Eyes, but it was lucky he did not kill
Vandal. The other did not matter so
much"
Good" said Buckford to himself.
81 am glad killed one. l wish 1 had
killed Vandal. 1 may have another
crack at him yet"
Another step was heard outside and
then another.
Buckford now turned his head to get
a peep through the accommodating
keyhole.
lie saw but small portion of the
outer room. 1t was we'll furnished,
had table and chairs in the center,
and in the chairs sat two men. One
Of these was the man he had shot,
Fandal, and the other was one of the
two who had been previously talking.
In another portion of the room, hid
den from Buckford's sight, were two
more, one who had been there before
and one newcomer.
"Well," said a voice, "our game has
been spoiled in Paris. That dashed
American by his meddling has aroused
) the police. We cannot do thing now
until the prince leaves Paris" The
voice sounded familiar to Buckford.
The person speaking was the pretend
ed agent Of police.
"Then your highness has not given
UP the idea?" said the voice Of Vandal.
Given it up?"
; A harsh voice followed the words.
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
I. 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 moment there was silence.
Il am not prepared to say" came the
slow, steely voice Of Casparin Rock
millive, that I wish particularly tt
destroy my sister-in-law, the Princess
> Margaret. Had been the heir to the
throne of Deneslia instead Of my broth
er would have been the husband Of