The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-01-03

Then your highness has not given
UP the idea.' sa4d lAc voice OF Nandal
Given II up"
n harsh voice followed the words.
Did you ever now Iasparin Rock
milllve &C. give VI idea Until he had
made il a success
Buckford thrilled again. So this
speaker was Casparin Rockmlllive.
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
Dencslia was beginning to take shape
and substance. Buckford had hereto
fore been working against a vapOr OF
suspicion. Now he was gaining sub
stantial knowledge of what the plot
involved.
'My ilustrious brother and sister
have already determined to leave Paris
and return 20 Deneslia," said the voice
of Casparin. "They will undoubtedly
take up their residence in the palace
at TYo..e. tine capital. until the birth Of
the heir"
And it il this event that your high
ness must PREVENT
For moment there was silence.
II am not prepared TO say" came the
slow, steely voice of Casparin Rock
millive. that wish particularly TO
destroy my sister-in-law, the Princess
Margaret Had | been the heir to the
throne of Deneslia instead of my broth
err | would have been the husband or
Margaret Granville, but the mighty
ambition of the American heiress rose
even 10 the throne itself, and she took
nv more fortunate brother. Yet. even
TO accomplish my designs and win the
throne of DeneSlia for myself, | will
sacrifice her. But | prefer, as had al
ready made clear when the bungling
RebCr brought that American in TO
spoil our plan. | say | prefer 10 XII
that is, get rid of the prince while l
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 Il rule, than in Trolle, where the en-
ergetic Duvally has his myrmidons at
all times on the alert.
AZ know now, however, that the work
cannot be done in Paris. We must
wait till we reach Trolle Then Duval
~ 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 a love match, the wedding a quiet
one. and Buckford had thought little of
1t at the time. And now he was listen
ing 10 the brutal details of a 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,
land | Will meet this wonderful Duval-
~, and between us well 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 endcavored to
doT
There was low sarcastic laugh
from Prince Casparin.
1T is not the rule usually" he said,
ito reward failures i'm matters of this
kind Nor is it advisable TO have sew
eral sets Of confidantS in various parts
Of the world. | have laid before you
all my plans and have named the sew
eral rewards you may expect if am
enabled by your assistance TO make
myself the ruling prince of Deneslia.
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. 1--WE
would not have the assistance Of the
brotherhood who do our bidding with
out even wishing TO know the object"
But | 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. / wish, however. to confne the
secret to us four. 1t is enough Four
men who know the truth will be
enough for me to carry when l 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,
have seen the Princess Marie Alexia.
If you become ruling prince of Denes-
| liza, | should desire to become your
brother-in-law. One does not assassi-
nate his brother-in-law so quickly as
an outsider"