Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-17
'GRAUSTARK !
By.
GEORGE BARR McUTcHEoN /.
Copyright, 1901. by Herbert S. Stone

tlfoE Groom was WIG with eNcltenent.
DO not sign that decree! cried some
one from far corner.
"Here is your man, Prince Bolarozw
cried baron.
"Quinnox has saved us" shouted an
other.
The princess, white as death and rs
motionless, sat bolt upright in her royal
seat
"ohw She moaned piteously, and,
clinching her hands, she carried them
to her eyes as if to shut out the sight.
The Countess Halfont and Dagmar
ran to her side, the latter frantic with
alarm. She knew more than the 9TH
ers
"Are you the fugitivc?" cried Bo-
laroz.
II am Grenfall Lorry. Are you Bo-
laroz2"
The father of the man you murder
cd. All, this is rapturew
II have only to say to your highness
did not kill your son. swear it, SO
help me God!' -
'sYour highness," cried Bolaroz, step.
ping to the throne, destroy that de-
cree. This brave soldier has saved
Graustark. In an hour your ministers
and mine will have drawn up ten
years extension of time, in proper
form, to which my signature shall be
gladly attached. 1 have not forgotten
my PROMISE
Yetive Strengthened suddenly, seized
thespen and fiercely began to sign the
decree in spite of all and before those
about her fairly realized her intention.
Lorry understood and was the first to
snatch the document from her hands
A half written Yctive, blot and Il
long, spluttering scratch of the pen
told how near she had come to signing
away the lands of Graustark. forgetful
of the fact that it could be of no bene-
! fit to the prisoner she loved.
''Yetiye.' gasped her uncle in horror.
'.She would have signed" cried Gas
pom in wonder and alarm.
yes, would have signed!" she ex-
claimed, starting to her feet. strong
and defiant. II could not have saved
his life, perhaps, but l might have
saved him from the crue! injustice that
that mans vengeance would have in.
vented. He is innocent, and / would
give my kingdom to stay the wrong
that will be DONE"
What! You defend the dog!' cried
Ro!aroz Seize him. men! l will see
that Justice is done. 1t is no girl he
has to deal with now"
"Stop!" cried the princess, the COM
mand checking the men. Quinnox
iaaped in front of his charge. "He is
my prisoner. and he shall have justice.
Keep back your soldie;y, Prince Bola-
roz. 1t is a girl you have to deal with.
! will say to You all. my people and
yoars. that believe him to be innocent
and ti.at l sincerely regret his capture,
'f9rtrn:lte as it may be for us. He shall
h;.y., Il fair ana a just trial. and shall
do al in my power, Prince Bolaroz, to
secure his acquittal."
why do you take this stand, Ye-
tive? Why have you tried to shield
him?' cried the heart broken Halfont.
She drew herself to her full height,
and, sweeping the threatening crowd
withsa challenge in her eyes, cried, the
the growing tumult:
Because love him.
AS If by magic TIE room became sud
denly still.
'sBehold an Honest mar. | would
have saved him at the cost of my hoIi-
or. Scorn me if you WILL but listen to
tiis: Fhc' man who stands here ac-
crsed came voluntarily to this castle,
snrfendering himself to Captain Quin-
1ox that he might, though innocent.
stand between us and disaster He
was safe from our pursuit, yet return.
ed, perhaps to his death. For me, for
you and for Graustark he has done
this. Is there man among you who
would have done as much for his own
country? Yet he does this for. a coun-
try to which he is stranger. i must
commit him to prison once more. But"
she cried in sudden fierceness, Il prom
Use him now, before the trial. royal
pardon. Do make my meaning clear
to you, Prince Bolarozg'
The white lips of the old prince could
frame no reply to this daring speech.
BE careful what you say. your high
uess." cried the prisoner hastily. II
must refuse to accept pardon at the
:ost of your honor. 1t is because love
rou better than my life that / stand
here. / cannot allow you and your peo-
ple to suffer when it is in my power to
prevent it. All that l can ask is fair
ness and justice. am not guilty, and
God will protect me. Prince Bolaroz,
call upon you TO keep your promise.
am not the slayer of your son, but
am the man you would send to the
block, guilty or innocent"
AS he spoke the princess dropped
back in the chair, her rash courage
gone. A stir near the doorway fol-
lowed his concluding sentence. and the
other American stepped forward, his
face showing his excitement.
"Your highness," he said, II should
have5spoken sooner. Ny lips were part
ed and ready to cry out when Prince
Gabriel interposed and prevented the
signing Of the decree. Grenfall Lorry
did not kill the young prince. l can
produce the guilty man"