Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-25

i II
Don't pou dare to drunk that toast"
end. His royal highness is doomed"
IYorry spoke with the earnestness and
conviction of one who is permitted to
see into the future.
Calmly he prepared to write some
letters, not to say farewell but to ex-
plain to certain persons the cause of
the duel and TO say that he gloried in
the good fortune which had presented
itself. One of these letters was adj
dressed to his mother, another to the
father of Prince LorenZ and the last
to the Princess of Graustark. To the
latter he wrote much that did not APP
pear In the epistlcs directed to the 9TH
ers. Anguish had been in his loom
more than an hour and had frequently
called to his friend and begged him
to secure what rest he could in order
that their nerves might be steady in
the morning But it was not until
after midnight that the duelst sealed
the envelopes, directed them and
knocked at his seconds door to say:
IL shall intrust these letters to you
Harry. You must see that they start
OH their way tomorrow"
Then he went to bed and to sleep.
AT 6 o'clock his second. who had
slept but little, called him. They
dressed hurriedly and prepared for the
ride to the valley. Their own new
English bulldog revolvcrs We're to
serve as weapons in the coming COM
bat, and carriage was to he IN wait
ing for them in side street at I
o'clock.
Before leaving their room they heard
evidences of commotion in the hotel
and were apprchensive lest the in
mates had learned of the duel and
Were making ready to follow the fight
ers to the appointed spot, There was Il
confusion OF voices. the sound of rush
ing feet the banging of doors, the
noise increasing rs the two men
stepped into the open hall. They We're
amazed to see half dressed men and
women standing or running about the
halls, intense excitement in their faces
and in their actions. White uniformed
policemen were fiocking into the colri-
doris. Soldiers, coatless and hatless.
fresh from their beds. came dashing
upon the scene. There were excited
cries, angry shouts and. more mystify-
ing than all, Mortified looks and whis-
pers.
What has happened?' asked Lorry.
stopping near the door.
1T cant be a fire. Look! The door to
that room down there seems to he the
center of attraction. Hold on. Don't
go over there, Lorry. There may be
something TO unncrve you, and that
must not happen now. Let us go down
this stairway. 1t leads 70 a side en-
trance, think" They were half way
down the stairs when the thunder of
rushing feet in the hall above came to
their ears. causing them to hesitate be-
tween curiosity and good judgment.
"They are coming this way"
"Hear them howl. What the devil
can be the cause Of all this rumpus:"
cried the other.
At that instant half dozen police
guards appeared mt the head of the
stairs. Upon seeing the Americans
they stopped and turned rs if to oppose
foe approaching from the opposite di-
rcction. Baron Dangloss separated
himself from the white coats above
and called to the men below In alarm
they started for the street door. He
was with them in an instant, his usu-
ally red face changing from white TO
purple his anxious eyes darting first
toward the group above and then to-
ward the bewildered Americans.
whats the matter?" demanded Lor-
~.
There. See!' cried Dangloss, and
even as he spoke a conflict began at
the head of the stairs, the police, aug
mented by few soldiers. struggling
against bowling, enraged mass of
AXphainians. Dangloss dragged his re-
luctant charges through small door,
and they found themselves in the bag
gage room of the hotel. Despite their
queries he offered no explanation, but
rushed them along, passing out of the
opposite door, down short stairway
and into a side street A half dozen
police guards were awaiting them, and
before they could catch the faintest
idea of what it all meant they were
running with the officers through an
alley as If pursued by demons.
Now, what in thunder does this
mean?" painted Lorry, attempting to
slacken the pace. He and Anguish
We're just beginning to regain their
senses.
"Do not stop! DO not stop" wheezed
Dangloss. You must get to place OF
safety. We cannot prevent something
dreadful happening If you are caughtV'
IF we are caught cried Anguish.