Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-11
"Oh!" she moaneG

am here to save the princess. There Is.
a plot to abduct her tonight. Already
there are men in the castle, perhaps in
her room. You must tell me where she
sleeps. There is no time to be lost.
am no thief. before God! | am telling
you the truth DO not be alarmed |
implore you. Trust me, madam, and
you will not regret it. Where does the
princess slccp?' He jcrkcd out these
eager, pleading words quickly, breath.
lcssly.
How am to trust you?' came back
whisper from the bed.
Here is a revolver. Take it and
kill me if I attempt the slightest in
jury Where are you?" He felt along
the bed with his hand.
keep away. Please! Please" she
sobbed.
Take the pistol! BE calm, and in
heavens name help me to save her!
Those wretchcs may have killed her
already"
The revolver dropped upon the
clothes. He was bending eagerly over
holding the curtains back.
'My friend Is in the hall. We have
traced the men to the princess door, I
think BE quick. DO you wish to see
her stolen from under your eyes,"
'You are now in the princess room"
answered the voice from the bed. calm
or and with some aacrity. rs this
true that you tell me?"
"As God is my witness. And you
you-are you the princessW gasped the
man, drawing back.
II am. Whore Is Dannox?" She was
sitting bolt upright in the bed, the pis-
tol in her trembling fingers.
lie is one of the conspirat tors. One
Of the cooks and two other guards are
in the plot. Can you trust me enough
to leave your bed and hide in another
part of the room: The scoundrcls have
mistaken the door, but they may be
here at any moment. You must he
quick. l will protect you'll swear it.
Come, your highness. Hide"
Something in the fierce, anxious whis-
per gave her confidence. The miracle
had been wrought. He had composed
this woman under the most trying cir
agincd. She slipped from tie bed and
threw long loose silken gown about
her.
"N'ho are you:" she asked, touching
his arm.
Il am a foreigner-an American
Grcnfall I.orry. Hurry he implorcd.
She did not move for a moment, but
h. ii. ,l, H.,
breath
Am | drCaming?" she murmurod
family. Her fingers now clutched his
arm tightly.
81 should say not! | don't like to
order YOU around. your highncss, but
"tome-coin" to the light she in
corrupted cXctedly. over here"
Noisel"ssly she drow him across the
room until the light fell across his face
1t was not a bright light, but what she
saw satisfied her He could not see her
face. for she stood outside the strip of
dusky yellow.
Two men lie beneath your window,
and two are coming to this room. Where
shall | go? Come, he quick. madam.
look? Then don't stand there like a
like a-pardon me, won't say it,
Il trust yen fully. Shall alarm the
guard" she whispered. recovering her
self possession.
by no means. want to catch those
devils myself. Afterward we can
alarm the gual,lS"
AN ideal American" she surprised
him by saying. "Follow me-"
She led him to the doorway. stand
here, and will call the countess-at
this side, where it is dark"
She opened the door gently and stood
in the light for Il second. He saw be
fore him a graceful figure III trailing
willie, and then he saw her face. She
was Miss GuggonsloCker.
'Heavens,' he hoarsely gasped, stag
gering toward her You. You! Tie
princeSs:"
Yes, am Princess Yctive.' she
whispered. smiling as she glided from
his side. His eyes went round in his
head. his legs seemed to be anywhere
but beneath him, he felt as though lie
NtIt NNIIliIS toNdltl llIt tPlllllS. i vi
the moment he was actually uncon-
sciOus; then his senses rushed back, re-
calling his mission ard his danger.
'Sle is sleeping so souudly that
fear to awaken her" whispered a soft
voice at his back, and he turIed, The
princess was standing in the doorway.
Then pray stand back where You
will be out of danger They will he
here in moment unless they have
been frightened away
You shall not expose yourself" she
said positively. "Why should you risl,
your life now? You have accomplished
your object. You have saved the prin-
cess"
"Ah. yes, the princess he said. and
| am sorry you are the princess" he
added in her ear,
SSH" she whispered softly.
The door through which he had first
come was softly opened. and they Were
conscious that some one was entering
lorry and the princess stood in the
dark shadow of curtain, she close be
hind his stalwart figure. He could
I, hear his own heart and hers beating
: could feel the warmth of her body, al
though it did not touch his. His heart
beat with the pride of possession, OF