Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-07-23

GRAUSTARK
...By
GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON
COPYRIGHT ~ H,rb,rt $. Stone
= ; : : : :.

most oppressive uncertainties. the rat
tie of keys in the lock announced the
approach of visitors. The door swung
open. and through the crate he saw
Dangloss and QuinnoX. The latter
wore "A long military rain coat and
had just come in from a drenching
downpour. Lorry's reverie had been so
deep that he had not heard the thunder
nor the bowling Of the winds. Spring
ing to his feet. he advanced quickly 10
the grated door.
Captain Quinnox brings a private
message from the princess" said the
chief. the words scarcely more than
whispered. 1t was plain that the mes
sage was important and Of a secret ma.
ture. Quinnox looked up and down the
corridor and stairway before thrusting
the tiny note through the bars. II was
grasped eagerly, and trembling fingers
broke the seal. Bending near the light,
he read the lines, his vision blurred,
? his heart throbbing so fercely that the
/ blood seemed to be drowning out other
sounds for all time TO come. In the
dim corridor stood the two, men,
watching him with bated breath and
guilty. quaiing nerves.
OH" gasped Lorry, kissing the mis-
sive insanely as his greedy eyes careen-
( ed through the last line. There was no
| her face, felt the touch of her dear
hand, heard her timid heart beating
for him-for him alone. Rapture
thrilled him from head to foot, the de-
liriOus rapture of love. He could not
speak. SO oyerpowering was the joy,
the surprise. the awakening.
Obey" whispered Qulnnox. his face
aglow with pleasure. his finger CULVER
ing as he pointed commandingly to-
ward the letter.
obey what" asked Lorry DULY.
The last line."
He hastily reread the last line and
then deliberately held the precious mis-
sive over the lamp until Il ignited. He
would have given all he possessed to
have preserved II. But the last line
the presence OF the bearer"
, "There!" he said regretfully as he
Crumpled the charred remnants be-
tween his fingers and turned to the sill
ent watchers.
! Her crime goes up in smoke" NUT
tered Dangloss sententiously.
{ The princess commits no crime" re-
torted QuinnoX angrily, when she
trusts four honest men"
Where is she?" whispered the pris-
oner,. with drumming ears.
Where all good women should be at
oclock-in bed" replied Dangloss
shortly. But will you obey her com
mand?"
50 she commands me to escape"
said Lorry, smiling. Il dare not dis.
obey my sovereign. | suppose"
I'VE obey her because we love her."
said the captain of the guard.
And for that reason ! also obey
But can this thing be accomplished
without necessitating explanations and
possible complications? will not obey
II 1t is likely to place her in an embar-
RAISING position"
she understands perfectly what she
is doing, sir. In the first place, she has
had my advice" said Dangloss, the
good old betrayer of an Official trust.
You advised her to command you
10 allow me to escape?"
She commanded first, and then | adj
vise1 her how to command you. Az
nhain may declare war thousand
times over but you will be safe. That's
all vel mean, all she wants"
But cannot, desert my friend How
is he TO know where I've gone? viii
not vengeance fall on him instead?"
He shall know everything when the
proper time comes. And now will you
be ready at the hour mentioned? You
have but to follow the instructions-I
should say, the commands-of the writ
err"
And be free Tell her that wor-
snip her for this. Tell her that every
drop OF blood in my body belongs to
her' She offers me freedom, but makes
me her slave for life, Yes. | shall be
ready. II do not see you again. good
friends, remember that ! love you be-
cause you love her and because she
loves you enough to intrust a most
dangerous secret TO your keeping, the
commission of an act that may mean
the downfall Of your nation" He
shook hands with them fervently.
1T cannot be that, sir. 1t may cost
the lives of three of her subjects, but
no man save yourself can involve the
princess or the crown. They may kill
u.s. but they cannot force us to betray
her' | trust you will be as loyal 10
the good girl who wears a crown not