Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-17

"NNill you come to me in half an
hour"
Tor my reward?" he asked eagerly.
"Achw she cried softly. rcprovingly.
Count Halfont's face took on trou-
'blssl expression as he caught the swift
communication in their eyes. After all,
She was princess.
She passed from the room beside
Halfont. proud and happy in the vic
tory oyer despair. glorying in the ex-
posure of her heart to the world, her
blood tingling and dancing with the
joys of anticipation. Lorry and An
guish, the wonder and admiration of
all, were given short but convincing
leyee in the hallway. Lords and Ia
dies praised and lauded them, over
whelming them with the homage that
comes to the brave. But Gaspon ut
tered one wish that struck Lorry's
warm. leaping heart like piece of ice
would to God that you were
prince of the realm" said the minister
of finance, a look Of regret and long
Ing in his eyes. That wish of Gaspon's
sent Lorry away with the sharp steel
of desolaticn torturing intensely as it
drove deeper and deeper the reawak-
ened pangs of uncertainty. There still
remained the fatal distance between
him and the object of his hearts de-
sire.
He accompanied Captain Quinnox to
his quarters, where he made himself
presentable before starting for the en-
chanted apartment in the far end of
the castle. Love and fear combined to
give him strength; from his eyes fed
the hopeless look, from his brain the
doubt, from his blood the chill.
"Quinnox, give me your hand; don't
mind the blood. You have been my
friend, and you lave served hcr al
most to the death. injured and
would have killed you in that cell, but
it was not in anger. Will you be my
friend in all that is TO follow?"
"She has said that she loves you"
said the captain, returning the hand
clasp. II am at your service as we'll
as hers"
A few moments later Lorry was in
her presence. What was said or done
during the half hour thai passed be-
tween his entrance and the moment
that brought them side by side from
the room need not be told. That the
interview had had its serious side was
plain. The troubled. anxious eyes of
the girl and the rebellious, dogged air
of the man told OF a conflict now only
in allegiance.
Il will never give you up" lie said
as they came from the door. A visit
full CLEAN tiickered in her eyes. but she
did not respond in words.
Near the head of the stairway an anil
mated group of persons fingered. Har-
ry Anguish was in the center. and the
Countess Dagmar was directly in front
of him, looking up with sparkling eyes
and parted lips. The Count and Count
ess Halfont. G;lspon. the Baron Dan
gloss, the Duke OF AIizrox. with other
ladies and gentlemen. were being en-
tertained by the gay spirited stranger.
Here he conles," cried the latter as
he caught sight of the approaching
couple.
Il am delighted to see you. Harry
You were the friend in need, old man."
said Lorry, wringing the others hand.
Yetive gave him her hand, her blue
eyes overflowing.
'Mr. Anguish had just begun to tell
us how he-liow he began Dagmar.
but paused helplcssly, looking to him
for relief.
go ahead. countess 1t isn't very
elegant, but it's the way said it. How
got next to Gabriel is what she,
wants to say. Perhaps your highness
would like TO know all about the affair
that ended so tragically. It's very
quickly told" said Anguish.
Il am deeply Interested" said the
princess eagerly.
well, in the first place, it was all
bluff" said he coolly.
"a what" demanded Dagmar
"Bluff," responded Harry briefly.
"American patois. dear countess
In what respect asked Lorry, be-
ginning to understand.
In all respects. l didn't have the
slightest sign of proof against the fes-
tive prince"
"Do understand you to say that you
have no evidence against Gabriel?"
asked Halfont, dumfounded.
Not particle
But you said his confederate had
confessed" protested Dangloss.
II didn't know that he had a confed-
crate. and wasn't sure that he was
guilty of the crime" boasted Anguish,
complacently enjoying the stupefaction.
'Then why did you say SOP demand
ed Dangloss. excited beyond measure.
'Oh, l just guessed at it,
God save u.s." gasped Baron Dan
gloss, chief of police.
Guessed at it?' cried Mizrox.
"That's it. 1t was bold stroke, but
1t won. Now, I'll tell you this much:
I was morally certain that Gabriel kill
ed the prince. There was no way on
earth to prove it, however. and I'll ad-
init it was intuition or something of
that sort which convinced me. He had
tried to abduct the princess, and he
was madly jealous Of Lorenz. AL
though he knew there was to be duel,