The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-03-30

the secret nope or the guilty captain
that his charge could be induced by the
princess to return to the monastery to
avoid complications. He promised to
inform her highness of his presence In
the underground room and to Arrange
for q meeting. The miserable fellow
could not find courage to confess his
disohedience to his trusting mistress.
Many times during the day he had
seen him lowering near, approaching
and then r~etreating, and had wondered
not a little at his peculiar name
And so it was that LorIy chafed and
writhed through a long dSS OF suspense
and agony. Quinnox had brought to
the little room some candles, God and
bedding, but he utilized only the for
mcr. Tie hours went by and no sum-
mons called him to her side. What
was to become OF him? What was to
be the end of this drama2. What
would the night, the morrow, bring
about?
1t was o o'clock In the evening when
Quinnox returned to the little room
The waiting one had looked at his
watch q hundred times, had run in
sanely up and down the passage In
quest of the secret exit, had shouted
aloud in the frenzy Of desperation.
"Have you seen herr" he cried, grasp
ing the newcomers hand.
~ have; but, before God, I could not
tell her what 1 had donel Your visit
will be a surprise, 1 fear n shock"
"Then how am l to see her? Fool!
Am 1 to wait here forever
"Haye patience! 1 will take you to
her tonight-aye, within an hour. To-
morrow morning she signs away the
northern provinces, and her instruc-
lions are that she Is not to be disturbed
tonight. Not yer will she see the
Countess Dagmar after o o'clock. 1t
breaks my heart to see Ii sorrow that
abounds In the castle tonight. Her
highness insists on being alone, and
Bassot, the new guard, has orders to
admit no II to her apartments. He
is Ill, and l have promised hat n sub
stitute shall relieve him at IL o'clock.
You are to be the substitute. Here is
a part Of an old uniform Of mine, and
here is a coat that belonged to Dan
nox, who vas about your size. Please
SASIluuSC thC lOthcS yOu IOW huNS oh
for these. l apprehend no trouble In
reaching her door, for the household Is
in gloom and the halls seem barren of
life"
He threw the bundle on n chair, and
Lorry at once proceeded to don the
contents. In n very short time he wore
instead of the cellkeeper's garments n
neat fitting uniform Of the royal guard.
he was trembling violently, chilled to
the bono with ncryousness, rs they be.
gan the ascent Of the stairs leading to
the chapel. The crisis in his life, he
felt, was nea at hand.
Under the stealthy hand of Quinnox
the panel opened, and they listened in
tently for some moments. There was
no one in the dimly lighted chapel, SO
they made their way to the door at the
opposite end. Before unlocking the
door the captain pointed to n lance
which stood against the wall near by.
"You are to carry that lance" he
said briefly. Then he cautiously peer
ed forth. A momen later they were
in the broad hall, boldly striding to-
ward the distant stairway. LOFTY had
been instructed to proceed without the
least sign of timidity. They passed
severa attendants in the hall and
heard Count Halfont's voice in CONVEX
sation with some one in an nnteroom.
AS they neared the broad steps who
should come tripping down but Harry
Anguish. He saluted Quinnox and
walked rapidly down the corridor, evil
IDENTIFY taking his departure after q call
on the countess.
"There goes your hostage" said the
captain grimly. 1t had required all Of
Lorry's self possession to restrain the
cry Of joyful recognition. Up the stair
case they went, meeting several ladies
and gentlemen coming down, md were
soon before the apartments Of the prin-
cess. A tall guard stood In front of
the boudolr door.
"This is your relief, Bassot. You
may co." said QuinnoX, and with a
careless glance at the strange soldier
the sick man trudged off down the hall,
glad to seek his bed.
as she there? 2" whispered Lorry, dig
zy and faint with expectancy.
"Ycs. This may mean your death
and mine, sir, but you would do 1t.
WIN SOu SNpioih W Y hOW \ ShhiS w
play her false?"
"she shall know the truth, good
friend"
"After I have gone twenty PAGES
down the hall do you rap on the door.
She may not admit you at first, but do
not give up If she bid you enter or
asks your mission, enter quickly and
close the door. 1t is unlocked. She
may swoon or scream, and you must
prevent either IL possible. In an hour
I shall return and you must go back to
the passage"
Never! I have come to save her and
her country, and 1 intend to do SO by
surrenderlng myself this very night"
II had hoped to dissuade you. But,
sir, you cannot do 80 tonight. You Tor
get that this visit compromises her."
"True. I had forgotten. Well, Iii
go back with you, but tomorrow I am
your prisoner, not your friend"
b careful" cautioned the captain
as he moved away. Lorry feverishly
tapped his knuckles on the panel Of the
door and waited with m%otionlegs heart
for the response. 1t came not, and he
raped harder, a strange fear dartipg
into his mind.
"Well?" came from within, the voice
he adored.
Impetuous haste marked his next