Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-06-15
in order to prevent the light rom inter-
ing through the t~nterstices Of the closed

bullets"
AS IL in corroboration Of his sugges-
ton the sharp ring Of more than one
frearm rang out above the dull roar
Of many voices.
Steinmetz crossed the room to where
Eta was standing, white Tipped, by
the fire. Her clinched hand was grip
ping Maggie's wrist. She was half hid
den behind her cousin. Maggie was
looking at Paul. Eta was obviously
conscious Of Steinmetz's gaze and ap-
proach.
II asked you before to tell me all you
knew" he said. "You refused. Will
you do 1t nowT'
Eta met his glance for a moment,
shrugged her shoulders and turned her
back on him. Paul was standing In
the open doorway with his back turn
ed toward them-alone. The palace
had never looked so vast as it did at
that moment-brilliantly lighted, gor-
geous, empty.
Through the hail of blows on the
stout doors, the rattle Of stones at the
windows, the prince could hear yells Of
execration and the wild laughter that
is bred Of destruction. He turned and
entered the room. His face was gray
and terrible.
"They have no chance" he said, "of
enecting an entrance by force. The
lower windows are barred. They have
no ladders. Steinmetz and l have seen
to that We have been expecting this
for some days"
he turned toward Steinmetz as if
seeking confirmation. The din was in
creasing. When the German spoke he
had to shout.
"We can beat them back If we like.
We can shoot them down from the
windows. But"-he paused, shrugged
his shoulders and laughed-"what will
you! This prince will not shoot his IA
TIERS serfs."
"We must leave you," went on Paul.
I'VE must beware Of treachery. What
ever happens, we shall not leave the
house. If the worst comes, we make
our last stand in this room. Whatever
happens, stay here till we come"
he left the room, followed by Stein
metz. There were only three doors in
the impregnable stone walls-the great
entrance, q side door for use in times
of deep snow and the small concealed
entrance by which the starosta was in
the habit of reaching his masters.
For a moment the two men stood at
the head Of the stairs listening to the
wild commotion. They were turning
to descend the state stairs when a
piercing shrek, Immediately drowned
by a yell of triumph, broke the silence
Of the interior Of the castle. There
was a momentary stiffness, followed
by another shrek.
"They are I'M" said Steinmetz. "The
side door,"
And the two men looked at each 9TH
er with wide eyes full Of knowledge.
AS they ran to the foot of the broad
staircase the tramp of scuf1ing feet,
the roar Of angry voices, came through
the passages from the back Of curtain
ed doorways. The servants quarters
seemed to be p~andemonium. The
sounds approached.
Halfway upr said Paul, and they
ran halfway up the broad staircase
side by side. There they stood and
waited.
In a moment the baize doors were
burst open, and a scufhing mass Of
men and women poured into the hall, a
very sewer of humanity.
A yell Of execration signalized their
recognition of the prince.
"They are mad!" said Steinmetz as
the crowd surged forward toward the
stairs with waving arms and the dull
CLEAN of steel, with wild faces turned
upward, wild mouths believing hatred
and murder.
at is a chance-it may stop them"
said Steinmetz.
His arm was outstretched steadily.
A loud report, a little puff Of smoke
shooting upward to the gilded ceiling,
and for n brief moment the crowd
stood still, watching one of their ring
leaders, who was turning and twisting
on his side half a dozen steps from the
bottom.
Then Paul raised his voice.
Listen to met" he said.
But he got nc further, for some one
shot at him from the background, over
the frantic heads of the others. and
missed him. The bullet lodged in the
wall at the head of the stairs in the
jamb Of the gorgeous doorway. It is
there today.
There was a yell Of hatred and an
ugly charge toward the stairs, but the
sight of the two revolvers held them
there motionless for q few moments.
Those in front pushed back, while the
Bhouters in the safe background urged
them forward by word and gesture.
Eve men holding a hundred in check!
But II Of the two was a prince, which
makes all the difference and will con-
tinue to make that difference, despite
half penny Journalism, until the end
of the world
what do you want?' cried Paul.
"Oh, l will waltz he shouted in the
next pause. There is plenty of time
when you are tired Of shouting!"
SeVeral OF them proceeded to tell him