Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-06-15
XXXyIII.

"HE large drawing room vas bril-
liantly lighted Another weary
day had dragged to its close. 1t
4 was the Tuesday evening, the
last Tuesday in March.
The starosta had not been near the
castle all day. Steinmetz and Paul had
never lost sight Of the ladies since
breakfast time. They had not ventured
out Of doors. There was In the atmos-
phere a sense Of foreboding-the still
ness of a crisis. Eta had been defiant
and silent-a dangerous humor-all
day. Maggie had watched Pauls face
with steadfast. quiet eyes full of cour-
age, but she knew now that there was
danger.
The conversation at breakfast and
luncheon had been maintained by
Steinmetz-always collected and a little
humorous. 1t was now dinner time.
The whole castle was brilliantly light
ed, as If for a great assembly of
guests.
Maggie was in the drawing room
alone. She was leaning one hand and
arm on the mantelpiece, looking
thoughtfully into the fire. The rustic
Of silk made her turn her head. It was
Eta, beautifully dressed, with a white
face and eyes duh with suspense.
IT think it 1s warmer tonight" said
Maggie, urged by a sudden necessity of
the heart.
Eyes," answered Eta, and she shiv-
cred.
For a moment there was a little 81
lence, and Eta looked at the clock. 1t
was ten minutes to &.
The door opened. and Steinmetz came
in. Etta's face hardened; her lips
closed with a snap. Steinmetz looked
at her and at Maggie. For once he
seemed to have NO pleasantly ready
for use. He walled toward a table
where some books and newspapers lay
In pleasant %profusion. He was stand
Ing there when Pat. came into the
room. The prince glanced at Maggie.
He saw where his wife stood, but he
did not look at her.
Steinmetz was writing something on
half a sheet of note paper in pencil.
He pushed it across the table toward
Paul, who drew it nearer to him.
Are you armed?" were the written
words.
Paul crushed the paper In the hol-
low Of his hand and threw it into the
fire. where it burned away. He also
| glanced at the clock. 1t was five min
utes to Z.
Suddenly the door was thrown open,
and a manservant rushed in. pale. con
! fused. terror stricken. He was q giant
footman in the gorgeous livery of the
Alexis.
"Excellency," he stammered in Rus
sian, "the castle is surrounde1-they
will kill us-they will burn us out
He stopped, abashed before PauIs
pointing finger and stony face.
Leave the ROOM" said Paul. You
forget yourself"
Through the open doorway to which
Paul pointed peered the ashen faces Of
other servants huldled together like
sheep.
Leave the room" repeated Paul,
and the man obeyed him, walking to
the door u~nsteadily, with quivering
chin. On the threshold be paused.
Paul stood pointing to the door. He
had a poise Of the head, some sudden
awakening Of the blood that had
coursed in the veins Of hereditary po-
tentates. Maggie looked at him. She
had never known him like this. She
had known the man; she had never en-
countered the prince.
The big clock over the castle doomed
out the hour, and at the same instant
there arose q roar like the voice Of the
surf on q Mahsbar shore. There was a
crashing Of glass almost in the room
itself. Already Steinmetz was drawing
the curtains closer over the windows