Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-07-03
By
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHFON,
Author Of -Gr.ustark"
ss
6ssrivAt. 1904. h poN.
Mssd NJ Coupny
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:

us nanQS winch sue QlQ not see. She
was wondering how much he had seen
and heard at midnight.
II thought the troops were massing
this morning." she said coldly. Don't
you mass too?"
There is time enough for that, my
dear. l came to have talk with you
In private" he said meaningly.
ut is sufficiently private here, Count
Marlanx. What have you to say to
me"
II want to talk about last night. You
were very reckless to do what YOU
lid"
"Oh, you were playing the spy,
them" she asked scornfully.
"An involuntary observer, believe me
land jealous one. l had hoped to
win the affections of an innocent girl.
What 1 saw last night shocked me be-
You'd expression"
"Well, you shouldn't have looked"
she retorted, tossing her chin, and the
red feather in her hat bobbed angrily.
II am surprised that one as clever
as you are could have carried on an
amour so incautiously," he said blandly.
what do you mean?"
Il mean that l saw everything that
occurred"
well, I'm not ashamed of it," obsti.
nately. "Goodby, Count Marlanx."
"One moment, please. 1 cannot let
you off so easily. What right had Won
to take that man into your room.
place sacred in the palace of Grau-
stark? Answer me, Miss Calhoun"
Beverly drew back in horror and he.
wilderment.
Into my roomT" she gasped
Let US waste no time in subter-
iuse. 1 saw him come from your win
dow, and 1 saw all that passed between
you IN the balcony. Loves eyes are
keen. What occurred in your chamber
can only
stop! How dare you say such a
thing to me?" she fierceIy cried. "You
miserable coward! You know he was
not in my room. Take it back-take
back every word of that lie!" She
was white with passion, cold with ter
ror.
bah! This is childish 1 am not
ne only one who saw him, my dear.
he was In your room-you were in his
arms. It's useless to deny it. And to
think that / have spared him from
death to have 1t come to this! You
need not look so Mortified. Your Sc
cret Is safe with me. come to make
terms with you. My silence in ex-
change for your beauty. It's worth 1t
to you. One word from me, you are
disgraced and Baldos dies. Come, my
fair lady. give me your promise. It's
a good bargain for both"
Beverly was trembling like a leaf.
This phase Of his villainy had not oc-
CURED to her. She was like bird try
ing to avoid the charmed eye of the
serpent
"Oh, you-you miserable wretchw
abe cried, hoarse with anger and de-
spair. what cur you are! You
know you are not speaking the truth.
How can you say such things to me?
I have never wronged you She was
almost in tears, impotent with shame
and fear.
ut has been pretty game of love
for you and the excellent Baldos. You
have deceived those who love you best
and trust you most. What will the
princess say when she hears of last
nights merry escapade? What will
she say when she learns who was host
ess to a common guardsman at the
midnight hour? 1t is no wonder that
you look terrified. 1t is for you to
say whether she is to know or not.
You can bind me to silence. You have
lost Baldos. Take me and all that
can give you in his stead, and the
world never shall know the truth You
love him, know, and there is but one
way to save him. Say the word and
he goes free to the hills; decline and
his life is not worth breath of air."
"And pretending to believe this of
me, you still ask me to be your wife.
What kind Of man are you?" she de-
handed scarcely able to speak
my wife" he said harshly. "Oh,
no. You are not the wife of Baldos,"
he added significantly.
| Heavens" gasped Beverly, crush
ed by the brutality of it all. 81 would
sooner die. Would to heaven my ia
Their were here. He would shoot you
as he would a dog! Oh, how loathe
you! Don't you try to stop me!
shall go to the princess myself. She
shall know what manner of beast you
are"
yxyOc pOn thnj cyfo %,
with anger and shame.
Remember, can prove what have
said. Beware what you do. love you
SO much that now ask you to become
my wife. Think well over it. Your
honor and his life! 1t rests with you,"
be cried eagerly, following her to the
door.
| "You disgusting old fool" she Kissed,
turning upon him as she pulled the
big brass knocker on the door.
II must have my answer tonight or
you know what will happen" he snarl-
ed, but he felt in his heart that he had
lost through his eagerness.
She flew to Yetiye's boudoir, consum-
ed by rage and modification. Between
sobs and feminine maledictions she
poured the whole story. in all it's ugll
ness, into the ears Of the princess
"Now, Yetiye, you have to stand by
me in this" announced the narrator
conclusively, her eyes beaming hope
fully through her tears.
~ cannot prevent General Marlan1
| from preferrlng serious charges against
Baldos, dear. know he was not In