Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05


possession that he remembered the
note resting in his pocket. He drew it
out and began to read it with the
slight interest Of one who has antici-
pated the effect. But not for long was
he to remain apathetic. The first few
lines brought look Of understanding
to his eyes, then he laughed the easy
laugh of one who has cast care and
confidence to the winds. This is what
| hc read:
She Is not the princess. We have been
duped. Last night l learned the truth.
She Is Miss Calhoun. an American. going
to be a guest at the castle. Refuse to go
with her into Edelweiss. 1t may be trap
and may mean death. Question her bold
ly before committing yourself
There came the natural impulse to
make dash for the outside world,
fighting his way through II necessary.
Looking back over the ground, he Won
dered how he could have been deceived
at all by the unconventional American.
In the clear light of retrospecton he
| now saw how impossible it was for
her to have been the princess. Every
have told him the truth Every flaw
IN her Incorporating now presented IT.
self to him, and he was compelled to
laugh at his own simplicity. Caution,
after all, was the largest component
part of his makeup. The craftiness of
the hunted was deeply rooted in his
| being. He saw very serious side to
the adventure. Stretching himself upon
the cot in the corner of the room, he
gave himself over to plotting, plan
ming, thinking.
tIn the midst of his thoughts a sud
den light burst in upon him. His eyes
cleaned with new fire, his heart
leaped with new animation, his blood
ran warm again. Leaping TO his feet,
he ran to the window to reread the
note from old Franz. Then he settled
back and laughed with a fervor that
cleared the brain Of q thousand vague
msgivlngs.
"She is Miss Calhoun. an American,
going to be guest at the CASTLE" not
the princess, but Miss Calhoun. Once
more the memory of the clear gray
eyes leaped into life. Again he saw
her asleep in the coach on the road
from Ganlook. Again he recalled the
fervent throbs his guilty heart had
felt as he looked upon this fair crea-
ture, at one time the supposed treasure
Of another man. Now she was Miss
Calhoun, and her gray eyes, her en-
trancing smile, her wondrous vivacity,
were not for one man alone. 1t was
marvellous what change this sudden
realization wrought in the view ahead
of him. The whole situation seemed to
be transformed into something more
desira BILE than ever before. His face
cleared, his spirits leaped higher and
higher with the buoyancy Of fresh re-
lief, his confidence in himself crept
back into existence. And all because
the fair deceiver, the slim girl with the
brave gray eyes who had drawn him
into net was not princess
Something told him that she had not
drawn him into his present position
with any desire to injure him or with
the slightest sense Of malice. TO her il
had been a merry jest pleasant COM
edy. Underneath all he saw the good
ness Of her motive in taking him from
the old life and putting him into his
present position Of trust. He had
helped her. and she was ready to help
him to the limit of her power. His
position in Edelweiss was clearly
enough defined. The more he thought
Of it the more justifable it seemed as
viewed from her point Of observation
How long she hoped to keep him in the
. dark he could not tell. The outcome
would be entertaining. Her efforts tC
deceive, II she kept them up, would be
amusing. Altogether he was ready
, with the leisure and Joy Of youth, tc
await developments and to enjoy the
comedy from point OF view which
she could not at once suspect
, His subtle effort to draw Haddar
into a discussion Of the princess ant
her household resulted enthusiastically
, The young guard was annoyingly I'm
responsive. He had his secret instruc
. tons and could not be inveigled into
betraying himself. Baldos went t.
2 sleep that night with his mind con
. fused by doubts. His talk with Had
+ dan had left him quite undecided al
a to the value Of old Franz's warning
, Either Franz was mistaken or HaddaI
\ was q most skillful dissembler
a struck him as utterly beyond the pail
:, Of reason that the entire castle guart
should have been enlisted in the schem
!, to deceive him. When sleep came h
), was contentng himself with thu
thought that morning doubtless woult
= give him clearer insight to the situa
ton.
= Both he and Beverly Calhoun wer,
a ignorant Of the true conditions that at
tached themselves to the new recruit
Baron Dangloss alone knew that Had
dan was trusted agent Of the secre
- service, with instructions to shadow
the newcomer day and night Tha
= there was n mystery surrounding tn
= character of Baldos, the goat hunter
Dangloss cid not question for an in
l. slant, and in spite of the instruction
y received at the outset he was usin
u all his skill to unravel II.
70 Baldos was not summoned to the cas-
u tie till noon. His serene Indifference I
the outcome Of the visit was calculat
ID ed to deceive the friendly but watchfu
ID Haddan. Dressed carefully in tn
y close fitting uniform of the royal guart