The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-10-26

Baldos. She saw through the Iron
Counts ruse as If by divine inspiration
and profited where he least expected
/ her to excel in shrewdness. Marlanx
had deliberately invited the assault by
the guard. His object had been to
snare Baldos into his own undoing,
and a horrible undoing 1t would have
been One blow would have secured
| the desired result. Nothing could have
saved the. guard who had struck his
superior officer. but Beverly thought
In time.
ITO die is easy, your highness. You
have but to ask it Of me- said Baldos.
whose face was white and drawn.
"She has no intention of demanding
such a pleasant sacrifice" observed
Count Marlanx, covering his failure
skillfully. Later on, perhaps, she may
sign your death warrant. | am proud
to hear, sir, that a member of my
corps has the courage TO face the in
evitable. even though he be an alien
and unwilling to die on the field Of bat
tie. You have my compliments, sir.
You have been on irksome duty for
several hours and must be fatigued as
well as hungry. A soldier suffers many
deprivations, not the least Of which is
starvation in pursuit of his calling.
Mess is not an unwelcome relief to you
after all these arduous hours. You
may return to the barracks at once.
The princess is under my care for the
remainder Of the campaign"
Baldos looked first at her and then
at the sarcastic old general. Yetive
and her companions were waiting for
them at the fountain a hundred yards
ahead.
you may 60 Baldos." said Beverly
in low tones.
II am not fatigued nor he began
eagerly.
"Gov' s1arled Marlanx. Am to
repeat command to you? Do you ig-
more the word of your mistressY' There
was a significant sneer in the way he
said it.
"Mistress?" gasped Baldos. his eye
blazing. his arm half raised.
Count Marlanxr' implored Beverly.
drawing herself to her full height and
staring at him like wounded thing.
II humbly implore you bot to miscon-
strue the meaning of the term. your
highness." said the count affably. All,
you have dropped something. Permit
me. 1t is a note Of some description. 7
.hink."
He stopped quickly-too quickly-and
ecovered from the ground at her feet
the bit of paper which had fallen from
Der hand. It was the note from Ravone
to Baldos, which Beverly had forgotten
in the excitement of the encounter.
Count Marlanx, give me that pa
PERI demanded Beverly breathlessly.
us it a love letter? Perhaps 1t is
intended for me. AT any rate, your
highness, 1t is safe against my heart
for the time being. When we reach
the castle l shall be happy to restore
it. 1t is safer with me. Come, we 20
one way and-have you not gone, sir?'
in his most sarcastic tone to the guard.
Beverly was trembling.
mo, / have not, and l shall not go
until I see you obey the command Of
her highness. She has asked you for
that piece of paper" said Baldos,
standing squarely in front of Marlanx.
"lnsolent dog! Do you mean to
question my
"Give over that paper"'
"If you strike me. fellow. it will
be-
IF strike you 1t will be to kill.
Count MarlanX. The paper. sir" Bal
dos lowered over the Iron Count, and
there was danger in his daredevil voice
Surely, sir, am but obeying your own
instructions. Protect the princess and
all that is hers with your life.' you have
said 20 me-"
"Oh, wish you hadn't done this, |
Baldos!" cried Beverly, panic stricken.
"You have threatened my life.
shall not forget 1t, fool Here is the
precious note, your highness. with my
to the writer" Marlanx
passed the note to her and then looked |
at the guard. Il dare