The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-07-02
Copyright. 1904. BIZ Dodd.
Mead and Company

its effect, for the leader came to her
| side with long strides
Convince your servant that we mean
no harm, your highness,' he said ea ger
~, new Difference in his roice and
manner We have only the best of
motives in mind. True. the hills are
full of lawless fellows, and we are
obliged to fight them almost daily. but
you have fallen in with honest men
very nice gentlcmen.-I trust. Less than
an hour ago we put a band of robbers
| to fight
II heard the shooting" cried Bever-
ly. 1T was that which put my escort
to flight
They could not have been soldiers
Of Graustark. then. your highness."
quite CALAMITY.
They We're Cossacks. or whatever
you call them. But. pray. why 10 you
call me your highnessT demanded
Beverly. The tall leader swept the
ground with his hat once more.
"All the outside world knows the
! Princess Yetive-why not the humble
mountain man: You will pardon ne
but every man in the hills knows that
| you are to pass through on the way
from st. Petersburg to Ganlook We
are not so far from the world after
all. we rough people of the hills. We
know that your highness left st. Pc
! tersburg by rail last Sunday and tooN
/ to the highway day before yesterday
because the floods had washed away
the bridges north of Axphain. Even
the hills have eyes aud ears
Beverly listened with increasing per
/ plexity. 1t was true that she had left
| st. Petersburg on Sunday; that the un
1 precedented floods had stopped all rail
! way traffic in the hills. compelling her
! to travel for many miles by stage, and
! that the whole country was confusing
/ her in some strange WAY with the Priu-
cess Ietive. The news had evidently
! sped through AXphain and the hills
with the swiftness of fire. 1t would be
useless TO deny the story; these NEIL
I would not believe her In flash she
decided that it would be best to pose
for the time being as the ruler of
Graustark. 1t remained only for her
to impress upon Aunt Fanny the i'm
portance of this resolution.
What wise old hills they must be-"
she said with evasive enthusiasm.
"You cannot expect me TO admit. how
ever, that am the princess she went
on.
cit would not be just 10 your excel
lent reputation for tact if you did SO.
your highness," calmly spoke the maj
1T is quite as easy to say that you are
not the princess as to say that you are,
so what matters. after all. We re-
serve the right. however, TO do bonn
age to the queen who rules over these
wise old hills. | offer you the humble
, services Of myself and my ronipan-
ions. We are yours TO command
Il am very grateful to find that you
are not brigands. believe me" said
Beverly. Pray tell me who You are.
then. and you shall be sufficiently re
warded for your good Intentions"
81: oh, your highness, | Am Baldos,
the goat hunter. a poor subject for re-
nit that am a poacher and have no
legal right to the prosperity Of your
hills. The only reward | can ask is for
giveneSs for trespassing upon the prop
erty Of others"
You shall receive pardon for all
transgressions. but You must get me 10
some place of safety" said Beverly ca
gerly.
And quickly, too. YOU might well
have added. he said lightly. The
horses have rested. think SO with
your permission we may proceed |
know Of a place where you may spend
the night comfortably and be refreshed
for the rough journey tomorrow
Tomorrow? How can | go on?
am alone" she cried deSpairngly
Permit me to remind you that you
are no longer alone. You have h rag
ged following. your highness. but It
shall be- loyal one. viii you re-enter
the coach? 1t is not far to the place
speak Of and I myself will drive you
there Come. it is getting late, and
your retinue. at least. is hungry.
He tiung open tIe coach door, and his
nat swept The ground once more. The
light of Il lantern played titfully upon
Ills dark, gaunt face. With lis gallant
smile ana ominous patch. She hcsitaI-
ed. fear entering her soul once more.
lie looked up quickly and saw the indie
cision III her eyes. the mute appeal.
Trust me. your highness.' he said
graVely. and she allowed him To hand
her into the coach
vnntOpuf iotar he yy-aS ypnp Tho