The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-07-31
Copyright. 1904. BY 0odd.
Mead and Company
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| crafty enough, however, to take advan-
tage of condition unknown to Bev-
erly Calhoun, the innocent cause of all
his bitterness toward Baldos
AS he FASTENED from the council
chamber his eyes swept the crowd of
eager. excited women in the grand hall.
From among them he picked Beverly
and advanced upon her without regard
for time and consequence Despite her
| animation he was keen enough to see
that she was sor8ly troubled. She did
not shrink from him. as he had half
expected. but met him with bold dis
dain in her eyes.
This is the work of your champion"
he said in tones that did not reach ears
other than her own. Il prophesied it.
you must remember. Are you satisfied
now that you have been deceived in
him."
Il have implicit confidence in him. I
suppose you have ordered his arrest?"
she asked. with quiet scorn.
He is under surveillance, at nv sug-
gestion. For your sake. and yours
alone, am giving him chance. He is
your prOtege. You are responsible for
his conduct. To accuse him would be
to place you in an embarrassing posi-
ton. There Is sickening rumor in
court circles that you have more than
merely kind and friendly interest in
the rascal. If believed that. Miss Cal
houn. fear my heart could not be kind
to him. but | know 1t is not true. You
have lOftier love to give. He is
clever scoundrel. and there is no tell
Ing how much harm he has already
done to Graustark. His every move is
to be watched and reported to me. 1t
will be impossible for him to escape.
To ave him from the vengeance Of the
army l am permitting him to remain in
your service. ostenSibly at least. His
hours of duty have been changed how
ever. Henceforth he is in the night
guard, from midnight till dawn. / am
telling you this. Miss Calhoun. because
want you to know that in spite Of all
the indignity l have suffered you are
more TO me than any other being in the
world, more to me even than my loyal
~ to Graustark. Do me the honor and
Justice to remember this. | have Suf-
fered much for you. l am a rough.
hardened soldier, and you have mis-
construed my devotion. Forgive the
harsh words my passion may have in
spired. Farewell. | must off to undo
the damage we all lay ut the door of
the man you and | are protecting"
lie was too wise to give her tie
chance to reply. A moment later he
was mounted and off for the eastern
gates. there to direct the movements of
Colonel Braze and his scouts. Beverly
flew at once to Yetive with her plea for
Baldos. She was confronted by
rather sober faced sovereign The
news of the hour was not comforting
to the princess and her ministers.
You don't believe he is a spy" cried
Beverly, stopping just inside the door.
presumng Selfishly that BaldOs alone
was the cause for worry. She resolved
to tell Yetive of the conflict in the
park.
ing of him. We've discussed him Joint
y and scverally and every other way.
and he has been settled for the time
being. You are the only one who is
thinking of him. my dear child We
have weghticr things to annoy us
Goodness. how You talk. He isn't
annoying. oh. forgive me. Yetive. for
| am the Silliest, addle patedeSt goose
in the Kingdom. And you are so trou-
bled. But do you know that he is be-
ing watched? They suspect him. SO
did / at first: I'll admit it. But /
don't-now. Have you read the note
l gave to you out there"
Yes. dear. It's just as expected.
He has known from the beginning.
He knew when he caught Dagmar and
me spying behind that abominable
curtain. But don't worry me any long
er about him, please. Wait here with
me until We have reports from the
troops. l shall not sleep until | know
what those fires meant. Forget BaldOs
for an hour or two for my sake"
'You dear old princess: I'm an awful
brute, sure 'nOugh. I'll forget him for
ever for your sake. 1t won't be hard
either. He's just mere guard. Pooh.
He's no prince
Whereupon, REINFORCED by Mrs. An
guish and the Countess Halfont. she
proceeded to devote herself to the task
OF soothing and amusing the distressed
princess while the soldiers OF Grau-
stark ransacked the mooniit hills. The |
night passed. and the next day was far |
on its way to sunset before the scouts |
came In With tidings. No trace Of the |