Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-06-14

house of any kind he went on. DO
you expect 10 stay here all night
I'm I'm not afraid" bravely shiv-
cred Beverly.
ut is most dangerous
~ have a revolver" the weak little
voice went on.
Ohio What is 1t forf'
ITO use in case Of emergency"
such as repclling brigands who sud.
denly appear upon the scene?'
Yes"
May ask why you did not use it
this evening"
Because it is locked up in one Of my
bags-l don't know Just which one
and Aunt Fanny has the key" confess
ed Beverly.
The chief OF the honest men" laugh
ed again. a clear, ringing laugh that be
spoke supreme confidence in his right
to enjoy himself.
And who is Aunt Fanny" he asked,
covering his patch carefully with his
slouching hat.
MY servant. She's colorcd."
"Colored?" he asked in amazement.
what do you mean"
Why she's negress Don't you
know what a colored person is =
! You mean she Is a slave--a black
slave!'
We don't own slaves any mo-
4 more" He looked more puzzled than
ever-then Mt last, to satisfy himself,
/ IL oil MI 40 oh
Aunt Fanny set up dismal howl An
instant later Sir Honesty was pushed
aside, and Miss Calhoun was anxiously
trying 10 comfort her old friend
through the window. The man looked
on in silent wonder for a minute and
then strobe of 10 where a group Of his
men stood talking,
is yo' daid yit Miss Bev ly--is de
end camef' monne1 Aunt Fanny. Bev.
erly could not repress a smile.
II am quite alive. auntir. These men
will not hurt us. They are very nice
gentlemen She uttered the last oh
servation IN loud voice, and it had
It's effect. for the leader came to her
side with long strides.
Convince your servant that we NEAR
no harm. your highness," he said eager
ly. new Difference In his voice anG
manner I'VE have only the best OF
motives In mind. True, the hills ar,
full Of lawless fellows, and we ar,
obliged to fight them almost daily. bu
you have fallen in with honest men
very nice gentlemen. trust. Less thar
an hour ago we put band Of robber:
to flight
II heard the shooting" cried Bever
ly. 1T was that which put my escor
TO flight"
They could not have been soldier
OF Graustark. then, your highness.
quite CALAMITY.
They We're Cossacks. or whatevo
you call them. But, pray, why DO yoI
call me your highness| demanded
Beverly The tall leader swept tn
ground with his hat once more.
"All the outside world knows til
Princess Netive-why not the humbl
mountain man? You will pardon me
but every man in the hills knows tina
you are to pass through on the wa,
from st. Petersburg to Ganlook. W
are not so far from the world, afte
all We rough people of the hills. W
know that your highness left st. Pe
tersburg by rail last Sunday and too
to the highway day before yesterda
because the foods had washed ava
the bridges north of Axphain. Eve
the hills have eyes and ears"
Beverly listened with increasing pei
plexity. 1t was true that she had lei
St Petersburg on Sunday that the vi
precedented foods had stopped all raj
way traffic in the hills, compelling be
r to travel for many miles by stage. an
, that the whole country was confusin
3 her in some strange way with the Prl
5 cess IetiVe. The news had evidentl
sped through Axphain and the hill
with the swiftness of fire. 1t would
r useless 10 deny the story: these me
r would not believe her In fash sh
. decided that il would be best to pos
/ for the time being AS the ruler c
I Graustark. 1t remained only for he
I to impress upon Aunt Fanny the in
] portance of this resolution.
What wise old hills they must be
she said, with evasive enthusiasm
:. "You cannot expect me TO admit, how
o ever, that am the princess" she WEI
n on.
t, at would not be Just 10 your exec
:, lent reputation for tact If you did s.
s your hghness." calmly spoke the ma
o cit is quite ms easy to say that you al
n not the princess as to say that you ar
A so what matters after alt We r
I serve the right however. to do hon
It age TO the queen who rules over thes
wise old hills. ! offer you the humb
J. services of myself and my compa,
II ions. We are yours to command
9 II am very grateful to find that &c
?, are not brigands. believe me- sa
Beverly. Pray tell me who you ar
" then. and you shall be sufficiently r
S warded for your good intentions
o 81? Oh, your highness, am Baldo
e the goat hunter, a poor subject for r
a. nit that l am a poachcr and have l
J. legal right To the prosperity Of vol
II hills The only reward can ask is IA
e giveness for trespassing upon the pro
erty Of others"
e You shall receive pardon for q
he transgressions, but you must get me
le some place Of safety" said Beverly e
IA gerly.
It, a1.lt