Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-01

SAAJ SOOAO AOI IcpTG6S u SLuH0s
II am quite alive, auntie. These men
will not hurt US. They are very nice
gentlemen" She uttered the last OBJ
servation in loud voice, and it had
Its effect for the leader came to her
side with long strides.
Convince your servant that we mean
no harm, your highness," he said eager
~, new Difference in his voice and
manner. 1--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 gentlemen, trust. Less than
an hour ago we put band of robbers
to flight
II heard the shooting" cried Bever-
". 1T was that which put my escort
to flight"
They could not have been soldiers
OF Graustark, then, your highness,"
quite CALAMITY.
They were Cossacks, or whatever
you call them. But, pray, why do you
call me your highnessT" demanded
Beverly. The tall leader swept the
ground with his hat once more.
Cali the outside world knows the
Princess Yetive why not the humble
mountain mani You will pardon me,
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 took
to the highway day before yesterday
because the floods had washed away
the bridges north Of Axphain. Even
the hills have eyes and ears"
Beverly listened with Increasing per.
plexity. 1t was true that she had left
st. Petersburg on Sunday; that the IN.
precedented foods 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 Prin.
cess Yetive. The news had evidently
sped through A1phain and the hills
with the swiftness Of fire. 1t would be
useless to deny the story; these men
would not believe her. In flash she
decided that it would be best to pose
for the time being as the ruler OF
Graustark. It remained only for hel
to impress upon Aunt Fanny the i'm.
portance Of this resolution.
"What wise old hills they must be-
abe said, with evasive enthusiasm
you cannot expect me to admit, how.
ever, that am the princess" she wen,
on.
ut would not be Just to your excel
lent reputation for tact If you did so
your highness." calmly spoke the man
TT Is quite as easy to say that you are
not the princess as to say that you are
10 what matters, after ALI We re
serve the right, however, to do HON
age to the queen who rules over these
wise old hills. offer you the humble
services Of myself and my compan.
ions. We are yours to command"
II am very grateful to find that you
are not brigands. believe me-" said
Beverly. "Pfay 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, poor subject for re.
ward at your hands. I may as we'll ad
NIT that am a poacher and have nc
legal right to the prosperity Of your
hills. The only reward I can ask is for
giveness for respassing upon the prop
erty Of others"
"You shall receive pardon for all
ransgressions, but you must get me tc
some place Of safety" said Beverly ca
gerly.
"And quickly, too. you might vel
have added" he said lightly. 1.-THE
horses have rested, think, SO witt
your permission we may proceed.
know Of place where you may spen6
the night comfortably and be refreshed
for the rough journey tomorrow"
Tomorrow? How can go on?
am alone" she cried despairingly.
"Permlt me to remind you that yor
are no longer alone. You have a rag
ged following, your highness, but i
shall be loyal one. Will you re-ente
the coach? 1t is not far to the place
speak Of, and myself will drive 20,
there. Come, it is getting late, ant
your retinue, at least, is hungry"
He flung open the coach door, and hi:
hat swept the ground once more. The
light Of a lantern played itfully upol
his dark, gaunt face, with its gallant
smile and ominous patch. She hesitat
ed, fear entering her soul once more
He looked up quickly and saw the indie
cision in her eyes, the mute appeal.
''Trust me, your highness," he sale
gravely, and she allowed him to han(
her into the coach.
A moment later he was upon thu
drivers box, reins in hand. Calling on
to his companions In Language
strange to Beverly, he cracked thu
whip, and once more they We're lum
bering over the wretched sroad. Bever
" sank back into the seat; with dec
sigh Of resignation.
''Well, I'm in for It," she thought
cit doesn't matter whether they ar
thieves or angels, reckon I'll have t
take what comes. He doesn't look yer
much like an angel, but 'he looked q
me just now as If he thought wer
sne. Dear me, I|wish 4 were back
Washin' nnp
ITO be continued.
Very Low Rates Tuesdays.
Every Tuesday, balance of the year. Il
Chicago Great Western Railway will 81
homeseekers tickets to Minnesota. North D
kota and Canadian Northwest at about hi