The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-08-07
CHAPTER XXIV.

rATiHILE Baldos was standing
M guard in the long, lofty hall
U way the Iron Count was busy
with the Vaccinations which
were calculated to result in startling
upheaval with the break of a new day.
He prepared and swore to the charges
preferred against Baldos. They were
dispatched to the princess for her
perusal in the morning. Then he set
about preparing the vilest accusations
against Beverly Calhoun. In his own
handwriting and over his own sigma
ture he charged her with completely in
! the betrayal Of Graustark, Influenced
by the desires of the lover who mas
Gueraded as her protege At some
length he dwelt upon the well laid plot
of the spy and his accomplish He told
of their secret meetings. their outrageS
against the dignity of the court and
their unmistakable luminosity toward
Graustark. For each and every count
in his vicious Indictment against the
girl he professed to have absolute
proof by means Of more than one
reputable witness.
| 1t was not the design of MarlanX to
present this document to the princess
and her cabinet. He knew full well
that 1t would meet the fate it deserved.
! 1t was intended for the eyes of Beverly
Calhoun alone BY means of the vile
accusations. false though they were. he
Hoped to terrorize her into submission.
! He longed to possess this 1.-THE. beauti-
full creature from over the sea. In all
his life he had not hungered for any
thing as he now craved Beverly Cal
houn. He saw that his position in the
army was rendered insecure by the
events Of the last day. A bold. vicious
stroke was his only means for securing
the prize he longed for more than he
! lOnged for honor and fame.
! Restless and enraged. consumed by
! jealousy and fear, he hung about the
castle grounds long after he had drawn
| the diabolical charges. He knew that
/ BaldOs was inside the castle. favored.
while he a noble of the realm was rele-
gated to ignOminy and the promise Of
| degradation. Encamped outside the
city walls tile army lay without
! leader. Each hour saw the numbers
| augmented by the arrival of reserves
! from the districts Of the principality.
His place WAS out there with the staff.
yet he couid not drag himself away
from the charmed circle in which his
prey was sleeping. MoroSe and grim
he anxiously paced to and fro in an
obscure corner of the grounds
What keeps the scOundrel?" he said
to himself angrily
Presently a villainous looking man.
dressed in the uniform of the guards,
stealthily approached. Il missed him.
general, but l will get him the next
time" growled the man.
course you for fool" Kissed Mar
lanX through his teeth. AS another
hireling came up. What have you got
! to say"
The man reported that Baldos had
been seen on the balcony alone, evil
IDENTITY on watch.
Marlanx ground his teeth and his
must be done tonight You have your
Instructions Capture him if possible;
but, if necessary. kill him. You know
your fate if you fail Marlanx actual
ly grnned at the thought of the punish
ment he would mete out to them.
Now be off,
Hastily he made his way to the castle
| front. \ bright moon east its mellow
glow over the mass of stone outlined
| against the western sky For an hour
he glOwered In the shade Of the trees,
giving but slight heed to the guards
eyes never left the enchanted balcony.
At last he saw the man BaldOs
came from the door at the end Of the
balcony. paced the full length In the
moonlight, paused for moment near
Beverly Calhoun's window and then
disappeared through the same door
that had afforded him egress.
Inside the dark castle the clock at
the end Of the hall melOdiously doomed
the hour of .. Dead quiet followed
the soft echoes Of the gong. A tall
figure stealthily opened the door to
Yetive's chapel and stepped inside.
There was streak Of moonlight
through the clear. window 1T the far
end Of the room. Baidos, his heart
beating rapidly, stood still for a mo-
ment, awaiting the next move in the
game. The ghostlike figure Of WON
an suddenly. stood before him In the
path Of the moOnbeam, a hooded fig
ure in dark robes. He started as IL
confronfe6 hy the supernatllrai.