The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-11-30

/
she was amazed, puzzled by his sue
den return. He wondered If she wer
glad. His quick wits saw that
crisis had arrived. The air was fu
of ii. The dread of this very momen
was the thing which had drawn hiI
into the castle grounds at early dawr
He had watched for his chance to glid
In unobserved and had snatched a fey
hours sleep In the shelter of the shrub
berry near the park wall.
at is not true" he said clearly Il
answer to Lorry's question. Both Bev
erly and Marlanx started as the sharl
falsehood fell from his lips. ''Wh'
made such an accusation?" he demand
ed.
"Count Marlanx is our informant"
"Then Count Marlanx lies" cam,
cooily from the guard. A snarl of fur
burst from the throat of the deposeC
general. His eyes were red and hi'
tongue was half palsied by rage.
"Dogi Dogr' he shouted, running
down the steps. Infamous dogl
swear by my soul that he"-
"Where is your proof, Count Mar
lanx p sternly interrupted Lorry. "You
have made a serious accusation against
our honored guest. 1t cannot be over
looked"
Marlanx hesitated a moment and
then threw his bomb at the feet Of the
conspirators.
IT was in the chapel when she opened
the secret panel for him."
Not a word was uttered for a full
minute. 1t was Beverly Calhoun who
spoke first. She was as calm as a
spring morning
"If all this be true, Count Marlanx,
may ask why you, the head of Grau-
stark's army, did not intercept the spy
when you had the chance"
Marlanx flushed guiltily. The ques-
ton had caught him unprepared. He
dared not acknowledge his presence
there with the hired assassins.
I'll was not in a position to restrain
him." he mumbled.
"You preferred to wait until he was
safely gone before making the effort to
protect Graustark from his evil de-
signs. Is that it? What was your OBJ
ject in going to the chapel-to pray?
Besides, what right had you to enter
the castle in the night r. she asked iron
ically.
"Your highness. may I be heardT"
asked BaldOs easily. He was smiling
up at Yetive from the bottom of the
steps She nodded her head tribe I'm
easily. ut is quite true that left the
castle by means OF your secret passage
last night"
'There!" shrieked Marlanx. "He ad-
mits that he"--
But l wish to add that Count Mar
lanx In in error when he says that Miss
Calhoun was my accomplice. His eyes
were not keen In the darkness OF the
sanctuary. Perhaps be Is not accus-
toned to the light one finds in chapel
at the hour Of 2. Will your highness
kindly look in the direction Of the
southern gate? Your august gaze may
fall upon the reclining figure Of a boy
asleep there IN the shadow OF the
friendly cedar. II Count Marlanx had
looked closely enough last night he
might have seen that 1t was boy who
went with me and nor
"Fool! Don't you suppose I know q
womAn's skirts r cried the Iron Count.
Better than most men. ] fancy
calmly responded Baldos. my young
friend wore ths gAfments Of q woman.
lot me aid" -.
,Lorry came down and grasDed Bal. |
dos By he asm. HI syes were stssn
and accusing. Above. Yetive and Bsv-
eriy had clasped hands and were looh-
ing on dumbiy. What did BaldOs meant
Then, you did 60 through the pas-
sageY And yon were accompanied by
this boy, stranger7 How comes this,
sirT' demanded Lorry. Every eye was
accusing the guard at this juncture.
The men were descending the steps a.
" to surround him.
ut is not the FIRST time that l have
gone through the passage, sir" said
Baldos, amused by the looks Of con-
I'D advise you to close 1t.
Its secret Is known to more than one
person. 1t is known, by the way, to
Prince Gabriel Of Dawsbergen. It is
known to every member of the band
with which Miss Calhoun found me
when she was princess. Count Mar
lanx is quite right when he says that
have gone in and out of the castle
grounds from time to time. He is right |
when he says that have communicate |
I'd with men inside and outside Of these
But he is wrong when he &C.
cuses Miss Calhoun of being RESPONSE /
bic for or even aware of my reprehen- |
sible conduct She knew nothing OF all i
his, as you may judge by taking a
ook at her face ut this instant"
Beveriy's face was . study in emo
ions. She was looking at him with d.
ated eyes. Pain and disappointment
we're concentrated In their expressive
Ray fsbths; fkdfsnatfSh wkS stfuk- |
Ring to master the love aud pity that
had lurked in her face all along. 1t re-
ltffsd but & single glance to convince |
hA mNat nkapft.ai that che x,ao ,o~nn