Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-22
,iping the molsture from His brow.


| alarm.
sand in the meantime. Mr.. 0renfall
Lory. you are blaming me and hat
ing me and oil that for being the real
cause Of your wife's escapade," said
Beverly Calhoun platntively. TIN
awfully sorry. But you must remem-
Der one thing, sir-I did not put her
up to this ridiculous trip. She did II
OF her own free will and accord. Be-
sides, am the one who met the Hon
and almost got devoured, not Yetivs,
II you please"
"I'll punish you by turning ron over
to old Count Ma1ianx, the commander
Of the army In Graustark," said Lor-
~ laughingly. "He's a terrible ogre,
worse than any lon."
Heaven pity you, Beverly. II you
fall into his clutchesr' cried Yeeive.
HE has had flve wives and survives TO
look for sixth. You zee how terrible
It would be-"
"Tm not afraid Of him." boastsd Rev.
erly, but there came time whan she
thought Of those words with q shuddee.
by the way, Ystive. I hsra had
word from Harry Anguish. He and
the countess WIN leave Paris th1s week,
Il the baby's willing, and WIN b IN
Ndelweiss soon. You don't know how
It relieves me to know that Harry w1u
be with us at this time"
Yettves eyes answered his snthud-
asm. Both had a warm and eraAsful
memory Of the loyal service which the
young American had rendered his
friend when they had mt como to
Graustark In quest OF tAe Princess,
and both bad great regard for his
wife, the Countess DagmaS who as
Yedves lady In waiting hsd been
Though all the perils Of those exciting
days with them.
As they drew near the gates of Edel-
weiss a large body Of horsemen rode
forth to meet them. The afternoon
was well on the way to night, and the
air Of the valley Yves cool and refresh
ing despite the rays Of the June sun.
"Edelweiss at last" murmured Bev-
erly, her face aglow. 1.-THE heart Of
Graustark. Do you know that I have
been brushing up on my GRAMMAR I
have learned the meaning Of the word
'Graustark.' and It seems SO appropri-
ate. 'Grau' is gray, hoary. old, stark
Is strong. Old and strong, asn,t 1t,
dear?"
"And here rides the Oldest and stron-
gest man in all Graustark - the Iron
Count Of Marlanx," said Yetive, look
ing down the road. See; the strange
gray man In front there is our greatest
general. our crafhest fighter, our most
heartless warrior. Does he not look
like the eagle or the hawkr
A moment later the parties met and
the newcomers swung into line with
the escort. Two men rode up to the
carriage and saluted. One was Count
Marlanx. the other Colonel Quinnox Of
the royal guard. The count, lean and
gray as wolf, revealed rows Of huge
white teeth in his perfmetory smile Of
welcome, while young Quinnox's face
fairly beamed with honest joy. In the
post that he held he was but following
In the footsteps Of his forefathers.
Since history began in Graustark a
Qunnox had been In charge Of the cas-
tie guard.
The Iron Count" as he sometimes
was called, was past his sixtieth year.
For twenty years he had been in COM
mand Of the army. One had but to
look at his strong, sardonic face to
know that he was fearless leader, q
savage fighter. His eyes were black,
piercing and never quiet; his hair and
close cropped beard were almost snow
white; his voice was heavy and with
out vestige Of warmth. Since her
babyhood Yetive had stood in awe Of
this grim old warrior. It was no I'M
common thing for mothers to subdue
disobedient children with the threat to
give them over to the Iron Count.
odd Marlan1 will get you If you're
not good" was a household phrase in
Edelweiss. He had been married Ave
times. and as many times had he been
left widower. If he were discon-
ISOLATE in any instance, no one had been
able to discover the fact. Enormously
rch, as riches go in Graustark, he had
found young women for his wives who
thought only Of his gold and his lands
IN the trade they made with Cupid.
1t was said that without exception
they died happy. Death was Joy.
The fortress overlooking he valley to
the south was no more rugged and un-
yielding than the man who made his
home within its walls. He lived there
from choice, and 1t was with his own
money that he fitted up the comman-
danfs quarters in truly regal style.
Power was more to him than wealth
though he enjoyed both.
Colonel Quinnox brought news from
the castle. Yetive's uncle and aunt, the
Count and Countess Halfont, were
eagerly expecting her return, and the
city was preparing to manifest Its Joy
IN the most exuberant fashion. AS
they drew up to the gates the shouts of
the people came to the ears Of the
travellers. Then the boom of cannon
and the blare Of bands broke upon the
air, thrilling Beverly to the heart. She
wondered how Yetiye could be SO
calm and unmoved In the face of all
this homage.
Past the great Hotel Regengetz and
the tower moved the gay procession
into the broad stretch Of boulevard
that led to the gates Of the palace
grounds. The gates stood wide open
and inviting Inside was Jacob Fraasch,
the chief steward of the grounds with