The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-10-26

What right have you to give advice.
sir? You are not one Of us. You are
meddler-an impertlnent alien. Your
aeart Is not with Graustark. as mine
Is. How long must we endure the in
science Of these AmericansY
The count was fuming with anger
AS might have been expected, the easy
going Yankees laughed unreservedly
at his taunt. The princess was pale
with Indignation.
Count Marlanx, you will confine
your remarks to the man whom you
have charged with treachery," she said&
You have asked for his arrest and
! you are to be his accuser. At the prop
er time you will produce the proof. I
warn you now that If you do not sus-
tain these charges the displeasure OF
the crown will fall heavily upon YOU"
Il only ask your highness to order
his arrest" he said. controlling him
self. HE is of the castle guard and
can he seized only on your command"
"Baldos is at the castle steps. your
highness.' said Colonel Quinnox from
The doorway. The entire party left
the council chamber and passed out to
fesscd that the princess leaned rather
heavily upon Lorry's arm. She and
Beverly trembled with anxiety as they
stood face to face with the tall guard
who had come back to them so mys-
teriously
Baldos stood at the foot of the stone
steps, guard OH each side of him.
One OF these was the shamefaced
Haddan, Dangloss' watchman, whose
vigil had been Il failure. The gaze Of
the suspected guard purposcly avoid
ed that Of Beverly Calhoun. He knew
that the slightest communication be-
tween them would he misunderstood
and magnified by the witnesses.
"Baldos," said Lorry from the top
step, 'it has come to our ears that
you left the castle surreptitiously last
night. Is 1t true that you were aided
by Miss Calhoun?" Baldos looked
thankful for this cminently leading
question. In fash 1t gave him the
key to the situation. Secretly he was
wondering what emotions possessed
the slender accomplice who had said
goodby to him not so many hours be-
fore at the castle gate. He knew that
she was amazed. puzzled by his su,f
den return. He wondered If she wei
glad. His quick wits saw that -
crisis had arrived. The air was f h
Of 1t. The dread Of this very nome. 4
was the thing which had drawn h. q
into the castle grounds at early dawI
He had watched for his chance to glide,
in unobserved and had snatched a few!l
hours sleep in the shelter OF the shr,Dri''
berry near the park wall T.
"It Is not true" he said cleaS III
answer to Lorry's question. Beh he>-
erly and MarlanX started ~ 'he snn,p
falsehood fell from his hps. ~
made such an accusation% he dein"hu
ed.
"Count Marlanx Is our Informant
"Thcn Count MarlanN lies, caine
fmTHFstt mFst from the throat of the dcposod
general His eyes We're red and his
tongue was half palsed by rage.
DOG! Dog! he shouted. running
down the steps. Infamous dog! /
swear by my soul that he
"Where is your proof, Count Mar
lanx ~ sternly interrupted Lorry. "You
have made a serious accusation against
our honored guest. 1t cannot be over
looked"
Marlanx hesitated n moment and
then threw his bomb at the feet OF the
conspiratOrs.
Il was In the chapel when she opened
the secret panel for him."
Not a word was uttered for 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 chanceT
Marlan1 flushed guiltily. The ques
ton had caught him unprepared. He
dared not acknowledge his presence
there with the hired assassins.
IL 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 oh
ject in going to the chapel-to pray?
Besides, what right had you to enter
the castle in the night? 2" she asked iron
ically.
"Your highness, may I be heard?'
asked Baldos easily. He was smiling
up at Yetive from the bottom of the
steps. She nodded her head a triflc un-
easily. 1T is quite true that left the
castle by means Of your secret passage
last night"
CONTINUED