Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-22

from her slumbers, urging the sleepy
one to hasten to the window.
is this one of your friends from the
wilderness7" she asked.
ITS Franz" cried Beverly, rubbing
her pretty eyes. Then she became thor
oughly awake. what are they doina
to him? Who are those ruf1ians p. she
demanded Indignantly.
'"They are my servants and"-
HShame on theml The wretches
What has old Franz done that they
should Call to them; tell 'em you'll
cut their heads off If they don't stop
He's dear old fellow in spite of his
rags, and he''-
The window sash few open, and the
tormentors in the court below were as.
tonished by the sound Of woman's
voice coming, as 1t were, from the
clouds. A dozen pairs of eyes were
turned upward; the commotion ended
suddenly. In the window above stood
two graceful, white robed figures. The
sun, still far below the ridge of noun
tains, had not yet robbed the morning
of the gray, dewy shadows that belong
to 5 O'clock.
What are you doing to that poor old
manT cried Yetive, and 1t was the
first time any of them had seen anger
In the princess face. They skunk back
In dismay. LET him aione! You,
Gartz, see that he has food and drink,
and without delay. Report to me later
on, sir, and explain, If you can, why
you have conducted yourselves in so
unbecoming manner" Then the WIN
dow was closed, and the princess
found herself In the warm arms Of her
friend.
II couldn't understand a word you
said, Yetive. but / knew you were
giving 1t to them hot and heavy. Did
you see how nicely old Franz bowed to
you? Goodness, his head almost touch
ed the groundr'
HE was bowling to you, Beverly.
You forgot that you are the princess to
him."
isn't that funny? I had quite for
gotten it. The poor old goose"
Later, when the coaches and escort
were drawn up In front Of the Rallo-
WITT palace ready for the start, the
princess called the chief position,
Gartz, to the step of her coach.
"What was the meaning of the dis
turbance I witnessed this morning?"
she demanded.
Carte hung his head. 1--WE thought
the man was crazy, your highness. He
had been telling us such monstrous
Hes" he mumbled
"Are you sure they were lies?
ooh, quite sure. your highness. They
were laughable. He said, for one
thing, that it was he who drove your
highness' coach into Ganlook last even
ing, when everybody knows that had
full charge Of the coach and horses"
you are very much mistaken,
Gartz," she said distinctly. He blink
ed his eyes. III
your hlghness," he gasped, you
surely remember
Enough, sir. Franz drove the prin-
cess into Ganlook last night. He says
SO himself, does he not?"
Eyes, your highness," murmured
poor Gartz,
"What more did he say to your
"He said he had come from his mas
ter, who is in the hospital. to inquire
after your health and to bearhis thanks
for the kindnesses you have secured
for him. He says his master is faring
well and Is satisfied to remain where
he Is. Also, he said that his master
was sending him back into the noun
tains to assure his friends that he Is
safe and to bear certain message Of
cheer to them, sent forth by the prin-
cess. 1t was all so foolish and crazy,
your highness, that we could but gibe
and laugh at the poor creature"
1t is you who have been foolish, sir.
Send the old man to me-"
He has gone, your highness," in
frightened tones.
so much the better" said the prin-
cess, Diminishing him with wave Of
the hand. Carte went away in daze,
and for days he took every opportunity
to look for other signs of mental dis
order in the conduct of his mistress, at
the same time INDUCING in speculation
as to his own soundness of mind.
Ganlook's population lined the chief
thoroughfare, awaiting the departure
Of the princess, although the hour was
early. Beverly peered forth curlously
as the coach moved off. The quaint.
half oriental costumes of the towns
people, the odd little children, the
bright colors, the perfect love and rev.
erence that shone in the faces Of the
multitude impressed her deeply. She
was never to forget that picturesque
morning.
Baron Dangloss rode beside the coach
until it passed through the southern
gates and into the countryside. A
company Of cavalrymen acted as es-
cort. The bright red trousers and top
boots, with the deep blue jackets, re-
minded Beverly more than ever Of the
operate figures she had seen SO often
at home. There was fierce, dark cast
70 the faces Of these soldiers, however,
- t..seYtA ~ si1p q 1lAx!