The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-08-24

a courier" he smiled Well. a lou
may look at a princess. We have no
court etiquette in the bills. am sorry
to say"
SHAT was very unkind. even though
you said b most becomingly." she pro
tested. you have called this pail o
throne. Let us also imagine that yos
are courtier.''
You punish me most gently, your
highness. l shall not forget my man
ners again, believe me-" He seemed
thoroughly subdued.
'"Then shall expect you to remove
that horrid black tLHng 1t is positive
~ villainous. You look much better
without it."
us it an edict or compliment he
asked. with such deep gravity that she
flushed
ut is neither" she answered. "You
don't have to take it of unless you
want to-
"In either event it is of. You were
right. 1t serves as a partial disguise.
have many enemies and the black
patch is a very good friend"
How perfectly lovely" cried Bev-
erly. Tell me all about it, l adore
stories about feuds and all that"
"Your husband is an America He
should be able to keep you well enter
tanned with Observation-Disclosures stories"
said he.
my hus- What do you Oh yes!''
gasped Beverly ITO be sure / didn't
hear you. / guess. That was rather
severe clap of thunder, wasn't it?"
us that also commander
what do you meanT
"There was no thunderclap, you
know"
"0h, wasn't there?" helplessly.
'The STAIN is quite past. There is
still dash of rain In the air, and the
wind may be dying hard, but aside
from that think the noise is quite sub
dued.'
Il believe you are right. How sud-
den It all was"
There are several hours between
this and dawn, your highness, and you
should try to get little more sleep
Your cushions are dry and
Every well, since you are SO eager to
get rid off, began Beverly, and then
stopped for it did not sound partic-
ularly regal II should have said. you
are very thoughtful. You will call me
4 ~ slss sRR, Ift sis,t ..,,v ,,+, uon 49,
mission. 1t is forty miles to Ganlook,
and we must be half way there by
nightfall."
Must we spend another night like |
thisF' cried Beverly dolefully.
ALAS, fear you must endure us an
other night l am afraid, however, we
shall not find quarters as comfortable |
as those of the Hawk and Raven" |
II didn't mean to be ungrateful and (
-er-snippish," she said, wondering If |
he knew the meaning of the word
Nor" he said politely, and she knew
he did not, whereupon she felt DIS
tipctly BUNDLED. t-..f
'You know you speak such excellent
English" she said irrelevantly.
He bowed low. As he Strengthened
his figure, to his amazement, he be-
held an agonizing look of horror on
her face, her eyes riveted on the mouth
of the cavern. Then there came an an
grier sound, unlike any that had gone
before in that night of turmoil.
Look there! Quickw
The cry of terror from the girls
palsied lips as she pointed to some.
thing behind him awoke the mountain
man to instant action. Instinctively
he snatched his long dagger from its
sheath and turned quickly. Not TWEEN
ty feet from them a huge ,catlike beast
stood half crouched on the edge of
the darkness, his long tail switching
angrily. The feeble light from the
depth of the cave threw the long, wa
ter soaked visitor into bold relief
against the black wall beyond. Appar-
emily he was as much surprised as the
two who glared at him, as though
frozen to the spot. A snarling whine,
a fierce growl, indicated his fury at
finding his shelter, his lair, occupied.
my God! A mountain lion! Ra-
vone! Franz! To mer' he cried hoarse-
ly, and sprang before her shouting
loudly to the sleepers.
A score of men, half awake, grasp
ed their weapons and struggled to
their feet In answer to his call The
lions gaunt body shot through the air.
In two bounds he was upon the goat
hunter, Baldos stood squarely and
firmly to meet the rush of the mad
dened beast, his long dagger poised for
the death dealing blow.
RUM" he shouted to her.
Beverly Calhoun had fighting blood
In her veins. Utterly unconscious of !.
her action at the time, she quickly drew :
the little silver handled revolver from
the pocket of her gown AS man, beast
and knife came together, in her excite
ment she fired recklessly at the COM
without any thought of the
imminent danger of killing her protect !,
nh