Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-12
Certainly, Mr.. Lorry. IT Is the duty
p my servont of her highness to give

certainly, MEs ~ 10 snO NusJ
Of any servant Of her hlghness to give
her all that he has in him. If my OBJ.
servatlons can be Of help to her feel
In duty bound to make the best Of
them for her sake, not for my own"
perhaps you can suggest modifca-
tons in the fort" snarled Marlanx.
"Why don't you do 1t, sir, and let us
have the benefit Of your superior intel.
lgence? No, gentlemen, all this pratt
ing of loyalty need not deceive u.s. he
cried, spr!nging to his feet 1.-THE fell
low is nothing more nor less than an
Internal spy, and the Tower Is the place
for him. He can do no harm there"
'Tf 1t were my intention to do harm,
gentlemen, do you imagine that
should withhold my information for
days? asked Baldos. "1f am spy
you may rest assured that Count Mar
lanx's kindnesses should not have been
so long disrcgarded. A spy does not
believe in delays"
"My-my kindncsses?' cried Mar
lanx. "What do you mean, sirT'
81 mean this. Count Marlanx," said
Baldos, looking steadily into the eyes
Of the head of the army. ut was kind
and considerable Of you to admit me to
the fortress, no matter in what Capacl-
ty, especially at critical time like this.
You did not know me, you had no way
of telling whether my intentions were
honest or otherwise, and yet I was per-
mltted to 20 through the fort from end
to end. No spy could wish for greater
generosity than that"
An almost imperceptible smile went
around the table, and every listener
but one brcathed more freely. The
candor and bodness OF the guard won
the respect and confidence of all except
Marlanx The Iron Count was white
with anger. FIe took the examination
out Of Lorry's hands and piled the
stranger with insulting questions. eacb
calm answer making him more furious
than before. At last, in sheer impo-
tence. he relapsed into silence waving
his hand to I.orry to indicate that he
might resume.
| "You will understand, Baldos, that
we have some cause for apprehension"
said Iorry, immensely gratitied by the
outcome of the tilt. You are stran-
ger, and whether you admit it or not.
there Is reason to believe that you are
not what you represent yourself to
be-"
II am humble guard at present sir,
and loyal one. My life is yours
should I prove otherwise"
Yetive whispered something in Lor-
RVS ear at this iuncture. She was Wis
IDLY pleased and excited. He looked
doubtful for an instant and then APP
CARELESS Of consequences.
would you be willing to utilize your
knowledge as an engineer by suggest
ing means to strengthen the fortressT
The others stared in fresh amazement
MarlanX went as white as death.
"Never" he blurted out hoarsely.
II will do anything the princess com
mands me to do" said Baldos easily.
"You mean that you serve her only?'
II serve her first. sir. II she We're here
she could command me to die, and
there would be an end to Baldos." And
he smiled as he said 1t. The real prin
cess looked at him with new, eager
expression, as If something had just
become clear to her. There was g
chorus Of coughs and round Of sly
looks.
"She could hardly ask you to die,
said Yetive, addressing him for the
first time.
"a princess is like April weather
madam" salu Baldos, with rare hu
NOR, and the laugh was general. Ye
tive resolved to talk privately with this
excellent wit before the hour was over
She was confident that he knew her t.
be the princess.
81 would like to ask the fellow an
other question" said MarlanX. finger
ing his sword hilt nervously. "You say
you serve the princess. Do you NEAR
by that that you imagine your dutie!
as a soldier to comprise dancing polite
attendance within the security O
these walls?"
Il believe I enlisted as member o.
the castle guard. sir. The duty Of thu
guard Is to protect the person Of thu
| TuleT VI GTduSldTh uuu 20 W ludt "
the DEATH
ut is my belief that you are spy
You can show evidence Of good faitl
by enlisting to fight against Dawsber
gen and by shooting to KILL" said tn
count, with sinister CLEAN in hi
eye.
And If l decline to serve in an.
other capacity than the one now
"Then shall brand you as spy ant
coward"
you have already called me a spy
your excellency. 1t will not make
true, let me add, If you call me COW
ard. refuse to take up arms agains
either Dawsbergen or Axphain."
The remark created profound sen
sation.
"Then you are employed by both In
stead of one" shouted the Iron Coun
gleefully
II am employed as a guard for he
royal highness," said Baldos, with ,
square glance at Yetive. land not as ,
fighter in the ranks. I will fight til
death for her, but not for Graustark."
CHAPTER XVI.
~0Y love like that fellow
Xxi coolness," said Lorry to Har
J I'D ~ Anguish. after the meet
in0 "He's after NV owl