The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-11-02
(Continued.)
CHAPTER Xxx.


dred of them. / will meet him there in
half an hour" He gave other sharp.
imperative commands and in the twin
king of an eye the peaceful atmos-
phere was transformed into the turbu-
lent, exciting rush Of activity. The sig
nificance of the fires seen In the hills
could not be cheaply held. Instant ac-
ton was demanded. The city was fill
ed with the commotion of alarm: the
army was brought to its feet with a
Jerk that startled even the most am
bilious.
The first thing that General Marlanx
did was to instruct QuinnOx to set a
Vigilant watch over Baldos. He was
not to be arrested, but it was under
stood that the surveillance should be
but little short of incarceration. He
was found at the barracks shortly after
the report concerning the signal fires
and told In plain words that General
Marlanx had ordered a guard placed
over him for the time being. pending
the result Of an investigation. Baldos
had confidently expected to be thrown
into a dungeon for his afrront He did
not know that Grenfall Lorry stood
nrm in his conviction that Baldos was
no spy and was supported by others in
high authority.
Marlanx was bottling his wrath and
holding back his revenge for a distinct
purpose. Apart from the existence OF
q strong, healthy prejudice in the
guards favor, what the old general be-
heved and what he could prove were
two distinct propositions. He was
crafty enough, however, to take advan-
tage of a condition unknown to Pey-
erly Calhoun, the innocent cause Of all
his bitterness toward Baldos.
As he FASTENED from the council
chamber his eyes swept the crowd of
eager, excited women in the grand hall
From among them he picked Beverly
and advanced upon her without regard
for time and consequence. Despite her
animation he was keen enough to see
that she was sorely troubled She did
not shrink from him, as he had half
expected, but met him with bold dis
dain in her eyes.
"This is the work of your champion"
he said in tones that did not reach ears
other than her own. II prophesied 1t,
Tou must remember. Are you satisfied
now that you have been deceived In
him?"
Il have implicit confidence in him.
suppose you have ordered his arrestY'
she asked, with quiet scorn.
He is under surveillance, at my sug-
gestion. For your sake, and yours
alone, am giving him chance He is
your protege. You are responsible for
his conduct. To accuse him would be
to place you in an embarrassing posi-
ton. There is sickening rumor in
court circles that you have more than
a merely kind and friendly interest in
the rascal. If believed that, Miss Cal
houn, fear my heart could not be kind
TO him. but know it is not true. You
have loftier love to give. He is a
clever scoundrel, and there is no tell
ing how much harm he has already
done 10 Craustark. His every move is
= - ---.,nl = : ;-----.-1 to me- 1t
WIN be impossible FOR him to escape.
To save him from the vengeance of the
army am permitting him to remain in
your service, ostensibly at least His
hours of duty have been changed, how
ever. Henceforth he is in the night
guard, from midnight till dawn. am
telling you this, Miss Calhoun, because
want you to know that in spite of all
the indignity l have suffered you are
more to me than any other being in the
world, more to me even than my loyal
ty to Graustark. DO me the honor and
fered much for you. / am rough,
hardened soldier, and you have mis-
construed my devotion. Forgive the
harsh words my passion may have in
spired. Farewell! | must off to undo
the damage we all lay at the door of
the man you and are protecting"
He was too wise to give her the
chance to reply. \ moment later he
was mounted and off for the eastern
gates, there 10 direct the movements of
Colonel Braze and his scouts. Beverly
few at once to Yetive with her plea for
Baldos. She was confronted by a
rather sober faced sovereign. The
news of the hour was not comforting
to the princess and her ministers.
You don't believe he is spy?" cried
Beverly, stopping just inside the door,
presuming selfshly that Baldos alone
was the cause for worry. She resolved
to tell Yetive of the conflict in the
park.
Dear me. Beverly, am not think
ing OF him. We've discussed him joint
~ and severaily and every other way, |
and he has been settled for the time |
being. You are the only one who is
of him. my dear child. We |
have weightier things to annoy u.s."
Goodness. how you talk! He isn't |
oh, forgive me, Yetive. for
l am the silliest, addle patedest goose
In the kingdom! And you are so trou-
bled. But do you know that he is be-
ing, watched? They suspect him. So |