Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-11-30

-nones1 meu. even ulougn rney nave
such awful whlskers.
.'Dey's de wust trash All eyeh did
see," exploded Aunt Fanny.
"Sh! Don't let them hear you wills
pered Beverly.
In spite Of her terror and perpleXity
she was compelled TO smile. 1t was
all SO like the farce comedies one sees
Mt the theater.
As the officer rode up his face was
pale in the shadowy light of the after
noon, and he was plainly very nerv-
Gus.
What is the latest news from the
front?" she inquired cheerfully.
THE men refuse to ride on" he ex-
claimed. speaking rapidly, making 1t
still harder for her to understand. "Our
advance guard has met a party of hunt
ers from Axphain. They insist that you
the fine lady in the coach'-are the
Princess Yetive. returning from a Sc
cret visit to st. Petersburg, where you
went to plead for assistance from the
car"
Beverly Calhoun gasped in astonish-
ment. 1t was too incredible to believe.
1t was actually ludicrous. She laugh
ed heartily. How perfectly absurd
81 am well aware that you are not
the Princess Yetive," he continued EN-
phatically, but what can / do? The
men won't believe me. They swear
they have been tricked and are panic
stricken over the situation. The hunt
ers tell them that the AXphain author
tiles. fully aware of the hurried flight
of the princess through these wilds
are preparing TO intercept her. A large
detachment of soldiers is already
across the Graustark frontier. 1t Is
only question Of time before the
red legs will be upon them. | have
assured them that their beautiful
charge is not the princess. but an
American girl, and that there Is no
mystery about the coach and escort.
All in vain. The Axphaln guides al
ready feel that their heads are on the
block. while as for the Cossacks, not
even my dire threats OF the awful an
ger of the white ear when he finds
they have diso1eyed his commands
will move them"
Speak to your men once more, sir,
and promise them big purses of gold
when we reach Ganlook. | have no
money or valuables with me. but there
can obtain plenty" said Beverly,
shrewdly thinking II better that they
should believe her to be without funds.
The cavalcade had halted during this
colloquy. All the men were ahead con-
versing sullenly and exctedly with
much gesticulatlon. The driver, a stol-
id creature. seemingly Indifferent to all
that was going on, alone remained at
his post The situation, apparently
dangerous, was certainly most annoy
Ing. But II Beverly could have read
the mind Of that silent figure on the
lieved, for he was infinitely more anx-
ious to proceed than even she, but from
far different reasons He was Rus
sian convict who had escaped on the
way to Siberia. Disguised as n coach
man. he was seeking life and safety in
Graustark or any out of the way place.
1t mattered little TO him where the es-
cort concluded to go. He was going
ahead He dared not go back he must
20 on.
At the end of half an hour the officer
returned. All hope had gone from his
face. 1T Is useless" he cried out.
The guides refuse to proceed. See!
They are going Off with their country
men! We are lost without them. do
uot know what to do. We cannot get
to Ganlook. | do not know the way.
aud the danger is great. All. madam.
here they come! The Cossacks are GO
ing back"
As he spoke the surly mutineers were
riding slowly toward the coach. Every
man had his pistol on the high pommcl
OF the saddle. Their faces wore an