Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-07-20
By
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON,
Author Of ''craustark"
Ccewhat. 1904. " DodA.
! Mead and coupany


Il was III the chapel when she opened
the secret panel for him"
Not word was uttered for full
minute. It was Beverly Calhoun who
spoke first. She was us calm as a
spring morning.
IF all this be true, Count Marlanx,
may I ask why you, the head of Grau-
stark's army, did not intercept the spy
when you had the chanceY
Marlan1 flushed guilty. The ques-
ton had caught him unprepared. He
dared not acknowledge his presence
there with the hired assassins.
FL was not in a position to restrain
him." he mumbled.
"You preferred to wait until he was
safely gone before making the effort to
protect Graustark from his evil de-
signs. Is that 1t? What was your OBJ
ject in going to the chapel-to pray?
Besides. what right had you to enter
the castle in the night2" she asked iron
ically.
Your highness, may 1 be ,heard?"
asked Baldos easily. He was smiling
up at Yetive from the bottom Of the
steps. She nodded her head trife un-
easily. ut is quite true that l left the
castle by means Of your secret passage
last night"
'Therer" shrieked Marlanx. HE ad-
mits that he"-
"But wish to add that Count Mar
lanx is in error when he says that Miss
Calhoun was my accomplish. His eyes
were not keen in the darkness Of the
sanctuary. Perhaps he is not accus-
toned to the light one finds in a chapel
at the hour Of 2. Will your highness
kindly look in the direction of the
southern gate7 Your august gaze may
fall upon the reclining figure of boy
asleep there In the shadow of the
friendly cedar. II Count Marlanx had
looked closely enough last night he
might have seen that 1t was boy who
went with me and not
Fool! Don't you suppose know
woman's skirtsY' cried the Iron. Count.
"Better than most men. / fancy
calmly responded Baldos. my young
friend wore the garments Of woman,
let me add"
Lorry came down and grasped Bal.
dos by the arm. His eyes were stern
and accusing. Above, Yetive and Bev-
erly had clasped hands and were look
ing on dumbly What did Baldos mean?
"Then, you did go through the pas
sage? And ybu We're accompanied by
this boy, a stranger? How comes this,
sir?" demanded Lorry. Every eye was
accusing the guard at this juncture.
The men were descending the steps as
IL to surround him.
ut is not the first time that | have
gone. through the passage, SIR" said
Baldos. amused by the looks of CON
sternation. I'D advise you to close It.
Its secret is known to more than one
person. It is known, by the way, to
Prince Gabriel Of Dawsbergen. It is
known to every member of the band
with which Miss Calhoun found me
when she was princess. Count Mar
lanx is quite right when he says that
! have gone in and out of the castle
grounds from time to time. He is right
when he says that have communicate
ed with men inside and outside of these
grounds. But he is wrong when he ac-
cuses Miss Calhoun of being RESPONSE
Bile for or even aware of my reprehen-
sible conduct. She knew nothing Of all
this, as you may Judge by taking a
look at her face at this instant"
Beverly's face was study in emo
lions. She was looking at him with d.
lated eyes, Pain and disappointment
were concentrated in their expressive
gray depths; Indignation was strug-
Cling to master the love and pity that
had lurked in her face all along. It re-
qutred but single glance to convince
the most skeptical that she was igno-
rant of these astounding movements on
the part Of her protege. Again every
eye was turned upon the bold, smiling
guardsman
Il have been bitterly deceived in
you" said Lorry, genuine pain In his
voice. eve trusted you implicitly. 1
didn't think 1t Of you, Baldos. After
all, It is honorable Of you to expose so
thoroughly your own infamy In order
to acquit an innocent person who be-
lieyed in you. You did not have to
come back to the castle. You might
have escaped punishment by using
Miss Calhoun as a shield from her
highness' wrath. But none the less you
compel me to give countenance to all
that Count Marlanx has said"
. liY at %I,cI IL
who went through the panel with him, !"
said Marlanx eagerly. IF it was this
boy who accompanied you. what was
his excuse In returning to the castle
after you had fedW. -
HE came back to watch over Miss
Calhoun while she slept. 1t was my
sworn duty to guard her from the man
who had accused her. This boy is a
member of the band to which / belong,
and he watched while I went forth on
= pretty business Of my own. 1t Will
be useless to ask what that business
was. ]. will not tell. Nor will the boy.
You may kill US, but our secrets die
with US. This much ! will say: We
have done nothing dlsloyal to Grau-
stark. You may believe me or not. 1t
has been necessary for me to commune
cate with my friends. and found the
means soon after my arrival here. All
the foxes that live In the hills have not
four legs" he concluded significantly.
"You are marvelv' exclaimed Lor-
~, and there was real admiration In
bis voice. "I'm sorry you were fool
enough to come back and get caught
like this. Don't look surprised. gentle.