The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-07

D courteously placed a chair for
her and asked her to be seated.
I'VE were expecting you, Miss Cal
houn," he explained Her royal high
ness left st. Petersburg but a few
hours after your departure, having I'M
fortunately missed you"
"You don't mean to say that the
princess tried to find me in St Peters
burg?" cried Beverly in wonder and
delight
"That was one of the purposes of her
visit" said he brusquely.
"Oh. how jolly!" cried she, her gray
eyes sparkling The grim old captain
was startled for the smallest fraction
of minute, but at once fell to admir-
ing the fresh, eager face of the visitor.
"The public at large is under the
impression that she visited the car on
matters of Importance" he said with
a condescendlng smile.
"And 1t really was of no Importance
at all, that's what you meanT' She
smiled back securely.
''Your message informing her high
burg had no sooner arrived than she
set forth to meet you in that city,
much against the advice of her coun-
selors l will admit that she had other
business there, but 1t could have wait
ed. You see, Miss Calhoun, it was
great risk at this particular time. Mis-
fortune means disaster now. But
Providence was her friend. She ar
rived safely in Ganlock not an hour
since"
Really? Oh, Baron Dangloss, where
is she7' excitedly cried the. American
girl.
''For the night she is stopping with
the Countess Rallowitz. A force Of
men, but not those whom you met at
the gates, las just beea dispatched at
her comtard to search for you in the
lower pass You took the most danger
Gus road Miss Calhoun, ald l am
amazed thai you came y rough in
safety"
1.-THE Russians chose the lower pass
j. I;..ow not WY, OF course was
qt..tA ignorant However, we met nei-
the. bytEanis nor soldiers, Axphain OF
GraustarI. encountered nothing
more alarming than a mountain lion.
And that, Baron Dangloss. recalls me
to the sense Of a duty have been neg
lecting. A poor wanderer in the hills
defended me against the beast and was
badly wounded. He must be taken to
a hospital at once. sir, where he may
have the proper care"
Whereupon, at his request, she hur-
riedly related the story of that trying
journey through the mountains, not
forgetting to paint the courage of Bal
dos in most glowing colors. The chief
was deeply interested in the story OF
the goat hunter and his party. There
was an odd CLEAN of satisfaction in his
eyes, but she did not observe 1t.
"You will see that he has immediate
attention. won't you?" she lmplored in
the end
''He shall have our deepest consider
promised he.
"You know am rather interested be
cause / shot him, just as IL 1t were
not enough that his legs were being
torn by the brute at the time. He
ought not to walk, Baron Dangloss.
If you don't mind, I'd suggest an am
bulance," she hurried on gllbly. He
could not conceal the smile that her
inspired. REALLY, he is In
a serious condition. | think he needs
some quinine and whisky. too, and
'He shall have the best of care" in
terrupted the captain. "Leaye him to
me. Miss Calhoun"
"Now, let me tell you something"
said She after due reflection. you
must not pay any attention to what be
says. He is liable to be delirious and
talk In terrible sort of way. You
know, delirious people never talk ra-
tionally." She was Loyalty trying to
protect Baldos, the hunted. against
any discriminating statements he might
make.
'Quite right, Miss Calhoun" said the
baron very grarely.
"And now, III like to so to the prin-
cess" said Beverly. absolutely sure Of
herself. you know we are great
she and l."
II have sent a messenger to announce
your arrival she will expect you"
Beverly looked about the room in per-
Dlexity.
But there has been no messenger
lere," she said.
"He left here some minutes before you
,ame. / knew who II was that came
shocking at our 0ataa Hv"- tsa:s=zh Ma