Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-12
The pnrty rode forth Mt nm enriy ho,,.

The pnrty rode forth ut an enriy hoN
III the morning. 1t was hot In tho city.
but It looked cold and bleak OH the
heights. Comfortable wraps were TAX
en- along, and provision was mndo for
luncheon ut an inn halfway UP the
slope. Quinnox RECALLED Beverly with
stories In which Grenfall Iorry was
the hero and Yetlvo the heroine. He
told her Of the days when Lorry, a fu-
gltive with price upon his head,
charged with the assa sslnation Of
Prince Lorenz, then betrothed to the
princess lay hidden In the monastery
while Yetlve's own soldiers hunted
high and low for him. The narrator
dwelt glowingly upon the trip from the
monastery to the city walls one dark
night when Lorry came down to sur
render himself In order to shield the
woman he loved, and Qulnnox himself
ploted him through the underground
passage into the very heart Of the cas-
tie. Then came the exciting scene III
which Lorry presented himself as a
prisoner, with the denouement that
saved the princess and won for the
gallant American the desire of his
heart.
What brave fellow lie was" cried
Beverly, who never tired of hearing
the romantic story.
"Ah, he was wonderful, Miss Cal
houn. fought him to keep him from
surrendering. lie beat me, and l was
virtually his prisoner when we appear
ed before the tribunal"
ITS no wonder she loved him and
married him."
"He deserved the best that life could
give, Miss Calhoun"
"You had better not call me Miss
Calhoun, Colonel Quinnox," said she,
looking back apprehensively II am a
highness once in awhile, don't you
know"
81 implore your highness' pardon"
said he gayly.
The riders ahead had come to a
standstill and were pointing off into
the pass to their right. They were
eight or ten miles from the city ga ties
and more than halfway up the winding
road that ended at the monastery gates.
Beverly and Quinnox came up with
them and found all eyes centered on n
small company of men encamped in the
rocky defile hundred yards from the
main road.
1t needed but glance to tell her
who comprised the unusual company.
| The very raggedness of their garments,
the unfOrgettable disregard for conse-
quences. the impudent ease with which
they faced poverty and wealth alike,
belonged to but one set of men-the
vagabonds of the Hawk and Raven.
Beverly went shade whittier. Her In
terest in everything else tagged, and
she was lost in bewilderment. What
freak of fortune had sent these men
out Of the Businesses into this danger
ously open place?
She recognized the ascetic Ravone,
with his students face and beggar's
! garb. Old Franz was there. and so
were others whose faces and hetero-
geneous garments had become so ia
miliar to her in another day. The tall
leader with the red feather the rak-
ish hat and the black patch alone was
missing from the picture.
"It's the strangest looking crew I've
ever seem" said Anguish. ''They look
like pirates"
"Or gypsies," suggested Yetive. "Who
are they, Colonel Quinnox? What are
they doing here?'
Quinnox was surveying the vaga-
bonds with Il critical. suspicious eye.
"They are not robbers or they would
be off like rabbits" he said reflective
ly. "Your highness. there are many
rowing bands in the hills. but confess
that these men are unlike any l have
heard about. With your permission,
will ride down and question them"
do, Quinnox. am most curious"
Beverly sat very still and tense. She
was afraid to look at Baldos, who rode
up as Quinnox started into the narrow
defle, calling to the escort to follow
The keen eyes Of the guard caught the
situation at once. Miss Calhoun shot
Il quick glance at him as he rode up be-
side her. His face was impressive, but
she could see his hand cllnch the bride
rein. and there was an air of restraint
in his whole bearing.
Remember your promise" he whls-
pered hoarsely. mo harm must come
to them" Then he was off into the de-
file. Anguish was not to be left be-
hind. He followed, and then Beverly.
more venturesome and vastly more in
terested than the others, rode reck-
lessly after. Quinnox was questioning
the laconic Ravone when she drew
rein. The vagabonds seemed to evince
but little interest in the proceedings.
They stood away in disdalnful aloof-
ness. No sign Of recognition passed
between them and Baldos.
In broken, jerky sentences Ravone
explained to the colonel that they were
a party OF actors OH their way to Edel-