Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-06-08

servations can be of help to her I fear
In duty bound to make the best of
them for her sake, not for my own"
Perhaps you can suggest modifica-
lions in the fort" snarled Marlanx.
"Why don't you do it, sir, and let us
have the benefit of your superior intel
ligence? No. gentlemen, all this pratt
Ing Of loyalty need not deceive u.s." he
cried, springing to his feet. 1.-THE fell
low Is nothing more nor less than an
Internal spy, and the Tower is the place
Tor him; He can do no harm there"
"If 1t were my Intention to do harm,
gentlemen. do you imagine that I
should withhold my information for
days?" asked Baldos. ~ l am spy
you may rest assured that Count Mar
lanx's kindnesses should not have been
so long disregarded. a spy does not
believe in delays"
"My-my kindnesses?" cried Mar
lanx. 'What do you mean, sir?"
nCuh tulS, SOuut MuIluuA, SAlu
Baldos, looking steadily into the eyes
Of the head of the army at was kind
and considerable of you to admit me to
the fortress, no matter in what capaci-
T, especially ut a critical time like this.
You did not know me, you had no way
Of telling whether my intentions were
honest or otherwise, and yet was per-
mitted to go through the fort from end
to end. No spy could wish for greater
generosity than that"
An almost imperceptible smile went
around the table, and every nstaner
but one breathed more freely. The
candor and holiness Of the guard won
the respect and confidence Of all except
Marlan1. The Iron Count was white
with anger. He took the examination
out Of Lorry's hands and piled the
stranger with insulting questions, each
calm answer making him more furious
than before. At last, in sheer tmpo-
tence. he relapsed into silence, waving
his hand to LoCry to Indicate that he
might resume.
"You will understand, Baldos, that
we have some cause for apprehension"
said Lorry, immensely grattfied by the
outcome OF the tilt. You are stran-
ger, and, whether you admit 1t or not,
there is reason to believe that you are
not what you represent yourself to
be-"
Il am humble guard at present, sir,
and loyal one. Ny life is yours
should prove otherwise
Yetive whispered something in Lor-
ry's ear at this juncture. She was Wis
IDLY pleased and excited. He looked
doubtful for an instant and then I'D
parently followed her suggestion, re
gardless Of consequences.
"Would you be willing to utilize your
knowledge as an engineer by suggest
ing means to strengthen the fortress n
The others stared in fresh amusement
ARrlanx went as white as death.
Never" he hlurted out hoarseiy.
Il will do anything the princass, com
mands me to do" said Baldos saaay.
"You mean that you serve .hsr colyf'
II serve her first, sir. II she were haee
she could command me to die, and
there would be an end to Balboa" And
he smiled as he said 1t. The real pr1n
cess looked at him with new, eager
expression, as IL something had Jus,
become clear to her. There was g
chorus of coughs and round Of sly
looks,
"she could hardly ask you to de-
said Yetive. addressing him for tn
drst time.
"a princess is like April weather
madam" said Raldos. with rare hu
NOR, and the laugh was general. Ye
tive resolved to talk privately with THU
excellent wit before the hour was over
She was confident that he knew her t.
b the princess.
Il would like to ask the fellow an
other question" said Marlanx, finger
Ing his sword hilt nervously. "You ga.
you serve the princess. Do you NEAR
by that that you imagine your duties
a. soldier to comprise dancing polit,
attendance within the security O
these walls?"
II believe enlisted as a member O
the castle guard, sir. The duty Of tn,
guard is to protect the person Of tn,
ruler Of Graustark and to do that t,
the DEATH"
ut is my belief thatsyou are a spy
You can show evidence Of good faitl
BY enlisting to fight against Dawsber
gen and by shooting to KILL" said tn
count, with sinister CLEAN in hi
eye.
And If ! decline to serve in an.
other capacity than the,one now
"Then shall brand you as a spy an,
a coward"
"You have already called me spy
your excellency. 1t will not make i
true, let me add. If you call me COW
ard. l refuse to take up arms agains
either Dawsbergen or Axphain."
The remark created profound sen
sation.
"Then you are employed by both in
stead of one!' shouted the Iron Coun
gleefully.
II am employed as a guard for he
royal highness," said Baldos, with
square glance at Yetive, land not as
fighter in the ranks. I will fight til
death for her, but not for Graustark."
ITO be continued.
There is no need worrying along i
discomfort because of q disordered d
gestion. Get a bottle OF KODOl