Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-07-06
Beverly. of
GrduStdrk
CHAPTER XIII.
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IN 1ALDOS started off at once for
Xxi the castle, his heart singing.
nD In the darkness of the night
u he kissed the message which
had come to him from cher highness."
The envelope had been closed with the
official seal of Yetive princess of
Graustark, and was sacred to the eyes
of any one save the man to whom it
was directed. The words it contained
We're burned deep in his brain:
You are ordered to report for duty in
the castle. Come at once. Her highness
has sent an official command to Colonel
Quinnox. Count Marlanx has been here
You are not expected to desert until you
have seen me. There is an underground
passage somewhere. B,
Baldos went alone and swiftly. The
note to Colonel Quinnox had been i'm
perctive. He was to serve as an inner
guard until further orders. Some one,
1t was reported, had tried to enter Miss
Calhoun's room from the outside dur
Ing the rainstorm of the previous night,
and special guard was to be station
ed near the door. All of this was un-
known to Baldos, but he did not ask
for any explanations.
He was halfway to the castle when
the sharp report Of gun startled
him. A bullet whizzed close to his earl
BaldQs broke into crouching run, but
did not change his course. He know
that the shot was intended for him and
that its mission was to prevent him
from reaching the castle. The attend
ants at the castle door admitted him.
painting and excited, and he was taken
Immediately to the enchanted boudoir
OF the princess, which but few men
were fortunate enough to enter. There
were three women in the room. :
II am here to report, your highness,"
said he, bowling low before the real
princess, with smile upon his flushed
face.
You are prompt" said the prin-
cess. What have you to report, sir?"
THAT an attempt has just been
made to kill member Of the castle
guard" he coolly answered.
"Impossiblep'
Il am quite certain of it, your high
ness. The bullet almost clipped my
ear"
Good heavens" gasped the listen
ers. Then they eagerly piled him with
more agitated questions than he could
answer.
"And did you not pursue the
Wretch?" cried the princess.
mo, your highness. was command
ed to report to you at once. Only the
success of the assassin could have
made newell, hesitate" said he
calmly. "a soldier has but to obey"
do you think there was deliber-
ate attempt to kill your asked the
Countess Dagmar. Beverly Calhoun
was dumb with CONSERVATION.
II cannot say. madame. Possibly 1t
was an accidental discharge. One
should not make accusations unsup-
ported. If you have no Immediate
need Of my services, your highness,
will ask you to grant me leave of alb
sence for half an hour. have a Pc
culiar longing to Investigate" There
was a determined CLEAN In his eyes.
mo, nor cried Beverly. Don't you
dare to go out there again. You are
to stay right here in the castle, sir.
We have something else for you to do.
1t was that awful old Marlanx who
shot at you. He"-
II left General Marlanx in Colonel
Quinnox's quarters, Miss Calhoun" in
terposed Baldos grimly. HE could
not have fred the shot. For two or
three nights. your highness. I have
been beloved and logged with humili-
ating persistence by two men wearing
the uniforms of castle guards. They
do not sleep at the barracks. May I
ask what have done to be submitted
to such treatment?" There was a
trace Of poorly concealed indignation
In his voice.
II assure you that this is news to
me-" said Yetive in amazement.
II am being watched as If 1 were a
common thief" he went on boldly
"These men are not your agents; they
are not the agents Of Graustark. May
be permitted to say that they are
spies set upon me by man who has
an object in disgracing me? Who that
man is leave to your royal conjec-
ture'
"MarlanxY
eyes, your highness. He bears me a
deadly grudge and yet he fears me.
know full well that he and his agents
ho hit n CT inst
They are almost ready to close in upon
me, and they will have false evidence
so craftily prepared that even my tru-
est friends may doubt my loyalty to
you and to the cause serve. Before
God, have been true to my oath. am
loyal to Graustark. 1t was a sorry
day when left the valley and
oh" cried Beverly piteously, don't
say that!'
ALAS Miss Calhoun, 1t is true" said
he sadly. II am penned up here where
I cannot fight back. Treason is laid
against me. But beyond all this, /
have permitted my loyalty to mislead
my ambition. I have aspired to some
thing can cherish, but never possess.
Better that / never should have tasted
Of the unattainable than to have the
cup withdrawn just as it's sweetness
begins to intoXicate."
He stood before them, pale with sup
pressed emotion. The women of Grau-
stark looked involuntarily at Beverly,
who sat cold and voiceless, staring at
the face of the guard. She knew what
he meant; she knew that something
was expected Of her. A word from her
and he would understand that he had