Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05

My men who are watching tne
Dawsbergen frontier came in last
night and reported that Dantan had
been seen by mountaineers no later
than Sunday, three days ago. These
mountaIneers were in sympathy with
him and refused to tell whittier be
went. We only know that lie was in
the southern part of Grnustark three
days ago Our new guard speaks many
languages, but he has never been heard
to use that Of Dawsbergen. That fact
in itself is not surprising, for, Of all
things, he would avoid his mother
tongue Dantan is part English by
birth and wholly so by cultivation, In
that he evidently finds a mate in this
Baldos."
"Then he really isn't Prince Dan
tan?' cried Beverly, as though cher.
ished ideal had been shattered.
Not if we are to believe the tales
from tho south. Here Is another COM
plcation. however. There is, as you
know, Count Hafont. and perhaps all
Of yo1, for that matter pretender to
the throne of Axphain, the fugitive
Prince Frederic. He is described as
young good looking, a scholar and the
next thing to pauper."
"Baldos mere pretender" cried
Beverly in distress. Never"
"At any rate, he is not what he pre-
tends to be-" said the baron, with a
wise smile.
Then you think he may be Prince
Frederick" asked Lorry, deeply inter
ested.
II an, inclined to think so, although
another complication has arisen May
it please your highness, l am In an
amazingly tangled state of mind" ad
mitted the baron, passing his hand
over his brow.
do you mean that another rnysteri
GUS prince has come to life?" asked
Yetive her eyes sparkling with interes
in the revelations.
Early this morning a dispatch came
to me from the Grand Duke Michael OF
Rapp Thorberg, duchy in western
Europe, informing me that the duke's
eldest son had fed from home and il
known to have come to the far east
possibly to Graustark."
Great Scott exclaimed Anguish
at never rains but it halls. so here:
hail to the princes three"
I'VE are the Mecca for runaway roy
atty, it seems" said Count Halfont.
go on with the story, Baron Dan
gloss" cried the princess. 1T is like q
book"
"a description of the young man ac'
companies the offer of large reward
for information that may lead to his
return home for reconciliation, and
here the baron paused dramatically,
And what?" interjccted Beverly
who could not wait.
THE description fits our friend Bal
dos perfectlyw
You don't mean it," exclaimed Lor
~. Then he may be any one of The
| three you have mentioned:"
Let me tell you what the CRANE
| dukes secretary says. l have the of
fetal notice, but left it in my desk
The runaway son Of the grand duke /:
called Christobal. He is twenty sever
years of age, speaks English fluently
besides French and our own language
| 1t seems that he attended an Englisl
college with Prince Dantan and som,
of our own young men who are still IL
England. Six weeks ago he disappear
ed from his fathers home. At tn,
q a M finn q Hnvan wild and
retainers left the grand duchy. Thu
party was seen in Vienna a week later
and the young duke boldly announced
that he WAS off to the east to help hi
friend Dantan in the fight for hi
throne. Going on the theory that Bal
dos Ia this same Christobal we hav
only to provide reason for his pre-
ferring the wilds to the comforts o
our cities. In the first place, he know
there is large reward for his apprc
hension and he fears our police. In tn
second place, he does not care to direc
the attention of Prince Dantan's foe
to himself. He missed Dantan in tn
hills and doubtless was lost for weeks
but the true reason for his flight
made plain in the story that was print
ed recently In Paris and Berlin news
papers. According to them, Christoba
rebelled against his fathers right +
select wife for him. The grand duk
had chosen noble and wealthy bride
and the son had selected beautiful
girl from the lower walks of life. Fla
Their and son quarreled and neithe
would give an inch. Christobal woul
not marry his fathers choice, and tn
grand duke would not sanction hi
union with the fair plebeian."
Here Beverly exclaimed proudly
"He doesn't look like the sort Of ma
who could be bulled into marryin
anybody if he didn't want to-
And he strikes me as the sort VIII
would marry any one he set his heal
upon having" added the princess. wit
a haunting glance at Miss Calhoun.
"Umph" shifted Beverly defantl.
The baron went on with his narrative
exhibiting signs of excitement.
ITO lend color to the matter, Christi
balls sweetheart, the daughter of
game warden, was murdered the nigl
before her lover fed. know nothin
of the circumstances attending III
crime, but 1t Is my understanding this
Christobal Is not suspected. 1t is po
slble that he is ignorant even now {
the girls fate"
! "Well. by the gods, we have goo'
, " lot 0f heroes about u.s." exc'aime