Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-12-07
Beverly of
..6rduStdrk
By :
GEORGE BARR :
M'CUTCHE0N,
Author Of "Graustark" .
~ y:
Copyright. 1904. By DOdd. !:
Mead and COMPANY j..
/. ...... ..sss. ss..


very nice gentlemen, l trust. Less than
an hour ago we put band Of robbers
to fight
II heard the shooting" cried Bever
ly. 1T was that which put my escort
to flight"
"They could not have been soldiers
Of Graustark, then your highness,
quite gallantly.
"They were Cossacks, or whatever
you call them. But, pray, why do you
call me your highnessT" demanded
Beverly. The tall leader swept the
ground with his hat once more.
"All the outside world knows the
Princess Yetlve-why not the humble
mountain man? You will pardon me
but every man In the hills knows that
you are to pass through on the way
from St Petersburg to Ganlook. We
are not so far from the world, after
all, we rough people Of the hills. We
know that your highness left st. Pc
tersburg by rail last Sunday and took
to the highway day before yesterday
because the floods had washed away
the bridges north of Axphain. Even
the hills have eyes and ears"
Beverly listened with increasing per.
plexlty. 1t was true that she had left
st. Petersburg on Sunday; that the un-
precedented floods had stopped all rail
way traffic in the hills compelling her
to travel for many miles by stage, and
that the whole country was confusing
her In some strange way with the Prin-
cess Yetive. The news had evidently
sped through Axphaln and the hills
with the swiftness of fire. 1t would be
useless to deny the story; these men
would not believe her. In a fash she
decided that 1t would be best to pose
for the time being as the ruler of
Graustark. II remained only for her
to impress upon Aunt Fanny the i'm
portance of this resolution.
what wise old hills they must be"
she said. with evasive enthusiasm.
you cannot expect me to admit, how.
ever. that am the princess" she went
on.
at would not be Just to your excel.
lent reputation for tact II you did so,
your highness." calmly spoke the man.
ut Is quite as easy to say that you are
not the princess as to say that you are,
so what matters. after all? We re-
serve the right, however. to do hon.
age to the queen WHO rules over these
wise old hills. offer you the humble
services of myself and my compan-
ions. We are yours to command"
II am very grateful to find that you
are not brigands. believe me-" said
Beverly. Pray tell me who you are,
then, and you shall be sufficiently re-
warded for your good intentions"
az? Oh, your highness. am Baldos,
the goat hunter, poor subject for re-
ward at your hands ! may as well ad-
NIT that | am poacher and have no
legal right to the prosperity of your
hills The only reward | can ask is for
givenesS for trespassing upon the prop
erty of others"
"You shall receive pardon for all
transgresslons but you must get me to
some place Of safety" said Beverly ca
gerry
And quickly. 700, you might we'll
have added" he said lightly The
horses have rested, | think so with
your permission we may proceed. /
know of a place where YOU may spend
the night comfortably ana be refreshed
for the rough journey tomorrow"
Tomorrow; How can | 90 on? /
nm alone" she cried despairiug'y.
Permit me to remind you that you
are no longer alone You have a rag
goi following your highness, but it
shall be loyal one VIII You re-enter
tn coach? II is not far to the place |
speak of. and myself will drive yen
Here. Come, it is getting late, ant
tour retinue, at least, is hungry"
lie flung open tLe coach door, and his
hat swept the ground once more, The
light Of lantern played htfully upon
his dark, gauut face, with its eullan,
smile and omnous patch. she heSitut
ed, fear entering her soul once more
lie looked up quickly and saw the inde
ciSion in her eyes, the mute appeal
Trust me, your highncss." he said
gravely, ana she allowed him to hand
her into the coach
\ moment later he was upon the
drivers box, rcus in hand. Calling ont