The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-21


uniform of an army officer, full of
holes and rents, while another strobe
along in a pair of baggy yellow trou-
sers and dusty London dinner jacket.
All in ali, it was the motliest band of
vagabonds she had ever seen. There
were at least ten or dozen in the par
ty. While a few carried swords, all
lugged the long rifles and crooked dag
gers of the Tartars.
''Aunt Fanny" Beverly whispered,
suddenly moving to the side Of the sub
dued servant. where is my revolver"
1t had come to her like flash that a
subsequent emergency should not find
her unprepared. Aunt Fanny's jaw
dropped, and her eyes were like white
rings in a black screen.
Good Lawd, wha what fo', Miss
Bev'ly''-
"Sh! Don't, call me Miss Bev'ly.
Now. just you pay 'tention to me, and
I'll tell you something queer. Get my
revolver right away and don't let those
men see what you are doing" While
Aunt Fanny's trembling fingers went
In search of the firearm, Beverly out
lined the situation briefly, but explicit
ly. The old woman was not slow to
understand. Her wits sharpened by
fear, she grasped Beverly's instruc-
tons with astonishing avidity.
"ve'y we'll, yo' highness," she said,
with fine reverence, "Ah'll p'ocuah de
bottle O. pepp'mint fo' yo' if yo jes'
don mine me pullin' an haulin'
'mongst desc boxes. Mebbe yo' all
'druther hab de gingeh?' With this
wonderful subterfuge as shield she
dug slyly into one of the bags and
pulled forth a revolver. Under ordi-
nary circumstances she would have
been mortally afraid to touch it, but
not so in this emergency. Beverly
showed the weapon into the pocket Of
ner gray travelling jacket.
81 feel much Better now, Aunt Fan
n.y. she said, and Aunt Fanny gave q
vast chuckle.
'Yaas, ma'am, indeed-yo' highness," !"
she agreed suavely.
The coach rolled along for half an
hour and then stopped with sudden
Jolt. An instant later the tall driver
appeared at the window, his head un-
covered. a man hard by held a Ian
tern.
"Qua vandos ar deltanet, yos serent," :"
said the leader, showing his white
teeth in triumphant smile. His ex-
posed eye seemed to be glowing with
pleasure and excitement.
"What?" murmured Beverly hopeless
". A puzzled expression came into
his face; then his smile deepened and
his eye took on knowing CLEAN.
"Ah, I see,' he said gayly, your
highness prefers not to speak the Ian
guage of Graustark.I Is it necessary
for me to repeat in English?"
81 really wish you would" said Bev-
erly, catching her breath. "Just to see
how it sounds. you kaow."
H'YoUr every wish shall be gr2tifiei.
I beg 70 inform you that We have
reached the Inn of TIE Hawk md Ra-
yea. This is where we dweit last 2iGs..dt.
Tomorrow we, TOO, abandon the place,
so our fortunes may run together for
some hours at least. There is but lit
tie to offer you in the way Of nourish-
ment, and there is none Of the COM
forts of a palace. Yet princesses can
no more be choosers than beggars
when the fares in one pot. Come,
your highness, let me conduct you to
the guest chamber Of the Inn of the
Hawk and Raven"
Beverly took his hand and stepped to
the ground, looking about in wonder
and perplexity.
81 see no inn," she murmured appre-
hensively.
Look aloft, your highness. That
great black canopy is the roof; we are
standing upon the floor, and the dark
shadows just beyond the circle Of light
are the walls Of the Hawk and Raven.
This is the largest tavern in all Grau-
stark. Its dimensions are as wide as
The world itself"
You mean that there is no inn at
all?' the girl cried in dismay.
Alas, l must confess it. And yet
there is shelter here. Come with me-
Let your servant follow" He took her
by the hand and led her away from
the coach, ragged lantern bearer
preceding. Beverly's little right hand
was rigidly clutching the revolver In
her pocket. 1t was capacious pocket.
and the muzzle of the weapon bored
defantly into timid powder rag that
lay on the bottom. The little leather
purse from which it escaped had its
silver lips opened as if in broad grin
OF derision, reveling in the plight OF
the chamois. The guides hand was at
once firm and gentle, his stride bold,
vet easy. His rakish hat, with its as-
gressive red feather, lowered a full
head above Beverly's Partisan violets.
"Have you no home at all-no house
in which to sleep?" Beverly asked.
ST live in q castle Of air." said he,