Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-06-21

pOSittOu III G1ut4 w riSS MS SA<ttA -
enough defined. The more he thought
of it the more justifable il sseased as
viewed from her point of observation.
How long she hoped to keep lisa Ia the
dark be could not tell The outcome
would be entertaining. Her efforts to
deceive, if she kept them up, would be
amusing. Altogether be was ready,
with the leisure and joy of youth, to
await developments and to enjoy the
comedy from point of view which
she could not at once suspect
His subtle effort to draw Haddan
into a discussion of the princess and
her household resulted enthusiastically.
The young guard was annoyingly un-
responsive. He had his secret instruc-
tons and could not be inyeigled into
betraying himself Baldos went to
sleep that night with his mind con-
fused by doubts His talk with Had
dan had left him quite undecided as
to the value of old Franz's warning.
Either Franz was mistaken or Haddan
was a most skillful dissembler. It
struck him as utterly beyond the pale
of reason that the entire castle guard
should have been enlisted in the scheme
to deceive him. When sleep came he
was contenting himself with the
thought that morning doubtless would
give him clearer insight to the situa-
ton
Both he and Beverly Calhoun were
ignorant of the true conditions that at
tached themselves to the new recruit.
Baron Dangloss alone knew that Had
dan was a trusted agent of the secret
service, with instructions to shadow
the newcomer day and night. That
there was a mystery surrounding the
character of Baldos, the goat hunter,
Dangloss did not question for an in
slant, and In spite of the instructions
received at the outset he was using.
all his skill to unravel it.
Baldos was not summoned to the cas-
tie till noon. His serene Indifference to
the outcome of the visit was calculat-
ed to deceive the friendly but watchfUl
Haddan. Dressed carefully in the
close fitting uniform of the royal guard,
taller than most of his fellows, hand
somer by far than any, he was the
most noticeable figure in and about the
barracks. Haddan coached him in the
way he was to approach the princess,
Baldos listening with exaggera led in
tentness and with deep regard for de-
TAIL
Beverly was in the small audience
room off the main reception hall when
he was ushered into her presence. The
servants and ladies in waiting disap-
peared at a signal from her. She arose
to greet him, and he knelt to kiss her
hand For moment her tongue was
bound. The keen eyes of the new
guard had looked into hers with di-
rectness that seemed to penetrate her
brain. That this scene was to be one
of the most interesting in the little
comedy was proved by the fact that
two eager young women were hidden
behind heavy curtain in corner of
the room. The Princess Yetive and
the Countess Dagmar were there to en-
Joy Beverly's first hour of authority,
and she was aware of their presence.
"Have they told you that you are to
act as my especial guard and escortf"
she asked, with a queer futter in her
voice. Somehow this tall fellow with
the broad shoulders was not the same
as the ragged goat hunter she had
known at first
"No. your highness," he said easily.
st have come for instructions. 1t
pleases me to know that am to have
place of honor and trust such as
this"
General Marlanx has told me that
vacancy exists, and have selected
you to fill it. The compensation will
be attended to by the proper persons,
and your duties will be explained to
you by one of the officers. This after
noon, 1 believe, you are to accompany
me on my visit to the fortress, which
am to inspect"
every well, your highness," he re-
specially said. He was thinking of
Miss Calhoun, an American girl, al
though he called her "your highness."
MAY l be permitted to ask for in
structions that can come only from
your highness ?"
"Certainly,u she replied. His man
ner was more deferential than she had
ever known it to be, but he threw
bomb into her fine composure with his
next remark. He addressed her in the
Cra,Is+arly Ianol1apa.
ssIs it your desire that shall contin-
ne to address you in English"
Beverly's face turned bit red, and
her eyes wavered. BY wonderful eff
fort she retained her self control, STAN
mering ever so family when she said
in English:
81 wish you would speak English
unwittingly giving answer to his cues
ton. II shall insist upon that. Your
English is too good to be spoiled"
Then he made a bold test, his first
having failed He spoke once more in
Il.