The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-11-09


Xxi the castle. his heart singing.
H In the darkness of the night
he kissed the message which
had come to him from ''her 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 1t
was directed The words it contained
were burned deep in his brain:
You are ordered to report for duty in
the castle. Come at once. Her highness
has sent an oficial 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
perative. He was to serve as an inner
guard until further orders. Some one,
It was reported, had tried to enter Miss
Calhoun's room from the outside dur
ing the rainstorm OF the previous night,
and a special guar,s was to be station
cd 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 a gun startled
him. A bullet whizxed close to his ear!
Baldos broke into a crouchlng run, but
did not change his course. He knew
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 bat few men
were fortunate enough to enter. There
were three women In the room.
Il am here to report, your highness,"
said he, bowling low before the real
princess, with a smile upon his flushed
face.
"YOu are prompt" said the prin-
cess. What have you to report, sIri''.
THAT an attempt has just been
made to kill a member Of the castle
guard" he coolly answered.
"Impossibler'
II 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.
IA
cd 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 a 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, I
will ask you to grant me leave of alb
sence for half an hour. have pc
culiar longing to investigate" There
was a determined CLEAN in his eyes.
mo, no"' 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 fired the shot. For two or
rnree nights, your highness, have
been followed and logged with humil-
ating persistence by two men wearing
the uniforms of castle guards. They
DO not sleep at the barracks. May 1
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 1 leave to your royal conjec-
lure"
''Marlanxw
Eyes, your highness. He bears me a
ieadly grudge and yet he fears me. I
Know full well that he and his agents
nave built asstrong case against me.
They are almost ready to close in upon
ne, and they will have false evidence
70 craftily prepared that even my tru-
sst friends may doubt my loyalty to
vou and to the cause l serve. Before
3od, have been true to my oath. 1 am
oval to Graustark. 1t was a sorry
lay when I left the valley and
"Oh," cried Beverly piteously, don't
~ thatr'
"Alas, Miss Calhoun, II IL true" said
le sadly. II am psnned up here where
cannot fight back. Treason Is laid
lgainst me. But, beyond all this,
ave permitted my loyalty to mislead
ny ambition. have aspired to some
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