Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-08

w heF eIctte1ne7It ehe Urea feCkte8Sty.
with pain. ''How brave you were!
You might have been-I'll never forget
it-never! Don't stand there, Aunt
Fanny! Quick! Get those cushions
for him., He's hurt
Good Lawdw was all the old wom-
an could say, but she obeyed her mis-
tress.
1T was easier than 1t looked, your
highness," murmured Baldos. Luck
was with me. The knife went to his
heart. l am merely scratched. His
leap was short but he caught me
above the knee with his claws. Alas,
your highness, these trousers Of mine
were bad enough before, but now they
are In shreds. What patching shall
have to do! And you may we'll imagine
we are short of thread and needles and
thimbles"
Don't jest, for heavens sakel Don't
talk like that. Here! Lie down upon
these cushions and
"Never! Desecrate the couch of
Graustark's ruler? I, the poor goat
hunter? I'll use the lion for pillow
and the rock for an operating table.
In ten minutes my men can have these
scratches dressed and bound-in fact,
there Is surgical student among them,
poor fellow. think am his first pa
TENT Rayone, attend me-"
He threw himself upon the ground
and calmly placed his head upon the
body Of the animal.
II insist upon your taking these
cushions" cried Beverly.
"And I decline irrevocably." She
stared at him in positive anger. "Trust
Ravone to dress these trifing wounds,
your highness. He may not be as
gentle, but he is as firm as any prln-
cess in all the world"
"But your arms" she cried. didn't
you say it was your legsf Your arm Is
covered with blood too. Oh, dear me,
I'm afraid you are frightfully wound
ed"
"a stray bullet from one Of my men
struck me there, I think. You know
there was but little time for aiming
"Wait! Let me think minute!
Good heavens! she exclaimed, with a
start. Her eyes were suddenly filed
with tears, and there was break IN
her voice. II shot you! Don't deny it
don't! 1t Is the right arm, and your
men could not have hit it from where
they stood. oh. oh, oh!'
Baldos smiled as he barred his arm.
"Your aim was good" he admitted.
'Had not my knife already been in the
lions heart your bullet would have
gone there. 1t is my misfortune that
my arm was in the way. Besides, your
! highness, 1t has only cut through the
skin, and little below, perhaps. 1t
will be we'll in day or two am
sure you will find your bullet In the
carcass Of our lamented friend, the
probable owner Of this place."
Ravone, hungry looking youth. took
charge Of the wounded leader, while
her highness retreated to the farthest
corner Of the cavern. There she sat
and trembled while the wounds were
being dressed. Aunt Fanny hustled
back and forth, first unceremoniously
pushing her way through the circle OF
men to take observations and then re-
porting to the impatient girl. The
storm had passed, and the night was
still except for the rush of the river.
Raindrops fell now and then from the
trees, gllstening like diamonds as they
touched the light from the cavern's
mouth. 1t was all very dreary, uncan.
ny and oppressive to poor Beverly. Now
and then she caught herself sobbing
more out Of shame and humiliation
than in sadness, for had she not shot
| the man who stepped between her and
death9 What must he think of herr
HE says 20 all d bettah go to bald
Miss Bev-yo' highness," said Aunt
Fanny after one of her trips.
"Oh, he Does does hef" shifted Bev.
erly. "I'll go to bed when / please
Tell him SO. No, no-don't do 1t, Aunt
Fanny! Tell him I'll go to bed when
I'm sure he Is quite comfortable, MOI
before"
'But he's jes' goat puncheh er a.
"He's a man. If there ever was one
Don't let me hear you call him goat
4 puncher again. How are his legsT
Aunt Fanny was almost stunned by