Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-07-05

been teasing her, and, to her own in
tense amazeInent, she resented it. The
fact that she felt the sting OF their sly
taunts was sufficient to arouse in her
the distressing conviction that he had
become important enough to prove EN-
barrassing While confessing to her
self that it was a bit treacherous and
weak she proceeded to ignore Baldos
with astonishing persistency Apart
from the teasing, 1t seemed to her of
late that he was growing a shade too
confident.
He occasionally forgot his deferential
air and relaxed into very pleasing but
highly reprehensible state of friendh-
ness. A touch Of the old jauntiness crop
ped out here and there, tinge of the old
irony marred his otherwise perfect mien
as a soldier. His laugh was freer, bis
eyes less under subjugation, his entire
personality more arrogant. 1t was
time, thought she resentfully, that his
temerity should meet some sort Of
check.
And, moreover, she had dreamed of
him two nights in succession.
How well her plan succeeded may
best be illustrated by saying that she
now was in most uncomfortable
frame of mind Baldos refused to be
properly depressed by his misfortune.
He retired to the oblivion she provided
and seemed disagreeably content. APP
parently it made very little difference
to him whether he was in or out of ia
vor. Beverly was in high dudgeon and
low spirits.
The party rode forth at an early hour.
In the morning. 1t was hot in the city,
but it looked cold and bleak on the
heights. Comfortable wraps were TAX
en- along, and provision was made for
luncheon at an inn halfway up the
slope Quinnox RECALLED Beverly with
stories in which Grenfall Lorry was
the hero and Yetive the heroine. He
told her of the days when Lorry, fu-
gitive with price upon his head,
charged with the assassination of
Prince Lorenz, then betrothed to the
princess, lay hidden in the monastery
while Yetive's own soldiers hunted
high and low for him. The narrator
dwelt glowingly upon the trip from the
monastery to the city walls one dark
night when Lorry came down to sur
render himself In order to shield the
woman he loved, and Quinnox himself
piloted him through the underground
passage into the very heart of the cas-
tie. Then came the exciting scene in
which Lorry presented himself as a
prisoner, with the denouement that
saved the princess and won for the
gallant American the desire Of his
heart.
What brave fellow he wasr" cried
Beverly, who never tired of hearing
the romantic story.
ssAh, he was wonderful, Miss Cal
houn. / fought him to keep him from
surrendering. He beat me, and was
virtually his prisoner when we appear
ed before the tribunal"
"It's no wonder she loved him and
married him."
"He deserved the best that life could
give, Miss Calhoun"
"You had better not call me Miss
Calhoun, Colonel Quinnox," said she,
looking back apprehensively. Il am a
highness once in awhile, don't you
know r.
II implore your highness pardon, !"
said he gayly.
The riders ahead had come to a
standstill and were pointing off into
the pass to their right. They were
eight or ten miles from the city gates
and more than halfway up the winding
road that ended at the monastery gates.
Beverly and Quinnox came up with
them and found all eyes centered on a
small company of men encamped in the
rocky defile a hundred yards from the
main road.
1t needed but a glance to tell her
who comprised the unusual company.
The very raggedness of their garments,
the unforgettable disregard for conse-
quences, the impudent ease with which
they faced poverty and wealth alike,
belonged to but one set Of men-the
vagabonds of the Hawk and Raven.
Beverly went shade whittier. Her In
terest in everything else tagged, and
she was lost in bewilderment. What
freak Of fortune had sent these men
out Of the Businesses into this danger
ously open placer
She recognized the ascetic Ravone,
with his students face and beggar's
garb. Old Franz was there, and SO
were others whose faces and hetero-
geneous garments had become SO IA
miliar to her in another day. The tall
leader with the red feather, the rak-
ish hat and the black patch alone was
missing from the picture.
sIt's the strangest looking crew I've
ever seen, said Anguish. 'sThey look
like pirates"
"Or gypsies." suggested Yetive. who
are they, Colonel Quinnox2 What are
they doing here?'
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