Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-07-24
eapysisAs. ~. n eaA
hasd ~ coMeny

your motives and your actions. Have
no fear. The hour will be short and
the fruit much the sweeter for the bit
terness."
Thunder" muttered Harry Anguish.
you don't intend to slap him into a
cell, do you, Gren" Baldos overheard
the remark.
II prefer that course, sir. until 1t has
been clearly established that all have
said to you Is the truth. Count Mar
lanx must be satisfied" said he.
"And, Baldos. is all well with herr"
asked the one we have known as Ra.
vone,
'she Is being put to bed" said Bal
doA with laugh SO jolly that Ravone's
lean face was wreathed in sympa-
thetic smile. II am ready. gentlemen"
He marched gallantly away between
the guards, followed by Dangloss and
Colonel ouinnox.
Naturally the Graustark leaders were
cautious, even skephcal. They await
ed confirmation Of the glorious news
with varying emotions. The shock pro-
euced by the appearance Of Prince
pantan In the person Of the ascetic
ssvone was almost SIMPLIFYING. Even
Beverly, who knew the vagabond bet
Der than all the others, had not dream.
cd Of Ravone as the fugitive prince.
Secretly she had hoped as long as she
could that Baldos would prove, after
all, to be no other than Dantan. This
hope had dwindled to nothing, however,
and she was quite prepared for the
revelation. She now saw that he was
Just what he professed to be-a brave
but humble friend Of the young soy
ereign, and she was happy in the
knowledge that she loved him for what
be was and not for what he might
have been.
HE is my best friend" said Ravone,
as they led Baldos away. II am called
Ravone, gentlemen, and am content
to be known by that name until better
fortune gives me the right to use an
other. You can hardly expect thing
In rags to be called a prince. There is
much to be accomplished, much to be
forgiven. before there is Prince Dan
tan Of Dawsbergen again."
"You are faint and weak" said Lor-
~, suddenly perceiying his plight.
'yThe hospitality Of the castle is yours.
The promise we made few days ago
holds good. Her highness will be proud
to receive you when you are ready to
come to the throne room. I am Gren-
fall Lorry. Come, sir; rest and refresh
yourself in our gladdened home. An
hour ago we were making ready to rush
into battle, but your astonishing but
welcome news is calculated to change
every plan we have made"
Undoubtedly, sir, 1t viii. DAVIS
bergen hardly will make a fight to re-
lease Gabriel. He is safe in your dun
geons. II they want him now they
must come to your strongholds. They
will not.do It, believe me-" said Ravone
simply. Alas, I am faint and sore. as
you suspect. May lie down for an
hour or two7 In that time you will
have heard from your wardens, and my
story will be substantiated Then
shan be ready to accept your hospitali-
ty. as 1t IL pro6ered. Outside your city
gates my humble followers lie starv-
ing. My only prayer Is that you Will
send them cheer and succor."
No time was lost IN sending to the
gates for the strollers who had accom-
pllshed the marvel Of the day. The
news Of Gabriel's capture was kept
from the elty's Inhabitants until verb
lcation came from the proper sources,
but those in control Of the affairs Of
state were certain that Ravone's story
was true. All operations came to a
standstill. The movements of the army
were checked. Everything lay quies-
cent under the shock Of this startling
climax.
"Hang It," growled Anguish, with a
quizzical grin as Rayone departed un-
der the guidance Of Count Halfont
himself, this knocks me galley west.
I'd like to have had hand in It, It
must have been great. How the devil
do you think that miserable little gang
OF tramps pulled 1t OFF,
Harry" said Lorry disgustedly,
"they taught US a trick or two.'
While the young princess was being
cared for by Yetive's own maids In one
OF the daintiests bedchanbers OF the
castle Beverly was engaged Ia writing
4 brief but pointed letter to her Aunt
Josephine, who was still in st, Peters
burg: She had psrsistently refused to
visit Ndelweiss. but had written many
letters commanding her
niece to return to the Russian capital.
Beverly now was recalling her scat
tered wits in the effort to appease her
aunt and her father at the same time.
Major Calhoun smphatically had or
dered her to rejoln her aunt and start
for America at once. Yesterday Bey-
erly would have begun packing for
the trip home. Now she was eager to
remain in Graustark indefinitely. She
was SO thrilled by Joy AND excitement
that she scarcely could hold the pen.
"F'ather says the United States pa
pers are full Of awful war scares from
the Balkans. Are we q part Of the Bal
kans, Yetive7" she asked. HE says I'm
to come right OF home. Says he'll not
pay nickel Of ransom II the brigands
catch me. as they did Miss Stone and
that woman Who had the baby. He
says mother is worried half to deaths
Pm Just going to cable him that it's all
of, because he says II war breaks out
he's going to send my brother Dan over
here to get me. I'm having Aunt Io-
sephine send him this cablegram from
st. Petersburg: They never fight in