Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-02

her hair.
Looks lax a love latieh, Miss Bey-
'ly," was the answer ms Aunt Fanny
gngerly placed an envelope in her mis-
tress hand. Beverly looked at 1t in
amazement 1t was Enthusiastically
letter, addressed to her, which had
been left at her window some time In
the night. Her heart gave thump,
and she went red with anticipated
pleasure. With eager fingers she tore
open the envelope. The first glance at
the contents brought disappointment
to her face. The missive was from
Count Marlanx, but it was relief to
find that he was very much alive and
kicking. A she read on there came a
look of perplcXity which was succeed
ed by burning Indignation. The man
In the clonk was preparing to strike
Your secret is mine. know all that
happened in the chapel and underground
passage. You have betrayed Grau5tark
in aiding this man to escape. The plot
was cleverly executed but YOU counted
without the Jealous eye Of love. Iou can
save yourself ana your honor and perhaps
YOUR princess, but the conditions are
l want you to treat mo fairly. God help
YOU if you refuse. Give me the answer
I want, and your secret is safe. I will
shield you with my life. At IL o'clock
shall come to sec you. have in my
possession document that will influence
you. You will do we'll to keep close
mouth until you have seen this paper.
This alarming note was all that was
needed to restore fire to the tagging
blood Of the American girl. Its effect
was decidedly contrary to that which
Marlanx must have anticipated. In
stead of colapsing, Beverly spranG to
her feet with energy and life in every
fiber Her eyes were flashing brightly,
her body quivering with the sensations
Of battle.
That awful old wretch she cried
to Aunt Fanny's amazement. He is
the meanest human being in all the
world. But he's making the mistake Of
his life, isn't he, Aunt Fanny? Oh Of
course you don't know what 1t is, so
never mind. We've got q surprise for
him. I'll see him at II o'clock, and
them She smiled quite benignly at
the thought of what she was going to
say to him. Beverly felt very secure
in the shadow of the princess.
A clatter of horses hoofs on the pa
rade ground drew her to the balcony.
What she saw brought JOY to her
heart. Lorry and Anguish. muddy and
disheveled, were dismounting before
the castle.
"Ah, this is joy. Now there are three
good Americans here. I'm not afraid"
she said bravely. Aunt Fanny nodded
her head in approval, although she did
not know what it was all about Curl
osity more than alarm made Beverly
eager to see the document which old
MarlanX held in reserve for her. She
determined to meet him at II.
A message from the princess an
nounced the unexpected return Of the
two Americans. She said they were (to
use Harry Angush's own expression
"beastly near starvation" and clamor-
I'd for substantial breakfasts. Beverly
was urged to join them and to hear
the latest news from the frontier.
Lorry and Anguish We're full of the
excitement on which they had lived for
many hours. They had found evidence
Of raids by the Dawsbergen scouts and
had even caught sight of small band
OF fleeing horsemen. Lorry reluctantly
admitted that Gabriel's army seemed
loyal to him and that there was small
hope Of conflict being avertcd, as he
had surmised, through the detection Of
the people He was surprised, but not
lismayed, when Yetive told him certain
portions Of the story in regard to Mar
lanx; and, by no means aversc to see
ing the old man rclegated to the back
ground, heartilyIndorsed the step TAX
en- by his wife. He was fair enough,
however, to promise the general a
chance to speak in his own defense il
he so desired. He had this in view
when he requested Marlanx to come to
the castle at IL O'CLOCK for consulta.
ton.
Gabriel Is devotlng most OF his ener-
Gy now 70 hunting that poor Dantan
into his grave" said Anguish. Il be-
licve he'd rather Kill his half brother
than conquer GrGustark. Why, the in
human monster has set himself 10 the
task of celebrating everything that re.
minds him of Dantan. We learned
from spies down there that he issued
an order for the death OF Dantan's sis.
ter, pretty young thing named Can.
dace, because he believed she was SO,
cretly aidine her fugitive brother. She
escaped from thc palace in Serros a
week ago, and no one knows what has
become of her. There's report thai
she vas actually killed and that the
story Of her flight is a mere blind on
the part of Gabriel"
HE would do anything" cried Ye
tive. Poor child, They say she is
like her English mother and is charm
Ing"
THAT would set Gabriel against her
fancy" went on Anguish. "And, by
the way, Miss Calhoun. we heard some
thing definite about your friend, Prince
Oantan. 1t Is pretty well settled tina
he isn't Baldos Of the guard Dantar
was seen two days ago by Captain
Dangloss' men. He was in the DAVIS
bergen pass, and they talked with hin
aud his men. There was 10 Inistak,
this time. The poor, half starved chaI
confessed TO being the prince and beg
ged for food for himself and his fol
lowers"
"T tried 81 hnd him and falling n