Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-01-18

Ing cf-lD-alty need noI deceive u.s. ~
crSd Spr.ngiYg 70 his feet The tel-
low is nothing more nor less thah III
internal spy. and the Tower is the place
for lin, He can do no harm there.
IF it were my intention to do harm,
g,nt!cmen. do you imagine that !
shoull withhold my Information tor
days?" asked Baldos. If | am spy
YOU nav rest assured that Count Mar
lanx's kindnesses should not have been
so long d!sreglrled A spy does not
believe in delays"
"AIy-my kndnesses?" cried Mar
lanx. What 60 You mean. slrF'
II mean this. Count MarllnX,' said
Baldos. looking steadily into the eyes
OF the head of the army. 1T was KIND
and consiGerate of you to admit ME to
the fortress, no matter in what capacl-
ty. especially ut critical time like this
You did not know me. you had no way
of telling whether my intentions were
honest or otherwise. and yet was per-
mitted to 20 through the fort from end
to end. No spy could wish for greater
generosity than that"
An almost imperceptible smile went
around the table. and every listener
but one breathed more freely. Tie
candor and boldness of the guard won
the respect and confidence of all except
Marlanx. The Iron Count was white
with anger. He took the examination
out of Lorry's hands and piled the
stranger with insulting questions, each
calm answer making him more furious
than before. At last, in sheer impo-
tence he relapsed into silence, waving
his hand to Lorry to indicate that he
might resume.
"You will understand Baldos. that
we have some cause for apprehension"
said Lorry, immensely gratified by the
outcome of the tilt. You are stran-
ger, and. whether you admit 1t or not,
there is reason to believe that you are
not what you represent yourself to
be-"
Il am humble guard at present, sir.
and a loyal one. My life Is yours
Sn0uld L prove OTHERWISE.
Yetlve whispered something in Lor-
ry's ear at this juncture. She was WIS.,
ibly pleased and excited. He looked
doubtful for an instant and then ap-
parently followed her suggestion, re-
gardless Of consequences.
Would you be willing to utilize your
knowledge as an engineer by suggest
ing means to strengthen the fortressr
The others stared In fresh amazement.
Marlanx went as white as death.
"Never" he blurted out hoarsely.
II will do anything the princess COM
mands me to do" said Baldos easily.
You mean that you serve her only |"
81 serve her first, sir II she were here
she could command me to die, and
there would be an end to Baldos." And
he smiled as he said 1t. The real prin-
cess looked at him with new, eager
expression, as If something had just
become clear to her. There was q
chorus Of coughs and a round Of sly
looks.
said Yetive. addressing him for the
first time.
"A princess is like April weather,
madam" saiu Baldos, with rare hu-
NOR. and the laugh was general. Ye-
tive resolved to talk privately with this
excellent wit before the hour was over.
She was confident that he knew her to
be the princess.
81 would like to ask the fellow an
other question" said Marlanx, finger
ing his sword hllt nervously. you say
you serve the princess. Do you mean
by that that you imagine your duties
as soldier to comprise dancing polite
attendance within the security OF
these wallsF
Il believe | enlisted as member of
the castle guard. sir. The duty of the
guard Is to protect the person of the
ruler of Graustark and to do that to
tie death"
ut Is my belief that you are spy.
You can show evidence of good faith
ty cElistirg to fight against Dawsber-
gen and by shooting to kill" said the
ct,at with sinister glpam in his
eye.
And If decline to serve in any
other capacity than the one now
Then shall brand you as a spy and
1 coward"
You have already called me a spy.
your excellency. 1t will not make IT
true let me add. If you call me o cow
ord. | refuse to take up arms against
either Dawsbergcn or Axphain."
The remark created a profound SEN
sution.
Then you are employed by both in
stead of one" shouted the Iron Count
g.eefuly.
81 am employed as a guard for her
royal highncSs.' said Baldos. with a
square glance at Yetlve. and not as a
I"htcr in the ranks. will fight ill
'ctl' for her, but not for Graustark
CHAPTER XYI.
"IN11 Jove, | Ike that fellow,
Xxi cooIness,' said Lorry to Hsr.
lUl ry Anguish after the meet.
- ing. Hes after my own