Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-01-11

Wleu 10 tut pitdcuIC DdidoS
was deriving from the situation.
The royal victoria was driven to the
fortress, conveying the supposed prin-
cess and the Countess Dagmar to the
home of Count Marlanx. The two
guards rode bravely behind the equi-
page, resplendent in brilliant new uni
forms. Baldos was mildly surprised
and puzzled by the homage paid the
young American girl. 1t struck him as
preposterous that the entire population
Of Edelweiss could be in the game to
deceive him.
"Who is the princess companion"
he inquired of Haddan as they left the
castle grounds.
1.-THE Countess Dagmar, cousin to her
bighness. She is the wife of Mr.. An
guish.'
II have seen her before" said Baldos,
a strange smile on his face
The Countess Dagmar found it diff
cult at first to meet the eye of the new
guard, but he was so punctiliously
oblivious that her courage was restored
She even went so far as to whisper in
Beverly's ear that he did not remember
her face and probably would not rec
ogniZe Yetive as one of the eavesdrop-
pers. The princess had fatty refused
to accompany them on the visit to the
fortress because Of Baldos. Struck by
a sudden impulse, Beverly called Bal
dos to the side of the vehicle
HRaldoc yn, haho uaJ x.orr ,,Joal- -os
terday in exposing the duplicity of
those young women" she said.
II am happy to have pleased your
highness," he said steadily.
1T may interest you to know that
they ceased to be ladies in waiting aft
er that exposure"
"Yes, your highness, 1t certainly is in
teresting," he said as he fell back into
| position beside Haddan. During the
remainder of the ride he caught him
self time after time gazing refectively
at the back Of her proud litie head,
possessed Of an almost uncomfortable
| desire to touch the soft brown hair.
"You can't fool that excellent young
man much longer, my DEAR" said the
countess, recalling the look in his dark
eyes. The same thought had been af-
ficting Beverly with its probabilities
for twenty-four hours and more.
Count Marlanx welcomed his visitors
with graciousness that awoke won
der In the minds of his staff. His
marked preference for the American
girl did not escape attention. Some Of
the bolder young officers indulged In
surreptitlous grimaces. and all looked
with more or less compassion upon the
happy faced beauty from over the sea.
| Marlanx surveyed Baldos steadily and
coldly. deep disapproval In his sinister
eyes. He had not forgotten the en-
counter Of the day before.
II see the favorite is on guard" he
said blandly. HAS he told you Of the
lesson In manners he enjoyed last
nightr' He was leading his guests to-
ward the quarters, BaldOs and Haddan
| following. The new guard could not
help hearing the sarcastic remark.
you didn't have him beaten?" cried
Beverly. stopping short
mo, but I imagine II would have
been preferable. l talked with him for
half an hour" said the general, laugh
Ing significantly.
When the party stopped at the drink
ing fountain In the center Of the fort
Baldos halted near by. His face was
as impassive as marble. his eyes set
straight before him. his figure erect
and soldierly. An occasional sarcas-
tic remark by the Iron Count, meant
for his ears made no impression upon
the deadly 0mposure of the new guard
who had had his lesson. Miss Cal
houn was conscious of a vague feeling
that she had served Baldos an III turn
when she put him into this position.
The count provided a light luncheon
in his quarters after the ladies' had
gone over the fortress. Beverly Cal
houn, with all of woman's indiffer-
ence to things material. could not but
see how poorly equipped the fort was
as compared to the ones she had seen
In the United States. She and the
countess visited the armory, the ar
senal and the repair shops before
luncheon, reserving the pleasures OF
the clubhouse, the officers quarters
and the parade ground until afterward.
Count Marlanx's home was In the
southeast corner of the inclosure, near
the gates Several of the officers lunch
ed with him and the young ladies.
Marlanx was assiduous in his atten-
ton to Beverly Calhoun, so much so,
in fact, that the countess teased her
afterward about her conquest of the
old and well worn heart. Beverly
thought him extremely silly and senti-
mental, much preferring him in the
character of the harsh. implacable mar
tinet.
At regular intervals she saw the
straight, martial form of Baldos pass
the window near which she sat. He
was patrolling the narrow piazza
which fronted the house. Toward the
close of the rather trying luncheon she
was almost unable to control the i'm
I pulse to rush out and compel him to
relax that imposing, machine-like