Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-02-22


rant Of these astounding movements on
the part Of her protege. Again every
eye was turned upon the bold. smiling
guardsman
u have been bitterly deceived In
you" said Lorry. genuine pain in his
voice. "Wc trusted you implicitly. !
didn't think it Of you. Baldos. After
all. II Is honorable OF you 10 expose so
thoroughly your own lnfamy in order
to acqult an innocent person who be
leved in you. You did not have TO
come back 10 the castle. You might
have escaped punishment by using
Miss Calhoun as a shield from her
hlghncss' wrath But none the less you
compel me to give counteuance to all
that Count Marlanx has said"
Il insist that It was Miss Calhoun
who went through the panel with him.
said Marlanx eagerly. "If it was this
boy who accompanied you. what was
his excuse in returning to the castle
after you had fed|
"He came back to watch over Miss
Calhoun while she slept It was my
sworn duty to guard her from the man
who had accused her This boy is a
member Of the band to which | belong
and he watched while | went forth on
a pretty business Of my own. II will
be useless TO ask what that business
was. | will not tell. Nor will the boy
You may kill us. but our secrets die
with us. This much will say: We
have done nothing dlsloyal to Grau
stark You may believe me or not II
has been necessary for me to communi-
cate with my friends. and | found the
means soon after my arrival here. All
the foxes that live in the hills have not
four legs" he concluded significantly.
"You are a marvel" exclaimed Lor-
ry, and there was real admiration in
his voice I'm sorry you were fool
enough to come back and get caught
like this. Don't look surprised. gentle
men, for believe in your hearts you
The faint smile that went the rounds
was confirmation enough. Nearly every
man there had been trained in English
speaking lands and not word OF the
conversation had been missed.
81 expected TO DO arrested, Mr.. Lor-
ry," said Bados calmly. 81 knew that
the warrant awaited me. | knew that
my flight OF last night was no secret
| came back willingly, gladly. your
hlghness, and now | am ready to face
my accuser. There Is nothing for me to
fear"
And after you have confessed to all
these actions? BY George. l like your
nervew exclaimed Lorry.
81 have been amply vindicated,"
cried Marlanx. Put him In irons
and that boy too"
"Well Interview the boy" said Lor
ry, remembering the lad beneath the
tree.
See; he's sleeping so sweetly." said
. Baldos gently. Poor lad, he has not
known sleep for many hours. | sup.
pose he'll have TO be awakened. poor
little beggar"
Colonel Qulnnox and Haddan crossed
the grounds to the big cedar, The boy
sprang to his feet at their call and
looked wildly about. Two big hands
clasped his arms, and moment later
the slight figure came pathetically
across the intervening space between
the stalwart guards.
"Why has he remained here. certain
OF arrestY" demanded Lorry In sur
prise.
"He was safer with me than any
where else, Mr. Lorry. You may
shoot me a thousand times. but i'm.
plore you to deal gently with my un
happy friend. lie has done no wrong
The clothes you see upon that trcm
bling figure are torturIng the pool
heart more than you can know The
burning flush upon that cheek is the
red Of modesty Your hlghness and
gentlemen, | ask You to have pity on
this gentle friend Of mine" He threw
his arm about the shoulder of the
slight figure as II dropped against him
Count MlrauN was right II was
woman he saw with me In the chapel
last night"
The sensation created by this simple
statement was staggering. The flushed
face was uumistHkahly that OF young
girl. a tender modest thing that shrank
before the ewes OF a grim auIipnca