The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-13

Gus Judge in the council chamber with
q defiant leer on his face. If he went
down into the depths he would drag
with him the fairest treasure he had
coveted in all his years Of lust and
desire.
"a word with you," he said in an
aside to Beverly as she came from the
council chamber, in which she felt she
should not sit. She stopped and faced
him. Instinctively she looked to see If
he bore evidence of wound. She was
positive that her bullet had struck him
the night before and that Marlanx was
the man with the cloak.
"Well?" she said coldly. He read her
thoughts and smiled, even as his snoul-
der burned with pain.
sI will give you the chance to save
yourself. I love you. want you.
must have you for my own," he was
saying.
.sStop, sir! It may be your expert
ence in life that women kneel to you
when you command. It may be your
habit to win what you set about to
win. But you have d novel way Of pre-
senting your devoirs, 1 must say. Is
this the way in which you won the
five unfortunates whom you want me
to succeed? Did you scare them into
submission?'
sNo, no! I cared nothing for them.
Yo,1 are the only one I ever loved''-
"Really, Count Marlanx, you are
most amusing" she interrupted, with
q laugh that stung him to the quick
.You have been unique in your love
making. l am not used to your meth
ods. Besides, after having known
them. I'll confess that I don't like
them in the least. You may have been
wonderfully successful in the past, but
you were not dealing with an Ameri-
can girl. I haye had enough of your
insults. Go inland face
"Have care, girl!' he snarled. Il
have it in my power to crush you
i"Pooh.' came scornfully from her
lips. eff you molest me further shall
call Mr. LOFTY. Let me pass!'
Gust glance at this paper, my beau
ty. It goes before the eyes Of the coun-
Gil unless you He paused signif-
cantly.
Beverly took the document and Win
dilated eyes read the revolving charges
against her honor. Her cheeks grew
white with anger, then flushed deep
crimson.
"You fendr she cried, glaring at him
40 fercely that he instincively shrank
hack. the vicious grin dying in his face.
s'I'll show you how much I fear you.
I shall give this revolving thing to the
princess. She mag read it to the cabi-
net, for all care. No one will believe
you. They'll kill you for this"
She turned and few into the presence
of the princess and her ministers.
Speeding to the side Of Yetive, she
thrust the paper into her hands. Sur
prise and expectancy filed the eyes OF
all assembled.
count Marlanx officially charges me
with-with-read it, your highness|
she cried distractedly,
Yetive read ii, pale faced and cold
A determined gleam appeared in her
eyes as she passed the document to her
husband.
| "Aliode," Lorry said to an attendant,
after brief glance at its revolving con-
tents, task Count Marlanx to appear
here instantly. He is outside the door,"
Lorry's anger was hard to control
He clinched his hands and there was O
fine suggestion of throttling in the way
he did it. Marlanx, entering the room,
saw that he was doomed. He had not
expected Beverly to take this appalling
step. The girl, tears in her eyes, rush
ed to window, hiding her face from
the wondering ministers. Her courage
suddenly failed her. If the charges
were read aloud before these men it
see1ued to her that she never could lift
her eyes again A mighty longing for
Washington, her father and the big
Calhoun boys rushed to her heart as
she stood there and awaited the crash.
But Lorry was a true nobleman.
Gentlemen" he said quietly, Count
Marlanx has seen fit to charge Miss
Calhoun with completely in the fight
Of Baldos. will not read the charges
to you. They are unworthy Of one who
has held the highest position in the
army of Graustark. He has
"Read this, my husband, before you
proceed further" said Yetive, thrusting
into bis hand a line she had written
with feverish haste. Lorry smiled
gravely before he read aloud the brief
edict which removed General Marlanx
from the command Of the army OF
Graustark.
"1s this justice~ protested Marlan1
angrily. "Will you not give me hear
ing? I beseech''-
"Silence!w commanded the princess.
What manner Of hearing did you ez-
pect to give Miss Calhoun? 1t is
enough, sir. There shall be no towards