The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-20
By
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON,
Author of 'Grzustafk"
z y
eoexisst. 1904. b. oo&
Mad md cazpacJ


heaping secret abuse because OF the
news he brought. Later Count Mar
lanx appeared at the castle for his first
lesson in poker. He looked so sure OF
himself that Beverly hated him to the
point Of desperation. At the same ume
she was eager to learn how matters
stood with BaldoS. The counts threat
still hung over her head, veiled by its
ridiculous shadow Of mercy. She knew
him well enough by this time to feel
convinced that Baldos would have to
account for his temerity sooner or
later. It was like the cat and the help
iess mouse.
ats too hot,'' she protested, when he
announced himself ready for the game.
Nobody plays poker when it's 81 in
the shade
'fBut, your highness,' complained the
count, 'twar may break out any day. I
cannot concede delay"
Il think there's a game called Shoot
ing craps" suggested she serenely.
1T seems to me it would be particu-
larry good for warriors. You could be
shooting something all the time"
He went away in a decidedly irasci-
Bile frame Of mind. She did not know
it, but Baldos was soon afterward set
to work in the garrison stables, a most
loathsome occupation, in addition to his
duties as guard by night.
After mature deliberation Beverly set
herself to the task Of writing home to
her father. It was her supreme in
tention to convince him that she would
be OF for the States il an amazingly
short time. The major upon receiving
tire letter three weeks later found moth
ing IN it to warrant the belief that she
was ever coming home. He did OBJ
serve, however, that she had but little
use for the army Of Graustark and
was especially disappointed in the set
OF men yefve retained as her private
guard. For the life Of her Beverly
could not have told why she disap-
proved Of the guard in general or in
particular, but she was conscious Of
the fact after the letter was posted
that she had said many things that
might have been left unwritten. Be-
sides, it was not Beldos' fault that she
could not sleep. 1t was distinctly
her own. He mad nothing to do with
1t.
'11i bet father viii be glad to hear
that I am coming home" she said to
Yetive after the letter was gone.
-0h, Beverly, dear, hate to hear Of
| your going" cried the princess. when
DID you tell him you'd start?"
seWhy-oh-er-let me see, when did
say? Dash me, as MIR. Anguish
woG1d say, don't believe 1 gave a
date It seems to me said soon;
that's ALL"
"You don't know how relieved am, y
exclaimed Yetive rapturously, and Bev-
er1y was in high dudgeon because of
! tie implied rejection. 81 believe you
are in a tiff with Baldos," went on Ye-
tive airiIy.
Goodness! How foolish you can be
at times, Yetivew was ~hat Beverly
gave back to her highness the Princess
Of Graustark.
Late in the evening couriers came in
from the Dawsbergen frontier with re-
ports which created considerable ex-
| element in castle and army circles.
Prince Gabriel himself had been seen
Ia the northern part of his domain, ac-
companied by large detachment OF
picked soldiers. Locry set out that
very night for the frontier, happy in
the belief that something worth while
was about to occur. General Marlanx
issued orders for the Edelweiss army
| corps to mass beyond the southern
gates of tie city the next morning.
Commands were also sent to the out
living garrisons. There was to oe q
general movement Of troops before the
end of the week. Graustark was not
to be caught mapping.
Long alter the departure Of Lorry
and Anguish the princess sat on the
[ balcony with Beverly and the Count
ess Daenlar. They did not talk much
! The mission of these venturesome
Young American husbands was full OF
GaGoer. Something in the air had told
taei W; es that the first blows OF war
wer5 g be struck before they looked
ae2:g .ipon The men they loved.
"I - ink we have been betrayed by
! some one,'' said Dagmar after an al
mos inlerminable silence. Her COM
/ panion did not reply. 'The couriers
say that Gabriel knows where we are
weakest ut the front and that he knows
our every movement. Yetive, there is
a spy here after ALL
"And that spy has access to the very
heart of our deliberations, added Bev-
erly pointedly. Il say this in behalf OF
the man whom you evidently suspect,
countess. He could not know these
things"
81 do not say that he does know,
Miss Ca,.2orn. but it is not beyond rea-
son that he may be the go-between, the
| Co. from