Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-20
BY PERCY BREBNER.
Copyright. 1905. T. J. Mcbride 4 Son.

instance" she said, rising. Capt. Ellerey
| and / are fast friends
IT hardly know whether I can congratu-
late you." said Lord Cloverton, rising, too,
and showing no sign of annoyance or rec
ognition of defeat.
you will pardon me-, but I fear I may
have been missed and then as they
passed into the ball room he went on, IT
suggest that your knowledge of Capt. FL
lefey's affairs may be useful to him? Why
not advise him yourself? At present he is
with the queen; when 1 see him again I
! will tell him that you wish to speak to
him."
II have already given him my advice.
! countess. 1 thought to do him a service
by sending him a more powerful advocate"
And the ambassador left her and went
| quickly toward the vestbule AS she
| turned Monsieur De Froette bowed low
to her: he, too. was fastening toward the
vestibule.
| When Desmond Ellerey had followed the
messenger across the ball room, his. guide
! suddenly paused and said in low tone:
Her majesty is in her private apart
ment, and I am instructed to take you
! there. VIII you come with me this way?"
He turned from the ball room and led
Ellerey along a corridor and through
! door. which he locked after him. They
passed I'D one corridor and down another
! for little distance, and then ushering
! him into an ante-room, his guide left him
there while he went to inform the queen of
his arrival. In few moments he returned,
and. holding open a door, bid him enter
| The queen alone. seated by a table
at which she had been writing. Ellerey
approached her and bent over her hand.
The time has come. Capt. Ellerey,' she
said. You are ready?"
| Il am only waiting your majestys COM
| mands.
you have been sent once or twice. Capt
Ellerey to dislodge certain brigand called
Vasilici from his Businesses in the noun
tains and have experenced disappointment
perhaps in not finding him.
THAT is so. your majesty"
at never intended that you should
find him. she answered. For months
past loyal subjects have been gathering in
the mountains with Vasilici. waiting for
our word to revolt against the thraldom
! this country is under to foreign nations SIN
the future it is for us to dictate. not to
obey. His majesty. watched as he is, can
not act freely, the duty devolves on me-
1t is for you to proclaim that we in Stur
| atzherg ready. by carrying a token to
Vasilici. which I will give you. and which
you must guard with your life. Capt. Ell
lerey. The mission with which you are in
trusted is hazardous one. Faction is rife
in the country. and spies Turk in every
corner of it. Even now there may be some
setting out upon the road to bar your way
to Vasilici. But for the trusted bearer of
this token await high honor and great re-
ward"
Even for a foreigner" asked Ellerey
d
This is the land of your adoption, and by
this service you not proving yourself
worthy SOM"
Your majesty commands I am content
to trust to your majesty for my reward;
but one thing troubles me-
what is that?
1.-The revolution-for such It must be-will
heat mems blood against the foreigner.
May I ask consideration for Lord Cloverton
and his staff at the British embassy"
You have our word that no harm shall
come to them. We are not fighting en-
bassies but the riff-raff which has come
into our land-the Adventures who bear
themselves though they were our mas
ters. We have been under an iron fail
from the palace to the howell 1t is against |
this subsection that we rebel. You are pre- |
pared to fight and win with u.s."
II am waiting for the token, your maj |
esty."
Il love a man of few words she said
land as surely as success will come. l
pledge my word that the ribbon of the
Golden Lion of Sturatzberg shall be yours
Capt. Ellerey. and with it revenue sufficient
to bear it fittngly. This is the token" she
went on, barring her arm on which, just
above the elbow. was q bracelet of iron.
chain joining together four medallions. 1T
is an ancient treasure of Wallaria. worn.
it is said. by savage kings in this country
before ever the Romans had trampled it
with their all-COnquering legiOns | will
seal it in this box, which you must guard
with your life and bear to Vasilici. Seeing
it. he will welcome you as he would our
self With him return triumphantly to
SturatZberg and if rabble of rebellious
soldiery. led away by traitors who are
among u.s. stand in your way. | can trust
Capt. Ellerey's sword to cut path through
1t. Will you unclasp the bracelet for me?
the fastening is difficult
AS she held out her arm the door opened