Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-02-01

purpose. Apart from the existence Oh
a strong. healthy prejudice In the
guards favor, what the old general De-
lieyed and what he could prove were
two distinct propositions. He was
crafty enough, however, to take advan-
tage Of condition unknown to Bev-
erly Calhoun, the innocent cause of all
his bitterness toward Baldos.
As he hastened from the council
chamber his eyes swept the crowd OF
eager. excited women in the grand nail.
From among them he picked Beverly
and advanced upon her without regard
for time and consequence. Despite her
animation he was keen enough to see
that she was sorely troubled. She did
not shrink from him. as he had haf
expected. but met him with bold dis
dain In her eyes.
"Thls Is the work of your champion"
he said in tones that did not reach ears
other than her own. 81 prophesied 1t,
you must remember. Are you satisfied
now that you have been deceived In
hlmT
81 have Implicit confidence In him. |
suppose you have ordered his arrestT
she asked, with quiet scorn.
"He is under surveillance, at my sug-
gestlon. For your sake. and yours
alone, am giving him a chance. He Is
your protege. You are responsible for
his conduct. To accuse him would be
TO place you In an embarrassing posi-
ton. There is slckenlng rumor In
court circles that you have more than
a merely kind and friendly interest In
the rascal. II believed that, Miss Cal
houn. fear my heart could not be kind
! 10 him. but | know II is not true. You
have a loftler love to give. He Is a
clever scoundrel, and there is no tell
| ing how much harm he has already
done to Graustark. His every move Is
to be watched and reported to me. II
viii be impossible for him to escape.
! To save him from the vengeance Of the
army am permitting him TO remain in
your service, ostensibly at least. His
hours Of duty have been changed. how
ever Henceforth he is in the night
guard, from midnight till dawn. l am
telling you this. Miss Calhoun, because
want you TO know that in spite of all
the lndignity | have suffered you are
more to me than any other being in the
world, more TO me even than my loyal
ty to Graustark. DO me the honor and
/ Justice to remember this. | have suf-
fered much for you. ! am a rough,
hardened soldier, and you have mis-
construed my devotion. Forgive the
harsh words my passion may have In
splred. Farewell! must off to undo
the damage we all lay at the door OF
the man you and are protecting"
He was too wise to give her the
chance to reply A moment later he
was mounted and of for the eastern
gates, there TO direct the movements OF
Colonel Braze and his scouts. Beverly
flew at once to Yetive with her plea for
Baldos. She was confronted by a
rather sober faced sovereign. The
news OF the hour was not comforting
to the princess and her ministers.
"You don't believe he is n spy?" cried
Beverly, stopping Just inside the door,
presumIng selfshly that Baldos alone
was the cause for worry. She resolved
to tell Yetlve OF the conflict in the
park.
Dear me, Beverly, | am not think
ing Of him. We've discussed him joint
ly and severally and every other way,
lnd he has been settled Tor the time
being You are the only one who is
thinking Of him my dear child We
have weighticr things to annoy us"
Goodness how You talk, lie isn't
annoying oh, forgive me. Yctve, for
am the sillIcSt, addle patcdcst goose
In the kingdom And you are so trou-
hled. But do you know that ne Is be.
ing watched? They suspect him. So
lid nt first; I'll admit IT, But
don't-now. Have you read the note
| gave to you ont there"
Yes, dear Its nlst as | expected.
lie has known from the beginning.
He knew when he caught DaEmar and
me spying behind that abomlnable
curtain. But don't worry me any long
er about him, please Wait here with
me until we have reports from the
/ troops | shall not sleep until know
what those fires meant Forge, Baldos
for am hour or two for my sake"