The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-13
CHAPTER Xxx.

"|AHERE is no time to be lost,
exclaimed Count Marlan1.
IL "Ask Colonel Braze to report
to me at the eastern gate
with detail Of picked troopers-a nun
dred of them. will meet him there In
half an hour" He gave other sharp,
imperative commands, and in the twin-
king Of an eye the peaceful atmos-
phere was transformed into the turbu-
lent, exciting rush Of activity. The sig
nifcance Of the fires seel IN the hills
could not be cheaply held. Instant &C
ticn was demanded. Tie city was dR-
ea with the comulotico Of alarm; The
amy was brought to its feet with a
jerk that startled even the most am
bilious.
The first thing that General Marlanx
did was to instruct Quinnox to set a
yigilant watch over Baldos. he was
not to be arrested. but it was under
stood that the surveillance should be
but little short Of incarceration. He
was found at the barracks shortly after
the report concerning the signal fires
and told in plain words that General
Marlanx had ordered a guard placed
over him for the time being, pending
the result Of an investigation. BaiGos
had confidently expected to be thrown
into a dungeon for his afront. He did
not know that Grenfall Lorry stood
firm in his conviction that Baldos was
nc spy and was supported by others il
high authority.
Marlanx was bottling his wrath and
holding back his revenge for distinct
purpose. Apart from the existence Of
a strong, healthy prejudice in the
guards favor, what the old general be-
lieved and what he could prove were
two distinct propositions. He was
crafty enough, however, to take advan-
tage Of a condition unknown to Bev-
erly Calhoun, the innocent cause of all
his bitterness toward Baldos.
As he fastened from the council
chamber his eyes swept the crowd Of
eager, excited women il the grand hall.
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 half
expected, but met him with bold dis
dain IN her eyes.
This is the work Of your champion" !"
be eaid in tones that did not reach ears
other than her own. 81 prophesied 1t.
you must remember. Are YOU satisfied
now ..e.7at you have been deceived IN
him?"
q have implicit confidence in him.
| suppose you have ordered his arrestY'
, she asked, with quiet scorn.
"He Is under surveillance, at my sug-
gestion. For your sake, and yours
! aloae, am giving him chance. He is
your protege. You are responsible for
k:s conduct. To accuse him would be
to place you in an embarrassing posi-
! ton. There Is sickening rumor in
cert circles that you have more than
a merely kind and friendly interest in
the rascal. If believed that Miss Cal
ho1n, fear my heart could not be kind
to him, but know it Is not true. You
have lofaier love to give. He is a
clever scoundrel, and there is no tell
ing how D.uch harm he has already
done to Graustark. His every move is
to be watched and reported to me. It
VIII be impossible for him to escape.
To save him from the vengeance Of the
army 1 am permitting him to remain in
your service, ostensibly at least. His
hours of duty have been changed, how
ever. Henceforth he is III the night
guard, from midnight till dawn. l am
telling you this, Miss Calhoun, because
I want you to know that in spite of all
the indignity 1 have suffered you are