The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-23


fnS on his remarks 10 Beverly. Tie
ministers listened in wonder to tho
WORDS OF this calm, Indifferent young
WIN you oblige us BY making
rough draft OF the forts INTERIOR ASK
Cd Lorry aftes solemn pause. Bal
dss took the paper and in remarkably
quick time drew the exact lay OF me
fortress. The sketch went the ROUNDS
and apprehensive locks were e1chans
ed by the ministers.
TT Is accurate, By Jove," exclaimed
Lorry. II doubt II dweller in the
fort could do better. Ysu must have
been very observing"
~And very muct interested" ;" snarled
Ma1lanx.
only 80 far as I imagined my OBJ
servations might be Of benefit to some
one elsa" said Baldos coolly. Again
silence was like death.
~Dc you know what you are say
ing, BaldosT asked Lorry after a mo
ment.
Certainly, Mp. Lorry. 1t Is the duty
Of any servant OF her highness to give
her all that he has fn him. Il my OBJ
servatlcns can be Of help to her / feel
in duty bound to make the best OF
them for her sake, not for my OWL
perhaps you can suggest modifca-
tons in the fort" snarled Marlanx-
4eWhy don't you do 1t, sir, and let US
have the benefit Of your superior intel
ngence? No, gentlemen, all this pratt
ing Of loyalty need not deceive u.s." he
cried, springing to his feet. "The fel-
low is nothing more nor less than an
internal spy, and the Tower is the place
for him! He can do no harm there
'If it were my intention to do harm,
gentlemen, do you imagine that I
should withhold my information for
daysg' asked Baldos. "If I am spy
you may rest assured that Count Mar
ianx's kindnesses should not lave been
so long disregarded. A spy does not
believe in delays"
'My-my kindnessesw cried Mar
lanx. What do you mean, sir?"
IT mean this, Count Marlanx," said
Baldos, looking steadily into the eyes
Of the head Of the army. '1t was kind
and considerate Of you to admit me to
the fortress, no matter in what capaci-
W, especially at critical time like this.
You did not know me- you had no way
Of telling whether my intentions were
honest or otherwise, and yet I was per-
mitted to go through the fort from end
20 end. No spy could wish for greater
generosity than that"
An almost imperceptibie smile went
around the table, and every listener
but one breathed more freely. The
candor and boldness Of the guard won
the respect and confidence cf I'll except
Marlanx. The Iron Count was white
with anger. He took the examination
out Of Lorry's hands and piled the
stranger with insulting questions, each
calm answer making him more furious
than before At last, in sheer impo-
tence, be relapsed into silence. waving
his hand to Lcrry TO indicate that he
might resume
.eyou will understand, Baldos, that
we have some cause for apprehension,
said Lorry, immensely gratided by tie
outcome CT tie dltt. 'rYou are straa-
ger, and, whether you admit it or not,
there Is reason to believe that you are
not what you represent yourself to
be-
II am humble guard at present sir,
and a loyal one. NY life is yours
should I prove otherwise"
Yetfve whispered something in Lor-
rvs ear at this juncture. She was Wis
ibty pleased and excited. He looked
doubtful for an instant and then ap-
parently followed her suggestion, re-
gardless OF consequences.
'Would you be willing to utilize your
knowledge as an engineer by suggest
ing means to strengthen the fortress"
The others stared In fresh amazement
Marlanx went as white as death.
Never he blurted out hoarsely.
II will do anything the princess COM
mands me to do" said Baldos easily.
"You mean that you serve her only"
'1 serve her first, sir. If she were here
she could command me to die, and
there would be an end to Baldos." And
he smiled as he said it. The real prin-
cess looked at him with q new, eager
expression, as If something had just
become clear to her. There was a
chorus Of coughs and round Of sly
looks.
"She could hardly ask you to die"
said Yetive, addressing him for the
first time.
"a princess Is like April weather,
madam" saiu Ealdos, with rare hu-
NOR, and the laugh was general. Ye-
tive resolved to talk privately with this
excellent wit before the hour was over.
She was confident that he knew her to
be the princess.
IT would like to ask the fellow an
other question" said Marlanx, finger
ing his sword hilt nervously. "You say
YOU serve the princess. Do YOU mean