The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-13
| he Man
From
rodney's
By GEORGE BARR
M'CUTChEON
H>.-.A. soNs - -. -.
[coNT1NuEp.l
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead a Co.

LIS AnecHuy W tHe leII along the line
of the hill. Chase followed the direc-
ton of his gaze and uttered sharp
exclamation of surprise.
Several hundred yards away, out
lined against the blue sky beyond tho
knob, stood the motionless figure of a
horse and its rider-a woman in a
green habit. Chase turned his horses
head and rode rapidly toward her. She
had left the road to ride out upon the
crest of the green knob. Chase was
In the mood to curse her temerity.
AS he came up over the slope she
turned in the saddle to watch his ap-
proach. He had time to see that two
grooms from the stables were in the
road below her. She smiled as he drew
up beside her, not noticing his uncon-
scious frown.
$50 those are the fabulous mines of
Japat?" she said gayly, without other
greeting. Where is the red glow
from the rubies?"
who gave you permission to ride so
far from the chateau?" he demanded,
almost harshly. She looked at him In
amazement.
Am trespasser" she asked collly.
II beg your pardon" he said quickly.
II did not mean to offend. Don't you
know that it is not safe for you to-
"Nonsense" she exclaimed. II am
not afraid Of your shadows. Why
should they disturb me?"
Look" He pointed to the distant
assemblage. ''Those are not shadows.
They are men. and they are making
ready to transform themselves into
beasts. Before long they will strike.
Won Blitz and Rasula have sunk my
warships. You must understand that
1t is dangerous to leave the chateau
on such rides as this. Come! We will
start back together-at once"
II protest, Mr. Chase, that you have
no right to say what shall do orr
ut isn't question of right. You
are nearly ten miles from the chateau,
in the most unfrequented part Of the
island. Some day you will not return
to your friends, 1t will be too late to
hunt for you then"
How very thrillingw she said, with
a laugh.
II beg of you. do not treat it 80
lightly" he said. SO sharply that she
flushed. He was looking intently In
the direction of the men. She was not
slow to see that their position had
been discovered by the miners. will
you come with me now?"
at seems so absurd! But I will
come, Of course. l have no desire to
cause you any uneasiness."
AS they rode swiftly back to the tree
lined road faint chorus of yells came
to them across the valley. For some
distance they rode without speaking
word to each other. They had trav-
ersed two miles Of the soft dirt road
before Chase discovered that Selim
was the only man following them.
The two men who had come out with
the princess were not In sight.
THE dogs! So, you see. princess,
your escort was not to be trusted"
said Chase grimly.
But they have stolen the horses"
she murmured irrelevantly. "They be-
long to the chateau stables"
(Which direction did they take. Sc
limp"
They rode off by the Carter's high
way, excellency. toward Aratnt."
"It may not appeal to your vanity
your highness, but 1t is my duty to in
form you that they have gone to re-
"Clandestine! What do you mean,
STRIP
THE islanders are watching me like
hawks. Every time l am seen with
any one from the chateau they add a
fresh nail to the coffin they are prepar-
than you imagine / must therefore
forbid you to ride outside of the park. I"
II dare say you are right, Mr..
Chase" she said at last, quite frankly.
u thank You"
II am glad that you understand" hi
said simply. His gaze was set straigh
before him, keen, alert, anxious.
II begin to fear, Mr.. Chase" sh,
said. with faint smile, that Lad.
Deppingham deceived me In suggest
ing Japat as rest cure. 1t may in
terest you to know that the court u
Rapp-Thorberg has been very gay thi
winter. My brother, Christobal, hal
been with US after two years absence
He came with his wife from the end
of the earth. aud my father forgav,
him in good earnest. Christobal wa
/ very disobedient In the old days. h
refused to marry the girl my fathe
! chose for him. Was 1t not foolish 0
himI"
mot If 1t has turned out vcll In tn
end"
81 dare say 1t has-or will She
delightful. My father loves her. An,
my father-the grand duke, l shoul
say-does not love those who eros
him. One Is very fortunate to hav
been born a prince" He thought
detected note of bitterness in thi
raillery.
II can conceive OF no greater fol
;une than to have been born Primo
Earl OF .Brubetz". he said lightly. Sh