Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-09-08
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead
 Q Go.
CHAPTER xxvI-(continued)

WHAT N-A i--A NpuNiuNtui
 ''It may >rem cGd to you. but I'd rather soc you drad than hurried t" Prince Karl" She was silent He went on. Would you consent to be my wife If you felt in your heart that we should never leave this iSandg"
 "l think shall go In. Mir. Chase" she said with a warning shake of hfr head.
 "D0n't. please. I'm not asking you to marry me if we should leave the island. You must give me credit for that" he argued whimSicalN.
 'Ah. see" she said. apparently very much relieved. You want me only with the understanding that death should be quite close at hand to relieve you. And if l were to become your wife. here and now. and we should be taken from this dreadful pIace-what thea:''
 'You probably would have to gu through d luug and miserable career as plain Goodwi.e Chase" he eX- pluiUed.
 If it will make you any happier" she sald with a smile in whi,h h there llrked touch of miSchievouS triumph. "I can say that might consent to marry you if were not SD positive that l will leave the island soon You seem to forget that my unclc's yach, is to call here, even though your cruis- CTS will not"
 I'll risk even that" he maintained stOutly.
 She stopped suddenly. her hand upon his arm.
 Do you really love me?" she de- mardcd earnestly.
 With all my soul. swear to you" he replied, staggered by the abrupt change in her manner.
 Then don't make it any harder for me- she said. You know that could not do what you ask. Please. please be fair with me. l-l can't even jest about it., It is too much to ask of me. she went on. with strange frmnesS in her voice. Tt would require cen turies to make me forget that I am princess. just as centuries were taken up in creating me what am. l am no better than you, dear but-but-yOu underestimate" She said it so pleading ly. so hOpe!essly. that he understood what it was that she could not say to him. We seldom. if ever. marry the men whom God has made for us to love"
 He lifted her hands to his breast and held them there If you will just go on loving me I'll some day make you forget you're princess" She smiled and shook her head Her hair geamed red and bronze in the kindly light: soft perfume came up to his noStrils.
 The next day three of the native servants became violently 1T. seized by the most appalling convulslQns. At first thrill of horror ran through the chateau. The plague-the plague in reality!
 But these fears were quickly dissi patcd. The sufferers soon began tc mend. By nlghtfall they were fairly well recovered. The mysterious seizure, however. was unexplained. Chase alone diyined the cause Poison, He was sure of 1t. But who the polsoner?
 All previous perils and all that the future seemed to promise were forgot ten in the startling discovery that came with the fall of night.
 Lady DeppinGham and Robert Browne were missing. They had dis. appeared as If swallowed by the earth Itself! Neenah, the wife of Selm, was the last of those in the chateau to see the heirs. They crossed the swift tor rent by the narrow bridge at the base of the cliff and stopped below the mouth of the cavern which blew its | cool breath out upon the hanging car4 den. Later on she saw them climb the | stanch ladder and stand in the black | opening. apparently enjoying the cool- | ing wind that came from the damp | bowels of the mountain. Her attention | was called elsewhere. and that was the | last glimpse she had of the two people | about whom centered the struggle for | untold riches.
 'Chase, they are lost in there" fAcohtu Nllu dD- prehension. He was trembling like a leaf
 There's just one thing to dO," said Chase. We've got to explore that cavern to the end. They may have lost their bearings and strayed off into one of the lateral passages"
 TT can't bear the thought of her wandering about in that horrible place" Deppingham cried as he start ed resolutely toward the ladder.
 Shell come out of it all right" said Chase, sudden compassion in his eyes.
 Drusilla Browne was standing near by, cold and silent with dread, a set expression in her eyes. Her lips nov ed slowly, and Deppingham heard the bitter words: You will find them, Lord Deppingham You will find them,"