Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-11-11

V,nore 1llum1ned tlme-neltner or them
you'd have. sold his personal honor
or the monarch-they 'revered. They
we're back again in the Middle Ages,
When all things were different.
And now" said the Princess, turn.
ng with a sweep and rustic towards
The archway leading into the other
'oom-"now / will give a further test
Of my confidence and affection. But
irst, what of these two young English
,ools--King Edwards officer and the
over of the Duchess?"
Won Ravenstein laughed "My Prin-
cess" he said, cit is indeed as you say
they are fools! gave them the slip
easily enough outside Cologne. They
arrived here openly by train the next
day, and they are staying-without a
thought of disguise-at the Hotel des
Anglais, that Swiss place which is run
by English tourists. | have had them
watched constantly, and assure you
that they are perfectly harmless.
They have called upon the English
Charge d'Affaires, but l am certain
that they have not disclosed anything
of their mad mission. Indeed, / am
sure that they are by no means GER
tain that they really saw the actual
child. They can do no HARM Princess,
and they will go away soon to tell
the Duchess of London that they have
been upon wild-goose chase"
The Princess nodded "Of course"
she answered, with an Incredible pride
and haughtiness in her voice, II am
in my own kingdom and these fools
can do nothing! 1t is pity that
woman"-the last two words were
spoken with a kissing and venomous
intonation-'tha woman can find no
more skilful champions than two fool
ish English tourists. Now, Won Ra-
venstein, follow me-"
With these words she swept away
through the archway, accompanied by
the bowling courtier.
Michael and Basil heard the rustic
of her train upon the parquet floor,
and the light tap-tap of Won Raven
STEMS shoes as he went after her.
Then both of them disappeared
from the view of the watchers.
Without a word to- Grant, Basil
stepped cautiously into the great shin
ing room just vacated by the Princess,
Grant following.
They sided along the walls till they
came to the farther archway and
peered into the larger room. as they
had done in the first instance from
the terrace.
They saw a great hall hung with
rich arras, and with absolutely no fur
niture in it, save a throne at one end,
upon low dais. and surmounted by
baldachin of crimson velvet, by the
front of which shone the ducal crown
of gold. s4
AS they peered into the place they
saw that the Princess and her COM
panion were standing many yards
away from them, at a certain portion
of the opposite wall
They watched intently, and then
they saw Won Ravenstein stoop down
to the ground for second or two,-
while, as he rose, a small doorway in
the aperture swung open. showing a
black cash in the brilliant colors of
the wall The Princess passed away
into the dark square and was lost to
view for a moment Then Basil and
Michael saw the darkness dissolve and
fade away-an electric light had been
turned on.
Fritz Won Ravenstein entered and
was lost to view.
That's the end Of it, BASIL" Grant
said. Where they are now, we have
come to the very heart of this foul
mystery"
1t, was the great athlete. now who
led the way with noiseless steps across
the Throne Room, up to the gashed
door in the WALL
Once more the watchers repeated
their tactics. In absolute silence and
with extreme caution they peered into
the secret chamber.
They saw bare room of a decent
size, in the middle of which the Prin-
cess and Fritz Won Ravenstein were
standing. But they saw far more than
this-and two white faces looked at
each other with sick horror
(To be continued.)
-. Z 49,.