Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-04-11
Tho Fatality of Moonlight.

Tho Fatality Of Moonlight.
NHE following morning I was
formally presented to the royal
council and took my place at
. the board on the left Of the
king, the Duke of Lotzen being on his
right AT the meeting his majesty de-
clined again to consider the coercion
Of Princess Dehra into q marriage
with Casimir of 1Itia.
Altogether, I was we'll pleased witt
the doings of the morning. And so
was Courtney when I told him Of it
over whisky and soda in his library
later in the day. Possibly l violated
the proprieties in disclosing the bust
ness of the royal council, but knew
Courtney understood l was talking to
my friend and not to the ambassador.
| II WISH" said l, you would give
me your opinion of Lotzen."
Courtney smiled. HE is clever,
very clever" he said.
Even l could guess that after last
evening"" / cut In.
HE is ambitious, rather unscrupu-
| lous and wholly dangerous" Courtney
continued.
"a pleasant sort Of rival" I COM
mented.
"And, finally, he is infatuated with
the princess royal"
Hang Lotzer," said heartily.
"The best method is to win the prin-
cess" said Courtney. MARRY her and
you get the crown for bridal pres
! ent.'
1T may be the surest method; l
doubt if it's the quickest" said l.
"Well, of course, my dear fellow" he
said banteringly, you know the lady
better than l do"
Il doubt it," said I, "for I think l
don't know her even a little bit"
Good. You are gathering wisdom
rapidly. Indeed, you are growing al
most overwise,"
II have often wondered how you got
your amazing knowledge Of women" I
observed.
He lit cigarette and sent cloud of
smoke between us. ut was born in
me, l think. At any rate, I've proved
it-by letting them alone"
"You need wife, Courtney" ex-
| claimed and laughed.
He waved aside my banter. II give
you toast" he went on, pouring a
measure for each Of us. 1.-THE Princess
Dehra--and another Like her."
"And may you find that other" /
cried.
Then we drained our glasses and
flung them into the CRATE
"Of course you understood last night
that there were no papers for you to
sign,' he said, as he came slowly back
to the table.
Surely" l laughed.
What l wanted was the opportunity
to tell you that our secret service will
be at your command, and that have
given instructions to report to me any
thing that may be Of use to you-par-
icularly touching Lotzen and his init
mates"
"You are more than good, old chap"
said, and we shook hands hard.
present my compliments to her
highness," he called after me.
l went back to the doorway. "And
give mine to the other like her when
she comes" / said.
"She will never come, Armand-she
will never come. am just an old
fool" Then he laughed. "Your love
making at dinner tables didn't used to
affect me-"
"You never followed any Of them by
moonlight ride with a pretty GIRL" i
answered.
cat least. never with ana az nretty
as Lady Helen" he amended.
l was getting surprises with q ven
geance.
us 1t possible you have just discov-
cred she is pretty?' exclaimed.
| He smiled frankly. mo; but 1t may
be I've Just discovered how pretty"
"And she's more than pretty" said I;
''she's thoroughbred"
He studied me for a moment. II
| have often wondered, and now I won
der more than ever, why you-why you
never You understand"
| l nodded. "Yes," said I, II under
stand, and rather reckon l would II
it had not been that year before I
ever saw the Lady Helen / had ridden
with the Princess Dehra alone In the
palace forest for an hour"
At last saw Courtney's cold face
show genuine surprise.
"And you made no effort then to
prove your cousinship?" he exclaimed.
NO" said l.
"You let her go, and-and you DIAL
berg and soldier! You don't deserve
her. She ought to go to Lotzen, to
Casimir, to any one but you"
Learning My Trade.