The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1916-06-07
CHAPTER Xxx.
Pingari's.

WIN I'LL aihhoo
sheer drop of a thousand feet into
the quarries below. A low rooted
rambling building, once used as a
troop house for nomadic fighting men
who came from all parts of the prin-
cipality on draft by feudal barons in
the days before real law obtained.
Hobbs drove bravely into the court
yard, shouted orders to a couple OF
hostlers and descended from the box.
Robin followed an attendant
through a door, down a narrow hall
way, up a flight of stairs and out an
other door upon a small portico, shell
tered by a heavy canvas awning.
Two men were standing at the rail-
ing. looking down upon the impress
sionistic lights of the sunken city.
The prince drew back. his face hard
ening.
At the sound of his steps the two
men turned. stared at him intently
for an instant and then deliberately
strobe past him, entered the door and
disappeared. The person in brass
buttons followed them.
A soft, gurgling laugh fell upon his
ears-a laugh of pure delight. He
whirled about and faced-one who
was no longer alone.
She was seated at the solitary little
table in the corner.
He sprang toward her with glad
cry, expecting her to rise. She re-
manned seated. her hand extended.
"My dear, dear Bedelia," he muir
INJURED. 81 had almost given you up.
Three long days have l waited for
you. You
al have never broken a promise,
Rex" she said coolly. at is you who
are to be commended, not /, for you
see / was coming to Graustark any
way. | should not have been sur
prised if you had failed me, sir. 1t is
q long way from Vienna to this out
of the way
"The most distant spot in the world
would not have been too far away to
cause an instant's hesitation on my
part" said he, dropping into the
chair opposite her.
"But your personal affairs - your
business" she protested. "Can you
neglect it So
"My business is to find happiness"
indeed if l failed to pursue the only
means of attaining it. You are hap
piness, Bedelia."
"What would you sacrifice for hap
piness?" she asked softly
GAIL else in the world" he replied
steadily. "If | were a king my realm
should go if it stood between me ard
you, Bedelia."
"Wait-wait just for a moment"
she said, with difficulty steadying
her voice. "This night may see the
end of our adventure, Rex. Let us
think well before we say that it is
over. | know, if you do not, that
great deal depends upon what we are
to say to each other tonight. You
will ask me to be your wife. Are you
sure that you appreciate all that it
means to you and to your future if i
should say yes. to that dear ques-
tion?"
He looked at her intently. "What
do you know, Bedelia?"
81 know that you are the Prince of
Graustark and that it is ordained
that you shall wed one whose station
Is the equal of your own. You must
think well. dear Rex. before you ask
Bedelia Guile to be your wife"
"You know that / am"-he began
OH IN 20
over the table. a penetrating look in
his eyes.
"How long have you known. Bede-
lia?"
"Since the second day out on the
Jupiter" she replied serenely.
He slowly resumed his seat. over
whelmed. She had played with him.
She had defed him!
81 know what you are thinking.
Rex" she said, almost pleadingly.
"You are thinking i'll Of me. and you
are unjust. 1t was as fair for me as
II was for you. We played a cautious
game. You set about to win my love
as you saw fit. my friend. and am l
10 be condemned il exercised the
game privilege
He gave great sigh of relief.
"you are right" he said. at Is my
turn to confess. | have known for
many days that you are not Bedelia
Guile. We are quits"
She laughed softly.
at doesn't matter" he whispered
hoarsely. ~ don't care what happens
u me. Bedelia. IL shall never give
you up. You are worth all the king
doms in the world. You are the love-
Lest. most adorable
Hush! Mrs. CASTOR is inside" she
informed him quickly. Il do not come