Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-06

to the throne; and that the Dalvanians
who ought to have been elated at tehi
success, had been more or less dis
satisfied ever since.
Now, Prince Mirko's errand in tn,
most important island of the worlt
was to enlist sympathy for his caus'
among those who would lend hin
their money or their help in organic
ing a secret raid; and the adventure
so Eloise Dauvray eagerly explained
to Christopher Race, was not so hope
less as It might SEEM
The Dalvanian ambassador, who
had Just called the prince away, hat
been put in his place by Turkey, lik,
all other Dalvanian diplomats Of Kine
Alexander's day; nevertheless, he hat
private reasons for being at hear
Mirko's friend. Damiello Rudovic.
knew what was Mirko's mission il
England; knew that he was trying t
get together hundred thousand
pounds to buy arms and feed a small
army; knew that he was inviting ad
venturous or rich young Englishmer
to join him secretly at the Montene-
grin frontier of Dalvania, for a certain
purpose; yet Rudovics was giving nc
hint to Turkey, his real employer, OF
the business afoot. And that Is moi
because Of any personal love for the
prince" finished the woman who
loved the prince above all, but be-
cause he wants Mirko to marry his
wife's daughter. If Mirko would take
her, Turkey would let him gain his
throne with no more than a mere
theatrical struggle"
II see." said Christopher 1.-The plot
thickens" t
at grows very thick indeed"
answered Eloise. "for Mirko won't
think Of the Lady Valda-will think
of no one but me. Yet he must keep
Rudovics' friendship for the present.
That's why our engagement has to be
secret; and our marriage must be
secret, too. Only my grandmother
knows-and you. At least, that's what
1 hope. I daren't dwell upon, the
things that might happen to Mirko If
anyone who wished either of us evil
should find out" ,..
YES" said Christopher. II under
stand, and ia give anything-even
Scarlet Runner-to help
I'VE want you both-you and Scar
let. Runner" ''-
"What if it carried a prince-the
rightful ruler Of his country?" smiled
Christopher. r. 2J@
Some such though was in my
mind" said Eloise. at would create
a profound sensation. People would
think him a god in the car"
''There ought also to be goddess
in the car" remarked Christopher,
thoughtfully. 49, -',.'.
"She need not be lacking-if she
had an invitation" said. Miss Dauvray
''She has the invitation now.
THANK you! And you have-an in
to her wedding"
When is it to be?" he asked, with
outward calmness
That is the greatest secret Of ALL
1t is to be next week. will let you
know the day, and should like you
to be there. So would Mirko. He
knows what you did for me. Already
you are to him more than other men,
for my sake. And If you would help
you would take us into Dali
if the prince still needs it, l can get
him money"
He needs it desperately. But you
are not rich?"
my Uncle James is."
81 heard something Of your story
from-but you can guess. hate even
to speak his name, in these good and
happy days. Your uncle has disin-
herited you"
That's still on the knees of the
gods. It's partly a question Of con-
duct, partly the question Of girl.
I'm not sure he hasn't sneaking
fondness for me. But there's one
thing he worships; a title"
Eloise Dauvray's colour frightened.
Prince Mirko would give him a
dukedom and the Order of the Red
Swan of Dalvania. Though It's small
the Swan is famous-as old
as Constantine the First, and has been
bestowed on few who were not kings
Or princes You may have noticed that
Mirko Is wearing 1t tonight"
II did notice and thought-of my
uncle. He would give ten years Of
his life for the Swan, and hundred
thousand pounds for dukedom, even
though Dalvanian-or l don't know
him. You and Prince Mirko could in
1uce him to do 1t, If you, would let me
take you both in Scarlet Runner to
Hyde Hampton, his place in Middle
sex, to pay an afternoon visit"
I'VE will go; I can promise for
Mirko," said Eloise.
He had not seen his relative for
months, nor had he communicated
with him since he had taken to earn
ng his own living with Scarlet Run
ner. Nevertheless, his long and elabo-
rate wire the next day was promptly
by old James Revelstone
Race with cordial invitation for any
lay that suited His Royal Highness
Old James Race was enchanted
with the prince, almost collapsing
with joy at Royalty's gracious praise
If his picturesque Jacobean house and
wonderful Dutch gardens. Such an
honour had never come his way be-
,ore; but, snob as the old man was at
leart, he genuinely admired Mirko,
md was fired by the romance of the
1oung princes situation. The conf
ience that Mtrko reposed in him he
regarded as an overwhelming CON-
and limited a suggestion Of
lelp even before the quickly following
'ffer Of the dukedom. That could not
De bestowed until Prince Mirko Should
become King Mirko; but the Red
swan of Dalvania, on fire with the
blaze of Jrubbies and small brilliants,
vas transferred from Mirko's breast
o that of the dazzled old man.
On the way back to London, after
his triumphant visit, Eloise told
christopher that the wedding would
AXE place on the following Saturday.
rhe banns Of Theodore Zone OF
Mirko's many names) Constantinus
md Eloise Dauvray had been read
hree times in quiet little church of
south Kensington-a church where
Nobody would recognize either name;
md all was now ready. Nor need