The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-25

death was written ON the steel. It
was beautiful to see you kill him,
Sir Max. Strength is always
beautiful in the eyes Of woman.
but it is doubly so when used in
her defense and linked with wise
bravery / thank you, Sir Karl,
Tor teaching me that word. Sir
Max, I'll cannot thank you now"
She stopped speaking and GOV.
cred her face with her hands. In
q moment she partly recovered
composure and smiled her graft.
tude through a little shower OF
tears. Max was, of course, aglow
with pleasure at Yolanda's praise,
but he bore his honors meekIy.
He did not look upon his tremen-
dous feat of arms as much Inn
portance.
Fearing the return of the
Schwartzreiter with reinforce.
ments, we lost no time in resum.
ing our journey.
Within ten minutes after Sir
MAX had killed the captain Of the
Black Riders we were on our road
travelling downhilI, very joyful In
our victory and very proud Of our
knight, Sir Max. We left the dead
men by the roadside. but took
with us two fine horses as COM
pensation for our troubles. The
captains great charger Max ap-
propr1ated for his own.
We rode silently but joyfully.
Twonette slowly recovered from
her fright, and the pink crept back
to her cheeks. The pink had not
left Yolanda's cheeks, nor had her
nerves been disturbed by the adj
ventures Of the morning. Max
tried hard to press his exuberance
OF spirit, and Yolanda loved him
in the sunshine of her smiles.
Along the road we went, and I
must say Max did not seem the
least vainglorious over the won
derful battle he had fought: per-
haps Yolanda's smiles helped him
to minimize the victory.
AS we were cantering through
q leafy glade horseman, travel
ing light, appeared at the end of
a long turn of the road. Even
before he reached us it was easy
to see he was knight of impor-
lance, and .Castlen1An recognized
him shortly as Sir Giles des
Bruelle, messenger Of Charles
the Rash, often called the Bold,
the terrible Duke Of Burgundy.
I noticed that as soon as the
knight appeared Yolanda hastily
covered her head, and this con.
vince0 me, together with all that
had gone before, that she was in
deed either the Princess Mary or
some high-born lady of the Bur
gundtan court.
Castleman introduced the dust
covered knight and spent a few
moments in consultation with
him; his face grew serious az he
listened. Then he turned to us
and said slowly: '"The duke IL
summoning all his mobiles for q
council OF war. He viii be In
Peronne tomorrow"
The knight spurred his horse
ana vanished to appraise others
OF the command Of their llege
lord. Castleman made no effort
to conceal the seriousness OF the
news.
But the effect on Mary was
even more startling: she went to
Castleman and without preamble
declared her intention Of riding to
Peronne at once.
There is no other course pos
sible," she said, "Twonette and /
win take these two gentlemen as
escorts" and she indicated Max
and me.
Castleman began to protest, but
sign from the now imperious
young woman silenced MIN.
The old man apparently knew
when to obey; he limped away to
gather what was necessary for
the girls. Yolanda motionod to
Max.
"sire, are you strong enough
to ride to Peronne with me-"
Max's expression Of consent
with his voice and his eyes made
the young woman smile, and
many q man would have risked
his head for a smile like that.
While Castleman had been max
ing the saddle horses ready with
my help, Antoinette had been get.
ting headdresses suitable for the
hard journey they were now
starting on. She appeared with
these just as her father brought
UP the horses.
There was to be no time
wasted; there was no explanation
as to why 1t was so important
that a young girl, supposed to be
the niece Of Castleman, should
move heaven and earth to arrive
at Peronne before the terrible
duke reached his castle.