The Washington times., 1924-09-27

company, having a mind to hear
in quiet about the disability of his
great rival.
And Max told him a.plenty,
having to do with the ,iukes at
tack on the Swiss, his defeat, and
his grievous wounds, which had
left him near death and with an
overwhelming desire to see once
more his only child. .
II have brought !, ten men.at-
arms to escort her back to
Peronne IL your majesty grants
the Dukes request" Max went
on, striking while the iron was
hot.
Louis listened and babe the
young man make free Of his
royal hospitality while he gave
the matter thought, 1t being his
habit to consult with the barber
Olivier on matters of import.
So Max, hardly able to re.
strain his Impotence, got what
consolation he could from the
fact that he was under the same
roof with Mary and sought OPP
portunity to see her. She on
her part was not less anxious
and 1t was only natural that she
should speak to her fathers
equerry freely to learn about his
hurts and his condition.
When she heard the young
mans ambitious schemes she
trembled for his life, but also
she was willing to suffer any
adventure to escape union with
the contemplate little creature
who would one day be King OF
France.
At last the King made up his
mind and thus impaired the news
to Max: II have considered the
request of my cousin of Burgundy
and agree to it--Mary shall so
to him as good as daughter
ought-as soon as she Is mar
ried."
His crafty eyes noted the
change OF expression on the young
mans face as he played thus
upon his feelings, but Max could
only agree that the king could
do no wrong and bide his time.
All he had succeeded in doing
was to hurry the very event
Mary was in agony to avoid,
and unless he were careful. it
was safe to say he would be
strung up in the Kings horrible
orchard with the other victims of
royal displeasure.
Both Mary and Max realized the
serious position in which the aspir.
ing lover had placed them; not
that the Princess had a word Of
reproach, for she loved Max more
than ever for daring so bodily to
make his way into the very den
of the lion.
But Max had played a danger.
Gus hand and the trumps were all
with Louis. We schemed secretly
and at length how to circumvent
the cunning Of the French King,
but no way seemed possible, save
flight.
In which case we were certain
to be pursued, and the chances
were that Mary would be brought
back and married to the Dauphin'
and Max would pay the penalty of
his temerity. with his head.
Now, Mary was willing to go to
any length to escape union with
the feeble-minded Dauphin, but
her pleas to be allowed to go to
her supposedly wounded father
had received an assent that was
really worse than a refusal.
While Max and we're puzzling
our brains over these matters, we
had occasion to stop thinking and
begin to act, and that with the
utmost haste.
For 1t appeared that the make.
believe story that Max had in.
vented about the Duke was not
only true but far more true than
the young man had imagined. And
the messenger who brought the
real news Of his defeat of Bur.
gundy and the discontinue Of
Charles was no other than the
double traitor, Campo asso, the
mortal enemy Of Max.
1t was a lucky thing for us
that when he arrived with ,tidinrs
OF the fatal affair Of Nancy and
the death of Charles the Bold we
were not in the council chamber.
But we had glimpsed him and
we hastened to Mary's apart.
ments and there warned her that
now or never was her last chance
to flee. 1t was out Of the cues.
ton that she should go as a
woman but fortunately one OF our
men was about her height. To
him we intrusted our secret. He
came with us to Axax's rooms and
the armor was smuggled to Mary
who put II on and wore It, look
ing for all the world counter.
part OF the young fellow to whom
II really belonged.
It was easy enough with the
visor down for her 70 pass out
with US without exciting com.
ment and YOU raay be sure we
had no time to lose. The sequel