Evening star., 1928-04-03

gardener. nor shepherd among ihsni;
nor was one to be seen In the iength and
breadth of the valley. A great trans
| mogrification had taken place. The
Stolid figures Of men in faded green
smocks, barRingNoYen hats. and griInv
leggings were no more. Instead, as II
by magic. gathered company OF up
right. eager, Sprightiy rascals, with glist-
ening eyes. staggering mien, mounted
on sleek, spirited horses that never had
been put TO the plow. and carrying. IN
place Of hoe and scythe end shepherds 5
crook. iong-harreled rifles and pistols
claborately chased with silver and gold.
They were motley crew when 1t came
to dress. Nearly all OF them wore
richly embroidered tunics Of startling
hues-red and green and blue and pur-
pie. according to the wearer's fancy.
Sung back over the shoulder Of
every man was a long black cloak in
which his person could be, and invari-
ably was, enveloped when he Jared
abroad. Loose white breeches we're
stuffed into the tops of alf-length Co.'S
sack boots. From every mans girdle
protruded the butts Of pistols and the
haft of a hunting knife. Powder TASKS
and shot pouches swung from the hips.
Some of the men were bareheaded. some
wore tight-fitting leather caps. others
had wound striped or dotted cloths
around their heads, the knots hanging
down behind ike finttering tails.
From her window. Gerane gaZcd out
upon this scene of activity. Her eyes
were sullen. 1t was plain that she was
angry and. when Gerane was angry,
the tempest was something to remember.
Just now. her father. the redoubtable
vr-van
beast, was given to glancing anxiotsly
In the direction of the window. although
he v;as surrounded by 20 or so rascals
who would have reveled in giving battle
to whole regiment. And her three
cousins. Strapping fellows and fearless,
cast apprehensive looks now and then
toward the house. for they too inglori-
o,lsly had weathered the tempest along
side their uncle
To ancient serving women and the
governeSs-nurSe, en- Austrian lady, who
had fallen into the hands of the rob-
bers. along with Gerane's mother 30
odd years before, moved about the house
like so many frightened mice, waiting
for the SKY to clear and the sun 10 come
out again. which marveIously 1t could
do. even in the dead Of night.
This state OF affairs was brought
aOOut WElen 5efAnS eApTcSSeU q QSSiTe
to accompany the band on the forth
coming expedition.
At first, she had pleaded with her
father to be allowed to participate In one
of those thrilling raids She had never
done anything of the kind. and she
thought 1t was about time, now that she
was practically 10 and the daughter of
the great Jonifer Davos
The great Jonifer. however. had put
his foot down. He pooh-poohed the
idea. This wasn't a woman'S business.
Moreover. he would cur on his right
hand. sooner than permit his beloved
daughter to run the risk of being shot
by--aye. he would cut of both hands
before
I've made up my mind to go with
you tonight" was her only reply.
I've told you. my girl, that 1t is out
of the question for you to 60 with us
tonight. Never have listened to any
thing so silly. OF all the hare Drained.
foolish-What has got into you? Where
Is Matilde? What has become OF the
woman? What does she mean by allow
ing you to get such notions into your
head? II thought she was a party TO
this scheme of yours. would-where
is the woman? Aha! Hiding, eh? Well.
we'll soon see what"