Polk County observer., January 04, 1907, Image 2

m& . JSffiSg By M
p Beverly ot
S Graustark
m GEORGE BARR
S MXUTCHEON, g
cwthm. 1904. . Ooa ..';.
As he spoke the surly mutineers were
riding .lowly toward the conch. Every
man bad hla pistol on uie u."
of the saddle. Their faces "
ill
i
secret that aomethlug like a threat ac
companied the message.
Prince Gabriel was In complete con
trol at Serros and was disposed to
laugh at the demands of his lute cap
tors. His half brother, the dethroned
Prince Dantan, was still hiding in the
fastnesses of the hills, protected by
small company of nobles, and there
was no hope that he ever could regain
his crown. Gabriel's power over the
army was supreme. The general pub
lic admired Dantan, but it was helpless
la the face at circumstances.
"But why should Axphnln seek to
harass Graustark at this time?" de
manded Beverly Calhoun in perplex
ity and wrath. "I should think the
brutes would try to help her."
"There Is an element of opposition
to the course the government is tak
ing," the officer Informed her In his
own way, "but It Is greatly in the mi
nority. The Axphalnians have hated
Graustark since the last war, and the
princess despises this American. It Is
an open fact that the Duke of Mizrox
leads the opposition to Princess Volga,
and she Is sure to have him beheaded
If the chance affords. He Is frleudly
to Graustark and has been against the
policy of his princess from the start"
"I'd like to hug the Duke of Mizrox,"
cried Beverly warmly. The officer did
not understand her, but Aunt Fanny
was scandalized.
"Good Lawd!" she muttered to the
boxes and bags.
As the coach rolled deeper and deep
er into the rock shadowed wilderness
Beverly Calhoun felt an undeniable
sensatloo of awe creeping over her.
The brave, impetuous girl had plunged
gayly Into the project which now led
her into the deadliest of uncertainties
with but little thought of the conse
quences. The first stage of the Journey by
coach had been good fun. They had
passed along pleasant roads, through
quaint villages and among Interesting
people, and progress had been rapid.
The second stage had presented rather
terrifying prospects, and the third day
promised even greater vicissitudes.
Looking from the coach windows out
udoii the auiet. desolate grandeur of
her surroundings, poor Beverly began
to appreciate how abjectly helpless and
alone she was. Her companions were
ugly, vicious looking men, any one of
whom could inspire terror by a look.
Ehe had Intrusted herself to the care
of these strange creatures in the mo
ment of Inspired courage, and now she
was constrained to regret her action.
True, they had proved worthy pro
tectors as far as they had gone, but
the very possibilities that lay in their
power were appalling, now that she
had time to consider the situation.
The officer in charge had been rec
ommended as a trusted servant of the
caar; an American consul had secured
the escort for her direct from the fron
tier patrol authorities. Men high in
power had vouched for the integrity
of the detachment, but all this was for
gotten in the mighty solitude of the
mountains. She was beginning to fear
Iter escort more than she feared the
brigands of the hills.
Treachery seemed printed on their
backs as they rode ahead of her. The
big officer was ever polite and alert,
but she was ready to distrust him on
the slightest excuse. These men could
Dot help knowing that she was rich,
and It was reasonable for them to sus
pect that 8he carried money and Jewels
with her. In her mind's eye she could
picture these traitors rifling her bags
and boxes in some dark pass, and then
there were other horrors that almost
petrified her when she allowed herself
to think of them
Here and there the travelers passed
by rude cots where dwelt woodmen and
mountaineers, and at long Intervals a
solitary but picturesque horseman stood
aide and save them the road. As the
coach penetrated deeper into the gorge
stgna of human life and actvity be
came fewer. The sun could not send
his light Into this shadowy tomb of
sranlte. The rattle of the wheels and
the clatter of the horses' hoofs sounded
like a constant crash of thunder in the
ears of the tender traveler, a dainty
mnrael anion? hawks and wolves.
There was an unmistakable tremor
In her voice when she at last found
heart to ask the officer where they were
to spend the night. It was far past
noon, and Aunt Fanny bad suggested
oDenlnr the lunch baskets. One of the
guides was called back, the leader be-
in? as much in the dark as his charge
"There is no village within twenty
miles," be said, "and we must sleep In
the pass
Beverlr'a voice faltered. "Out here
la all this awful" Then she caught
herself aulckLv. It came to her sudden
Iv that she must not let these men see
that she was apprehensive. Her voice
was a trifle shrill and her eyes glisten-
A with a atranre new light as she
went on. changing her tack completely
"How romantic! I've often wanted to
do something like this."
Th. officer looked bewildered and
aid nothlnir. Aunt Fanny was speech
less. Later on. when the lieutenant had
gone ahead to confer with the guides
about the auspicious actions of a small
rroon of horsemen they had seen, Bev
trly confided to the old negress that she
was frightened almost out of her boots,
Dut that she'd die . Derore the men
should see a sign of cowardice in a
Calhoun. Aunt Fanny was not so
proud and imperious. It was with dif
ficulty that her high strung young mis
tress suppressed the wails that had
long been under restraint In Aunt Fan
ny's huge and turbulent bosom.
"Good Lawd, Miss Bev'ly, dey'll chop
us all to pieces an' take ouah Jewl'ry
an' money an' clo'es an' ev'ything else
we done got about us. Good Lawd,
le's tu'n back, Miss Bev'ly. We aln'
got no mo' show out heah in dese
mountains dan a"
"Be still, Aunt Fanny!" commanded
BeTerly, with a fine show of courage
"You must be brave. Don't you see
we cau't turn back? It's Just as dan
gerous aud a heap sight more so. If
we let on we're not one bit afraid
they'll respect us, don't you see, and
men never harm women whom they
respect."
"Umph!" gruuted Aunt Fanny, with
exaggerated irony.
"Well, they never do!" maintained
Beverly, who was not at all sure about
It. "And they look like real nice men
-honest men. even though they have
such awful whiskers."
"Dey's de wust trash Ah eveh did
see," exploded Aunt Fanny.
"Sb! Don't let them hear you," whis
pered Beverly.
In spite of her terror and perplexity
she was compelled to smile. It was
all so like the farce comedies one sees
at the theater.
As the officer rode up his face was
pale in the shadowy light of the after
noon, and he was plainly very nerv
ous. "What is the latest news from the
front?" she Inquired cheerfully.
"Th men refuse to ride on," he ex
claimed, sneaking rapidly, making It
still harder for her to understand. "Our
advance irutrd has met a party of hunt
era from Axrihaiu. They insist that you
'the fine ludy in the coach' are the
Princess Yetive, returning from a se
rret visit to St. Petersburg, where you
went to plead for assistance from the
czar."
Reviirlv Calhoun gasped in astonish
ment. It was too incredible to believe.
It was actually ludicrous. She laugh
ed heartilv. "How perfectly absurd."
"I am well aware that you are not
tiie Princess Yetive." he continued em
nhntiraliv. "but what can I do? The
men won t believe me. uney swear
they have been tricked and are panic
stricken over the situation. The hunt
ers tell them that the Axphain author
ities. fullv aware of the hurried flight
of the princess through these wilds,
are preparing to intercept her. A large
detachment of soldiers Is already
across the Graustark frontier. It is
onlv a Question of time before the
'red legs' will be upon them. I have
assured them that their beautiful
charge Is not the princess, but an
American eirl. and that there is no
mystery about the coach and escort
AH In vain. The Axohaln guides ai
ready' feel that their heads are on the
block, while as for the Cossacks, not
even my dire threats of the awful an
ger of the white czar when he finds
thev have disobeyed his commands
will move them."
"Knenk to vour men once more, sir,
and Dromlse them big purses of gold
when we reach Ganlook. I have no
money or valuables with me, but there
t ran obtain nlentv." said Beverly.
shrewdly thinking it better that they
should believe her to be witnout runaa.
The cavaleade had halted during this
colloquy. All the men were ahead con
versing sullenly aud excitedly with
much eestlculation. The driver, a stol
id creature, seemingly Indifferent to all
that was going on, alone remained at
his post. The situation, apparently
dancerous. was certainly most annoy
lng. But If Beverly could have read
the mind of that silent figure on the
box she would have felt slightly re
lieved for he was infinitely more anx
ious to proceed than even she, but from
far different reasons. He was a Rus
sian convict who had escaped on the
way to Siberia. Disguisea as a coacn
niHiv he was seeklner life and safety In
Graustark or any out of the way place.
It mattered little to him where the es
cort concluded to go. lie was going
ahead. He dared not go back; he must
era on.
At the end of half an hour the officer
returned. All hope had gone from his
face. "It Is useless!" he cried out
"The guides refuse to proceed. See!
They are going off with their country
men! We are lost without them. I do
not know what to do. We cannot get
to Ganlook. I do not know the way,
aud the danger is great Ah, madam,
here they come! The Cossacks are go
ing back."
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him Mdu thought wa$ to get away.
a q thev Dassed the officer
one of them, pointing ahead of him
with his sword, shouted savoew.
"Balak!" , ,
It was conclusive and convmcms-
They were deserting her.
"Oh, oh. oh! The cowaras; uui
and despair. "I must
go on! Is It possible that even such
men would leave
ho w interruDted by the voice m
the officer, who, raising his cap to her.
commanded at the same time me ariT-
er to turn his horses ana rotiow u
escort to Balak.
"What Is that?" demanded ceverij
In alarm.
From far off came the sound of flr
arms. A douen shots were nrea ana
reverberated down through the gloomy
nasa ahead of the coach.
"Thev are fighting somewnere in me
hills in front of us," answered the now
frlehtened officer. Turning quickly, he
saw the deserting horsemen halt, listen
a minute and then spur their horses,
He cried out sharply to the driver:
"Come, there! Turn round! We have
bo time to lose!"
With a savage grin, the hitherto
motionless driver hurled some insult
ing remark at the officer, who was al
ready following his men, now in full
flight down the road, and, settling him
self firmly on the seat, taking a fresh
grip of the relus, he yelled to bis
horses, at the same time lashing them
furiously with his whip, and started
the coach ahead at a fearful pace. Ills
only thought was to get away as far
as possible from the Russian officer,
then deliberately desert the coach and
its occupants and take to the bills.
CHAPTER IV.
fflOROGHLV mystified by the
action of the driver aud at
M gth terrified by the pace that
Jailed them careening along
the narrow road. Beverly cried out to
Mm her voice shrill with alarm. Auu
Fanny wus crouching on the floor of
S Zl between the seats, groaning
"StopTere ,re you going?" cried
Bemlv putting her head reckless y
Sroui the window If the , f a rd
w he cave no evidence of tne ran.
HU Jace8 was set forward, and he was
Si ng the horses with a firm un-
verlng hand. The coach rattled
Si boied along the dangerous way
Misstep or a false turn might easi.
start the clumsy venicie rum6
8 ........ !. riL'ht. The convict
the aecnvuy vu -- ,
was taklug desperate chances and.
with a cool, calculating brain, prepared
to leap to the ground In case ol accl-
a l I lit UUI I H ILLIUUb "
dent ana -
.. ... tha. v pf ma insiue.
"Stop' Turn around!" she cried in a
Ve Rhall be killed. Are you
crazy?" , .
.1.1., tim. thev had struck a ae
scent in the road and were rushing
along at breakneck speeu mio
U-e shadows that bore the first Im
prints of night Realizing at last that
her cries were falling upon purposely
deaf ears, Beverly Calhoun sank back
Into the seat, weak and terror stricken.
It was plain to her that the horses were
not running away, for the man had
been lashing them furiously. There
was but one coucluslon-he was delib
erately taking her farther into the
mountain fastnesses, his purpose
known only to himself. A hundred ter
rors presented themselves to her as
a huddled aealnst the side of the
coach, her eyes closed tightly, her ten
der body tossed furiously about with
the sway of the vehicle. There was the
fundamental fear that she would be
dashed to death down the side of the
mountain, but apart from this her
quick brain was evolving all sorts of
possible endings none short of abso
lute disaster.
Even as she prayed that something
might intervene to check the mad rush
and to deliver her from the horrors of
the moment the raucous voice of the
driver was heard calling to bis horses,
and the pace became slower. The aw
ful rocking and the jolting grew less
severe, the clatter resolved Itself Into a
broken rumble, and then the coach
stopped with a mighty lurch.
Dragging herself from the corner,
poor Beverly Calhoun, no longer a dis
dainful heroine, gazed piteously out
Into the shadows, expecting the mur
derous blade of the driver to meet ber
as she did so. Fauloff had swung from
the box of the coach and was peering
first Into the woodland below and then
upon the rocks to the left. He wore the
expression of a man trapped and seek
ing means of escape. Suddenly he dart
ed behind the coach, almost brushing
against Beverly's hat as he passed the
window. She opeueu uer ups to can
him, but even as sue aiu so ne iook
to his heels and rucea dbck over the
road they had traveled so precipitously.
Overcome by surprise and dismay,
she ouly could watch the flight iu si
lence. Less than a hundred feet from
where the coach was standing he turn
ed to the right and was lost among the
rocks. Ahead, four horses, covered
with sweat, were parting and heaving
as if in great distress after their mad
run. Aunt Fanny was still moaning
and praying by turns in the bottom of
the carriage. Darkness was settling
down upon the pass, aud objects a hun
dred yards away were swallowed by
the gloom. There was no sound save
the blowing of the tired animals and
the moaning of the old negress. Bever
ly realized with a sinking heart that
they were alone nnd helpless In the
mountains, with night upon them.
She never knew where the strength
and courage came from, but she forced
open the stubborn coach door and
icrambled to the ground, looking fran
tically in all directions for a single
ulirn nf hone. In the most despairing
terror she had ever experienced she
started toward the lead horses, hoping
no-ninut hone that at least one of her
n.on hnd rema ued faiturui.
A man stepped quietly from the Inner
aide nt the road and advanced with the
uncertain tread of one who is overcome
by amazement He was a stranger
nnd wore an odd. uncouth garb. The
fulling light told her that he was not
mm of her late protectors. sne suranK
iiiiet with a falut cry of alarm, ready
to fly to the protecting arms of hopeless
Aunt Fanny If her uncertain legs couia
mrrv her. At the same instant anotnei
rmrired stranger, then two, three, foui
or Ave. appeared as if by magic, some
near her, others approaching from the
shadows.
whrwhn in heaven's name are
mi?" she faltered. The sound of her
in a measure restored the
that had been paralyzed. Un
Minsclouslv this slim sprig of southern
valor threw back her shoulders and
lifted her chiu. If they were brigands
thev should not find her a cringing
coward. After all, she was a Culhoun,
The man she had first observed stop-
ned near the horses' heads aud peered
Intently at her from beneath a broad
and rakish hat. He was tall and ap-
nen red to be more respectably clad
than his fellows, although there was
not one who looked as though he pos
sessed a complete outfit of wearing ap
uarel.
"Poor wayfarers, may It please your
hluhness." replied the tall vagabond,
bowing low. To her surprise, he spoke
In very good English. His voice was
clear, and there was a tiuge of polite
Irony In the toues. "But all people are
alike in the mountuius. The king and
the thief, the princess aud the Jade
live in the common fold." And his
hat swung so low that it touched the
ground.
"1 nin nowerless. T onlv Imnlore von
tn
cried runinu .
M5(U Yon
Mtive rift , .
It,..
Overly look,,, J,"
urn mi,..
terly without woSf1
tears wern.. .. . to t.
redblrd. InlZK
eu utra. In after iif "
to Picture in he?lj
details of thf ..luJ
tain pass-the 22 "
steamln hn.. ..opeie .
crags nna a m!to "
eudof evcrythlu 6lr"L:
'Your hlglme8s ,8
but eveu vn.,. . ' , m to 14
, ,,UUQWuC0,
1 T I
"Oa, iou won't km u(
avail nothing In this Mta-!
the leader pleasantly. yw
has fled as though pursued &
thing stronger thaa ibadows-1
driver has deserted; ;0M
half dead; you are lnd4,,,Ci
said, powerless. And jon ,Ki
all these, iu the clutches of i d,
merciless cutthroats." "
"Oh," moaned Beve
leaning against the foreifcH
eyes almost starting fton;
The leader laughed quietly-;
naturedly. "Oh, you woa't-p.
kill us?" She had time to ob
there were smiles on the ft
the men within the circle !;
"Rest assured, your blglm
the leader, leaning upon iiii
rel with careless grace, "we
harm to you. Every nianjuL
Graustark is not a brigand;
for your sake. We are simple:
and not what we may sett
fortunate that you have tili ;
the coach?" he asked, quickly t
prolonged groan proved to Beve:
Aunt Fanny bud screwed up k
on H rave tn lank out of the itt
(TO BE 0ONTINrP.lv)
PRE
NVENT0RY
SALE
$60,000 Stock Must, be Reduced to $50,000.
beginning January 1st, 1907
we will begin a Series of Sales to reduce our stock before invoicing. We will begin our
sale with reductions on the following:
Groceries, Millinery, Ladies' Dress Goods, Skirts,
Waists and Suits.
Following are the opening prices, good for One Week only.
20 lbs. Best Granulated Sugar - $1.00 16 lbs. Imperial Japanese Rice - S1-00
22 lbs. White Beans, - - - 1.00 Best seeded Raisins, per pkg. - 10c
Best "Blue Ribbon" Corn, per can, - 8c Best "Blue Ribbon" Tomatoes, per can, He
Best Dried Apples, per lb. - - 8c Best Dried Prunes, per lb., - - 5c
11 bars Savon Soap 25c 60c Tea, - ' - -. " 49c
50c Tea, 39c Best Dairy Salt, 50 lbs. for - 55c
6 pkgs. all 5c Tobaccos, - 25c 3 pkgs. all 10c Tobaccos, - " 25c
Star Tobacco - - - 48c Saw Log - - - - - 7c
33$ per cent, discount on all Millinery. 25 per cent, discount on Dress Goods, Waists,
Suits and Skirts.
Sale prices for CASH only. No booh accounts.
No Goods delivered out of town. To get these prices yu must
come to the store for them.
WATCH FOR OUR WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE BIG STORE,
FALLS CITY,
OREGON-