1
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BEVERLY OF GRAUSTARK
By George Barr McCutcheon.
Author of "Graustark"
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Copyright, 1 904, DoJd, Mead & Co.
Fullv three-quarters of au hour pass
ed before the conch was checked. Bev
erly, looking froin the windows, had
seen the lighted windows of cottages
growing closer and closer together.
The barking of roadside dogs was the
only sound that could le heard .above
the rattle of the wheels. It was too
dark inside the coach to see the face
of the man beside her, but something
told her that he was staring intently
into the night, alert and anxious. The
responsibility of her position swood
down upon her like an avalanche, as
she thought of what the next few min
utes were to bring forth. It was the
sudden stopping of the coach and the
sharp commands from the outside that
told her probation was at an end. She
could no longer speculate; it was high
time to act.
"The outpost," came from Baldos, in
strained tones.
- "Perhaps they won't know us yn, I
mean," she whispered.
"Baron Dangloss knows everybody,"
he replied bitterly.
' "What a horrid old busybody he"
he started to say, but thought better
of It.
A couple of lanterns flashed at the
Window, almost blinding her. Aunt
Fanny groaned audibly, but the figure
of Baldos seemed to stiffen with de
fiance. Uniformed men peered into the
lnterolr with more rudeness and curi
osity than seemed respectful to a prin
cess, to say the least. They saw n pret
ty, pleading face, with wide gray eyes
and parted lips, but they did not bow
In humble submission, as Baldos had
expected. One of the men, evidently Id
command, addressed Beverly in rough
but polite toijes. It was a question
that he asked, she knew, but she could
not answer him, for she could not un
derstand him.
"What do you want?" she put in
English, with a creditable display of
dlgtil;y.
"lie does not speak English, your
highness," volunteered Baldos, In a
voice so well disguised that It startled
her. The o.ilcer was staring blankly at
her.
"Every officer In my army should
and must learn to speak English," she
said, at her wits' end. "I decline to
be questioned by the fellow. Will you
talk to him in my stead?"
T, your highness?" he cried In dis
may. "Yes. Tell him who we are and ask
where the hospital is," she murmured,
sinking back with the air of a queen,
but with the inward feeling that all
was lost
"But I don't speak your language
.well." he nrotested.
"You speak it leautifully,"she said.
Baldos leaned forword painfully and
spoke to the officer in the Graustark
tongue.
"Don't yotfknow your princess?"he
demanded a trifle harshly. The man's
eyes flew wldoopen in an Instant and
his jaw dropped.
"The the princess?" he gasped.
"Don't stare like that, sir. Direct us
to the main gate at once, or you will
have cause to regret your slowness."
"But the princess was Is coming by
the northern pass," mumbled the man.
"The guard has gone out to meet her
and" Baldos cut him offshortly with
the information that the princess, as
he could see, had come hy the lower
riftss and that she was eager to reach
a rest! n a place at once. The convinc
ing tone of the sneaker and the rogul
Indifference of the lady had full effect
noon the oil oer. who hart never seen
her highness. He fell back with a
deep obeisance and gave a few bewil
dered commands to his men. The
conch moved off. attended by a party
of foot soldiers, and Beverly breathed
her llrst sigh or rclier.
"You did it beautifully." sho whis
tiered to Baldos. antl he was consid
erably puzzled by the ardor of her
praise. "Whore are we going now?"
she asked.
"Into the city, your highness, "he an
swered. It was beginning 10 uawu
uDon him that she was amazingly ig
norant and inconsequential for one
who enjoyed the right to command
tliese common soldiers. Her old trep
idation returned with this brief an
swer. Something told her that he was
beginning to mistrust her at last. Aft
er all it meant everything to him and
so little to her.
When the coach halted before the
city gates she was In a dire state of
unhapplness. In the darkness she
could feel the reproachful eyes of old
Aunt Fauny searching for her aban
doned conscience.
"Ask If Baron Dangloss Is In Gan
look, and, If he is, command them to
take me to him Immediately," she
whispered to Baldos, a sudden Inspira
tion seizing her. She would lay the
whole matter before the great chief of
police and trust to fortune. Her hand
fell Impulsively upon his and, to her
amazement, it was as cold as ice.
"What U the matter?" Bhe cried In
alarm.
"You trusted me In the wilds, your
highness," he said tensely; "I am trust
ing you now." Before she could reply
the officer In charge of the Ganlook
gates appeared at the coach window.
There were lights on all sides. Her
heart sank like lead. It would be a
miracle If she passed the gates unrecognized.
t miistaoA'Bnron Dnneloss at once.
she cried in English, utterly disdain
ing her instructions to Baldos.
"The baron is engaged at present
and can see no one," responded the
good looking young oflicer in broken
English.
"Where is he?" she demanded nen
ously. "He is at the house of Colonel Goaz,
the commandant. What is your busi
ness with hiniV" .
"it is with him and not with you,
sir," she said, imperious onco more,
"Conduct mo to him imnieuiutely.
"You cannot enter the gates unless
you"
"Insolence!" exclaimed Baldos.. "Is,
this the way, sir, in which you address
the princess? Make way for her."
"The princess!" gasped the officer.
Then a peculiar smile overspread hla
face. He had served three years in the
castle guard at Edelweiss! There was
a long pause, fraught with disaster for
Beverly. "Yes, perhaps It Is just as
well that we conduct her to Baron
Dangloss." he said' at last. The deep
meaning In his voice appealed only to
the unhappy girl. "There shall he no
further delay, your highness!" he add
ed mockingly. A niomtrnt later the
gates swung open and they passed
through. Beverly alone knew that they
were going to Baron Dangloss under
heavy guard, virtually as prisoners.
The man knew her to be an Impostor
and was doing only his duty.
There were smiles of derision on the
faces of the soldiers when Beverly
swept proudly between the files and
up the steps leading to the comman
dant's door, but there were no audible
remarks. Baldos followed, walking
painfully, but defiantly, and Aunt Fan
ny came last, with the hand bag. The
guards grinned broadly as the corpu
lent negress waddled up the steps.
The young officer and two men entered
the door with the wayfarers, who were
ordered to halt In the hallway.
"Will your highness come with me?"
said the officer, returning to the hall
after a short absence. There was un
mistakable derision in his voice and
palpable insolence In his manner. Bev
erly flushed angrily. "Baron Dangloss
Is very curious to see you," he added,
with a smile. Nevertheless he shrank
a bit beneath the cold gleam in the
eyes of the Impostor.
"You wilt remain here," she said,
turning to Baldos and the negress.
"And you will have nothing whatever
to say. to this very important young
man." The "important young man"
actually chuckled.
"Follow me, your most royal high
ness," he said, preceding her through
'Yok are Miss Beverly Calhoun 0
VanlilnytuH."
the door that opened Into the office of
the commandant. Baldos glared after
them in angry amazement.
"Young man, some day and soon
you will be a much wiser soldier and
in the. ranks," said Beverly hotly. The
smile instantly receded from the Inso
lent fellow's face, for there was a
world of prophecy In the way she said
it. Somehow he was iu a much more
respectful humor when he returned to
the hall and stood in the presence of
the tall, flushed stranger with the rag
ged uniform.
A short, fierce little man In the pic
turesque uniform of a Graustark offi
cer arose as Beverly entered the office.
His short beard bristled as though it
were concealing a smile, but his man
ner was polite, even deferential. She
advanced fearlessly toward him, a
wayward smile struggling Into her
face.
"I dare say you know I am not the
princess," she said composedly. Every
vestige of fear was gone now that she
had reached the Hue of battle. The
doughty baron looked somewhat sur
prised at this frank way of opening an
interview.
"I am quite well aware of It," he
said politely.
"They say you know every one. Bar
on Dangloss," she boldly said. "Pray,
who am 1?"
The powerful official looked at the
smiling face for a moment, his bushy
eyebrows contracting ever so slightly.
There was a shameless streak of dust
across her cheek, but there was also
a dluwle there that appealed to the
grim old man. Ills eyes 1 -he
replied, with flue obsequiousness.
"You are Miss Beverly Calhoun of
Washington."
CHAPTER IX.
KVEULY'S eyes showed her as
tonishment. Baron ianio
courteously placed a chair for
her and asked her to be seated.
B
We were expecting you, Miss Cal
houn," he explained. "Her royal hlgn
ness left St. Petersburg but a few
hours after your departure, having un
fortunately missed you."
"You don't mean to say that me
princess tried to find me in St Peters
burg?" cried Beverly iu wonder and
delight. . , ar
"That was one of the purposes of Her
visit." said he brusquely.
"Oh how jolly!"' cried she, her gray
eves sparkling. The grim old captain
was startled for the smallest fraction
of a minute, but at ouce fell to admir
ing the fresh, eager face of the visitor.
"The public at large is under the
Impression that she visited the czar on
matters of importance," he said, with
a condescending smile.
"And it really was of no importance
at all, that's what yon mean?" She
smiled back securely.
"Your message Informing her high
ness of your presence in St. Peters
burg had uo sooner arrived than she
set forth to meet you In that city,
much against the advice of her coun
selors. 1 will admit that she hud other
business there, but it could have wait
ed. You see, Miss Calhoun. It was a
great risk at this particular time. Mis
fortune means disaster now. But
Providence was her friend. She ar
rived safely In Ganlook not an hour
since."
"ifailv? Oh. Baron Dangloss, where
is she?" excitediy cried the American.
girl.
"For the night she is stopping with
the Countess Rallowitz. A force of
men, but not those whom you met at
the gates, has just been dispatched at
her command to search for you in the
lower pass. You took the most danger
ous road. Miss Calhoun, and I am
amazed that you came through In
safety." .
"The Russians chose the lowu pass,
I know not why. Of course, I was
quite Ignorant However, we met nei
ther brigands sor soldiers, Axphain or
Graustark. I encountered nothing
more alarming thau a mountain lion.
And that, Baron Dangloss, recalls me
to the sense of a duty I have been neg
lecting. A poor wanderer in the hills
defended me against the beast and was
badly wounded. He must be taken to
a hospital at once, sir, where he may
have the proper care."
Whereupon, at his request, she hur
riedly related the story of that trying
journey through the mountains, not
forgetting to paint the courage of Bal
dos iu most glowing colors. The chief
was deeply interested In the story of
the goat hunter and his party. There
was an odd gleam of satisfaction in his
eyes, but she did not observe It.
"You will see that he has immediate
attention, won't you?" she implored In
the end.
"He shall have our deepest consider
ation." promised he.
"You know I am rather iuterested be
cause 1 shot him, Just as If it were
not enough that his legs were being
torn by the brute at the time. He
ought not to walk, Baron Dangloss.
If you don't mind, I'd suggest an am
bulance," she hurried on glibly. He
could not conceal the smile that her
eagerness Inspired. "Really, he Is In
a serious condition. I think he needs
some quinine nud whisky, too, and"
"He shall have the best of care," in
terrupted the captain. "Leave him to
me, Miss Calhoun."
"Now, let me tell you something,"
said she, after due reflection. "You
must not pay any attention to what he
says. He is liable to be delirious and
talk iu a terrible sort of way. You
know, delirious people never talk ra
tionally." She was loyally trying to
protect Baldos, the hunted, against
any Incriminating statements he might
make.
"Quite right. Miss Calhoun," said the
baron very gravely.
"And now, I'd like to go to the prin
cess," said Beverly, absolutely sure of
herself. "You know we are great
friends, she and I."
"I have sent a messenger to announce
your arrival. She will expect you."
Beverly looked about the room In per
plexity. "But there has been no messenger
here," she said.
"He left here some minutes before you
came. I knew who It was that came
knocking at our gates, even though she
traveled as Princess Yetive of Grau
stark." "And, oh, that reminds me, Baron
Dangloss, Baldos still believes me to
be the princess. Is It necessary to
to tell him the truth about me? Just
at present, I mean? I'm sure he'll rest
much easier if he doesn't know dif
ferently." "So far as I am concerned, Miss Cal
houn, he shall always regard you as a
queen," said Dangloss gallantly.
"Thank you. It's very nice of you
to"-
A man In uniform entered after
knocking at the door of the room. He
saluted his superior and uttered a few
words in his own language.
"Her royal highness is awaiting you
at the home of the countess. Miss Cal
houn. A detail of men will escort you
and your servant to her place."
"Now. please. Baron Dangloss,"
pleaded Beverly at the door, "be nice
to him. You know It hurts him to
walk. Can't you have him carried In?"
"If he will consent." said he quietly.
Beverly hurried into the outer room
after giving the baron a smile he never
forgot. Baldos looked up eagerly,
anxiously.
"It's all right," she said In low tones,
pausing for a moment beside his chair.
"Don't set up! Goodby. I'll come to
. . .... i in thA
tomorrow, uou 1
Baron Dangloss u.
see you
. .... .:.,ii.lm.l
ieihi . .,.,...., iviii
his instructions." inipuib. -
lira her hand, which he respectfully
raised to his lips, she followed Aunt
Fannv and was gone.
Almost immediately Baldos was re
quested to present himself before Bar
on Dangloss In the adjoining room.
Refusing to be carried in, he resolutely
strode through the door and stood be
fore the grim old captain of police, m
easy, confident smile on his face The
black patch ouce more covered his eje
with defiant assertlveness.
"They tell me you are Baldos, a goat
hunter," said Baron Dangloss, eying
him keenly.
"Yes."
"nd you were hurt In defending oue
who Is of much consequence in Grau
stark. Sit down, my good fellow. Bal
dos' eye gleamed coldly for au instant;
then he sank into a chair. "While ad
mitting that you have done Graustark
a great service, I am obliged to tell
you that I at least know you to he
other than what you say. You are not
a goat hunter, and Baldos Is not your
name. Am 1 not right?"
"You have had Instructions from
your sovereign. Baron Dangloss. Did
they include a command to cross ques
tion me?" asked Baldos haughtily.
Dangloss hesitated for a full minute.
"They did not. I take the liberty of
inquiring on m.H 'u responsibility."
"Very well, sir. Until you. have a
Hunt to nuestion me, 1 am Baldos and
a coat hunter. I think I am here to re
ceive surgical treatmeut."
"You decline to tell me anything eon-i-erulng
yourself?"
"Only that I nm Injured and need relief."
"Perhans I know more about you
lhan vou susneet, sir.
"I am not Iu the least iuterested,
Barou Dangloss, In what you know.
The nrlncess brought me into Ganlook,
and I have her-promise of help and
protection while here. That is all 1
have to say, except that I have iin
ullclt faith iu her word."
Dangloss sat watching him in silence
for some time. No one but himself
knew what was going on in that
shrewd, speculative mind. At length
be arose and approached the proud
fellow in rags.
"Yon have earned every considera
tion at oil hands. My men will take
you to the hospital, and you shall have
the best of care. You have served our
princess well. Tomorrow you may fpel
Inclined to talk more freely with me,
for I am your friend, Baldos."
"I am grateful for that, Baron Dan
closs." said the other simply. Then he
was led away, and a comfortable cot
in the Ganlook hospital soon held his
long, feverish frame, while capable
hands took care of his wounds. He
did not know It, but two fully armed
soldiers maintained a careful guard
outside his door under Instructions
from the head of the police. Moreover,
a picked detail of men sallied forth
into the lower pass In search of the
goat hunter's followers.
In the meantime Beverly was con
ducted to the home of the Countess
Rallowitz. Her meeting with the
princess was most affectionate. There
were tears, laughter and kisses. The
whole atmosphere of the place sug
gested romance to the eager American
glrb Downstairs were the royal
guards. Iu the halls were attendants,
All about were maidservants and ob
sequious lackeys, crowding the home
of the kindly countess. At last, coin
fortable and free from the dust of
travel, the two friends sat down to a
dainty meal
"Oh, I am so delighted," murmured
Beverly for the hundredth time.
"I'm appalled when I think of the
dangers you Incurred In coming to me!
No one but a very foolish American
girl could have undertaken such a trip
as this. Dear me, Beverly, I should
have died if anything dreadful had
happened to you. Why did you do It?"
questioned the princess. And then they
laughed joyously.
"And you went all the way to St,
Petersburg to meet me, you dear, dear
Yetive!" cried Beverly so warmly that
the attentive servant forgot his mask
of reverence.
"Wasn't It ridiculous of me? I know
Gren would have forbidden It If he had
l)een In Edelweiss when I started,
And, more shame-to me, the poor fel
low is doubtless at the conference with
Dawsbergen, utterly Ignorant of my
escapade. You should have heard the
ministry er ah" And the princess
paused for an English word.
"Kick?" Beverly supplied.
"les. They objected violently. And,
do you know, I was finally compelled
to issue a private edict to restrain
them from sending au appeal to Gren
fall away off there on the frontier,
Whether or no, my uncle Insisted that
he should be brought home, a three
days' journey, In order that he might
keep me from going to St Petersburg.
Of course they could not disobey my
edict, and so poor Gren is none the
wiser, unless he has returned from the
conference. If he has, I am sure he Is
on the way to Ganlook at this very
minute."
"What a whimsical ruler you are!"
cried Beverly. "Upsetting everything
sensible Just to rush off hundreds of
miles to meet me! And Axphain is
trying to capture you too! Goodness,
you must love me!"
"Oh, but I did have a trifling affair
of state to lay before the v:ar, my
dear! Tomorrow we shall be safe and
sound in the castle, and it will all be
very much worth while. You see, Bev
erly, dear, even princesses enjoy a di
version now ana then. One wouldn'
think anything of this adventure In the
United States; it is the environment
that makes It noticeable. Besides, you
traveled; as a princess. How did you
use 11 r
Ana men the conversation related
particularly to the advantages of rov
alty as viewed from oue side and the
disadvantages ns rcgumeu num u-
other. For a o" 111110 '"ny mm
been wondering now sue miomu pro
ceed In the errori 10 uuau.uiu
clemency for Baldos. As yet she had
said nothing to Yetive of her promise
to him. made wnne sue was u prin
cess. . .
At any rate, I'm sure tlie goat uunt-
.1 ..... i.m.o Imnn an fillttlfnl
ers wouiu noi u.
and true If they had not ueueveu me to
1.0 n nrlncess." said tseveny, paving
the way. "You haven't a man In your
kingdom who could ue more cuivui
rous than Baldos."
if he Is that kinu or n man, ue
would treat any woman as gently."
You should have heard mm can me
'rmir highness.'" cried uoveriy. "lie
will louthe me If he ever learns thut 1
deceived him."
Oh, I think he deceived niuisen.,"
spoke Yetive easily, -uesaies, you
look as much like a princess as i.
"There Is something 1 want 10 bicuk
very seriously about to you. Yetive."
said Beverly, making reuuy ior iue
cast. "Vou see, ho did uot want to
enter Ganlook with me, but I insisted.
He had been so brave and gallant, auu
he was suffering so Intensely. It would
have been criminal in me to leave him
out there In the wilderness, wouldn't
it?"
'It would have been heartless.
'So 1 just made him come along.
That was right, wasn't It? That's what
you would have done, no matter who
he was or what tns oojeeuous ungui
have been. Well, you see, it's this
wnv. Yetive: He la some sort or a ru-
gitlve uot a criminal, you know, but
just some one they are hunting for, I
don't know why. He wouldn't tell me.
That was perfectly right if ho felt that
way, wasu't It?"
And he had fougut a lion in your
defense," supplemented Yetive, with a
schoolgirl's ardor.
And I had shot him In the arm,
too," added Beverly. "So of course I
Just had to be reasonable. In order to
induce him to come with me to a hos
pital I wa9 obliged to guarantee per
fect safety to him. ins men went
k
od. "mm. i ..
"A tmtiRltor, aJ
that is all" ;3i.i.
" Paper.
CHAPTPn
HIGHT .narit;
tin i, . luunii.i.
1 1 ii
nvwl 41, .
won. UevtM-i r-,.., V4d
tented, hml slept
41 u .
1 UH1 m
tout
hack to the hills, all except old Frans,
the driver. Now, the trouble is this,
Yetive: I am uot the princess, and I
cannot redeem a single promise I
made to him. He Is helpless, and If
unythlng goes wrong with him he will
hate me forever."
"No; he will hate me, for I am the
princess, nnd he Is none the wiser."
"But he will be told that uis prin
cess was Beverly Calhoun, a supposed
ly nice American girl. Don't you reee
how awkward It will be for me? Now,
Yetive. darling, what I wish you to do
is to write a note, order or edict or
whatever it Is to Baron Dangloss, com
manding him to treat Baldos as n pa
tient and not as a prisoner, and that
when he Is fully recovered ho Is to
have the privilege of leaving Ganlook
without reservation."
'But he may be a desperate offend
er against the state, Beverly." plain
tively protested Yetive. "If we only
knew what he Is charged with!
'I'm afraid It's something dreadfully
serious," admitted Beverly gloomily.
"He doesn't look like the sort of man
who would engage in a petty under
taking. I'll tell you his story, Just as
he told It to me," and she repeated the
meager confessionsof Baldos.
"I see no reason why we should hesi
tate," said the princess. "By his own
statement he Is not a desperate crimi
nal. You did quite right in promising
him protection, dear, and I shall sus
tain you. Do you want to play the
princess to Baldos a little longer?"
"I should love It." cried Beverly, her
eyes sparkling.
"Then I shall write the order to Dan
gloss at once. Oh, dear, I have for
gotten, I have no official seal here."
"Couldn't you seal It with your ring?"
suggested Beverly. "Oh, I have It!
Send for Baron Dangloss and have him
witness your signature. He can't get
away -from that, you see, and after we
reach Edelweiss you can fix up a regu
lar edict, seal and all," cried the re
sourceful American girl.
Ink and paper were sent for, and the
two conspirators lent their wisdom to
the task of preparing an order for the
salvation of Baldos, the fugitive. The
order read:
To Baron Jasto Dangloss, Commanding
the Civic and Military Police of Grau
stark: You are hereby informed that Baldos,
the man who entered the city with Miss
Calhoun, Is not to be regarded as a pris
oner now or hereafter. He Is to be given
capable medical and surgical attention
until fully recovered, when he Is to be
allowed to go his way In peace unques
tioned. Also he Is to be provided with suitable
wearing apparel and made comfortable In
every way.
Also the members of his party, now In
the hills (whose names are unknown to
me), are to be accorded every protection.
Franz, the driver, is to have his freedom
If he desires it.
And from this edict there is no recourse
until Its abatement by royal decree.
YETIVE.
"There," said the princess, affixing
her signature. "I think that will be
sufficient." Then she rang for a serv
ant. "Send to Baron Dangloss, and
ask him to come here at once."
Fifteen minutes later the chief of
police stood in the presence of the eager
young Interpreters of Justice.
"I want you to witness my signature,
Baron Dangloss," said the princess
after the greetings.
"Gladly," said the officer.
"Well, here is where I signed," said
Yetive, handing him the paper. "I
don't have to write my name over
again, do I?" 1
"Not at all," said the baron gallant
ly. And he boldly signed his name as
a witness.
"They wouldn't do that In the Unit
ed States," murmured Beverly, who
knew something about red tape at
Washington.
"It Is a command to you, baron,"
said Yetive, handing him the document
with a rare smile. He read it through
slowly. Then he bit hla lip and couEh-
by the princess heriif T '
" -ulu other o,,,i , 1 ;
"urc"u kin s chamber n w
Bleoplng so
would havemreatVlaH
or the boisterous Zi V
boys 1" the cou,lyttra u
dows. She lmi.,.i,.,i mh,
looked out upon ,Ue m'
mg. l'ostlllons and ,ii,
congregated near the raT
Ing a ragged old m ;r9,twsi
his back against one oftUta'"
In some curiosity, she cull ?ik :
from her .lumbers, BrZT
one to hasten to the wlnX, H' :
"Is this one of your friendi s
wilderness?" she asked
"It's Franz!" cried Beverly m, '
ter pretty eyes. Then 8he b.
Highly awake. "What are tb!? '
to him? Who are those rufflaX?
aemanded Indignantly. fc
"They are my servants and"- '
"Shame on tliern! Tbe 1
' - ",u 'iuus none that tL
should- P.lll in . tft?
w i.,CUj, ieu em van-
should-
cut their heads off If they to!
He's a dear old fellow in .
rags, and he"- .
The window sash flew open and J
tormentors iu the court below ttnl '
tonlshed by the sound ot a woJ
voice coming, as It were, from if
clouds. A dozen pairs of eyes i ?
turned upward; tbe commotion eft !
suddenly. In the wludow abo?e :
two graceful, white robed figura
iun, still far below the ridge of mo I
talus, had not yet robbed the moraisj i
of the gray, dewy shadows that Uu
to 5 o'clock.
"What are you doing to that oiw !
man?" cried Yetive, and it was t
first time any of them bad seen it ;
In the princess' face. They slunk bt '
In dismay. "Let him alone! ll
Gartz, see that he has food and fej
and without delay. Report to me li!
on, sir, and explain, If youean.il;
you linve conducted yourselves li s
unbecoming a manner." Then tbe;
dow was closed, and the princes
found herself In the warm arms olte I
friend. '
"I couldn't understand a word jk f.
snld, Yetive, but I knew you e-1
giving it to them hot and heavy. K
you see how nicely old Franz bowrfis
you? Goodness, his head almost tali J
ed the ground!"
"He was bowing to you, Bern!
You forgot that you are tbe prtneert j
him."
"Isn't that funny? I had quite h-1
gotten it. The poor old goose!" f
Later, when the coaches and es-r
were drawn up In front of the M t
wltz palace readjf for the start, 1 1
princess called the chief postlik!
Gartz, to the step of her coach. ,
"What was the meaning of the it
turbance I witnessed this morclsi
she demanded. i
Gartz hung his head. "We tW
the man was crazy, your highness.
had been telling us such monst-a
lies," he mumbled. 1
"Are you sure they were Hear
"Oh, quite sure, your highness, to j
were laughable. He said, to ,
thing, that it was he who drove jb
highness' coach Into Ganlook last era s
ing, when everybody knows ftitlfc f
full charge of the coach and horses
"You are very much mm
Gartz," she said distinctly. He j
edhls eyes. . . ,
"Your highness," ne pp -
surely remember"- ' . j
"Enough, sir. Franz drove to p
cess Into Ganlook last night HeJ ,
so himself, does he not?" j
"Yes, your highness," I
poor Gartz, '
"What more did he say to yonr (
"He said he had come from I
ter . who is in the hospihd, to Jj ,
for the kindnesses you w
for him. He says his master 1
Ul and is satisfied to
he is. Also, he said that W
was sending him back 'njjt,
tains to assure bis friend tWJ (
safe and to bear a certain e;.
cheer to them,
cess. It was all so foolij J
your highness, that we could ,
and laugh at the poor Jfc
"It is you who have been fooli
Send the old man to. ma .
"He has gone, your Wfc j
frightened tones galdthePl
"So much the better, saio ,,
cess, dismissing wjb ' w f
the hand. Gartz went aw ' .
and for days he took every
to look for other alp- f JJ :
order in the conduct of n i b ' ,
the same time Indulging b J ;
as to his own soundness on
Ganlook's population W
thoroughfare. w?'t,nvLlwiir' !
of the princess, although the D
early. Beverly peered fortn
as the coach moved on.
half oriental "fJw
people, the odd Hio ir
St colors, me perfect
erence that shone .to ttj i p
multitude impressed W
was never to forget that v
morning. r(,n)
tm BE COM'"-
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