oner, with thrumming ears.
“ Where all good women should be at
9 o’clock-in bed,” replied Danglosa
shortly. “ But will you obey her com.
mand?”
“ So she commands me to escape!”
said Lorry, smiling. “ I dare not dis
C H A P T E R X V III.
obey my sovereign, I suppose.”
T II E F L I G H T A T M ID N IG H T .
“ W e obey her because we love her,”
O R R Y’ S cell was as comfortable
said
the captain of the guard.
as a cell could be made through
“
And
for that reason I also obey.
j •
the efforts of a kindly jailer
But
can
this thing be accomplished
and a sympathetic chief of po
• • • By • • •
without
necessitating
explanations and
lice. It was not located in the dun
possible
complications?
I will not obey
geon. but bigli lu the tower, a little
G E O R G E B A R R M cC U TC H E O IM
rock bound room, with a single barred if it is likely to place her in an embar
— - 1
C o p y r ig h t , 1001, b y H e r b e r t S . S t o n e
window far above the floor. There rassing position.”
“ She understands perfectly what she
was a bed of iron, upon which had been
placed a clean mattress, and there was is doing, sir. In the first place, she has
The next day after his had my advice.” said Dangloss. the
CHAPTER 1.—Grenfall Lorry, a wealthy An-erican wronged, your highness, foully wrong a little chair.
globe trotter, stumtles Into acquaintance with a charm
arrest a comfortable armchair replaced good old betrayer of an official trust.
ing foreign girl on the train from Denver to Washington. ! ed.”
“ You advised her to command you
A table, a lamp, some
The pair is left behind when the flier stops for repairs in
“ I deserve your contempt after all. the latter.
West Virginia. II.— Lorry wires ahead to hold the train.
to
allow me to escape?”
hooks, flowers, a bottle of wine and
He and the unknown girl ride twenty miles at a tearing Whether he be guilty or innocent, I
“
She commanded first, und then I ad
pace in a mountain coach. There is no love-making, should have refused to sign the decree. j some fruit found their way to his lone
but a near approach to it as the rolling stage tumbles the
vised
her how to command you. Ax
It is too late now. I have signed away ly apartment, whoever may have sent
passengers about. III.— Lorry dines with the foreign
phain
may declare war a thousand
Harry Anguish was admitted
party, consisting of Miss Guggenslacker, Uncle Caspar something that is very dear to me—his them.
and Aunt Yvonne. They are natives of Graustark, a
tiir.
over,
but you will be safe. That’s
to
the
cell
during
the
afternoon.
life. You are his friend and mine. Can
country Lorry had never heard of before. IV .— Lorry
He reported that most of the Ax- all we—I mean, all she wants.”
shows the foreigners the sights of Washington. They you tell me what he thinks of me
leave for New York to sail on the Kaiser Wilhelm.
“ But I cannot desert my friend. IIow
wl at lie says—how he feels?”
She pli.oin contingent was still in town. A
Miss Guggenslocker naively calls Lorry her "ideal
portion had hurried home, carrying tlio is he to know where I ’ ve gone? Will
American’ ’ and invites him to come and see her at Edel asked the triple question breathlessly.
weiss. V. W ildly infatuated. Lorry hurries to New
"H e believes you were forced into j news to the old prince, instructed by not vengeance fall on him instead?”
York. The name Guggenslocker is not on the steamer
“ He shall know everything when the
As vile aggressive Mizrox to fetch him
list. He sees the rteamer off. Miss G. waves him a kiss the act, and said as much to me.
from the deck. VI.— Lorry joins his old friend, Harry
proper
time comes. And now will you
to how he feels, I can only ask how forthwith to Edelweiss, where his au
Anguish, an American artist, in Paris. Graustark and
be
ready
at the hour mentioned? You
its capital, Edelweiss, are located by a guide book. The you would feel if you were in his gust presence was necessary before the
Americans get no trace of the Guggenslockers there.
have
but
to follow tbe instruetions—I
place, innocent and yet almost sure of ” l»th. The princess, so Harry informed
V II. Lorry sees his charmer dtlving in a carriage with
should
say.
tbe commands—of the writ
These friends of Axphain the prisoner, sent sincere expressions
a beautiful companion of her own sex. He gets a glance conviction.
of recognition, but the carriage rolls on, leaving the
er.”
of
sympathy
and
the
hope
that
all
will resort to any subterfuge now that
mystery unsolved. Later he receives a note at his hotel
“ And be free! Tell her that I wor
signen Sophia Guggenslocker. Inviting him to visit her one of their number has staked his would end well with him.
next day. V III. In the evening Lorry and Anguish
ship ber for this. Tell her that every
Late
in
the
evening,
as
Lorry
was
life.
Mark
my
word,
some
one
will
de
ramble about thr grounds of the castle where dwells the
lying on his bed. staring at the shad drop of blood in my body belongs to
court of the Princess of Graustark. They overhear a liberately swear that he saw Grenfall
plot to abducts the princess and resolve to capture the
owy ceiling and puzzling his brain with iier. Site offers me freedom, but makes
Lorry
strike
the
blow,
and
that
will
be
plotters red handed. IX .—Fo lowing the conspirators,
me ber slave for life. Yes. I shall be
Lorry finds himself in a room he heard them designate as villainous a lie as man ever told. most oppressive uncertainties, the rat
as that of the princess. X.— Lorry tells the princess of
tle of keys in the lock announced the ready. I f I do not see you again, good
What
I
am
here
for,
your
highness,
is
the plot.
Mutual recognition; she is Miss Guggen
to ask if that decree cannot be with approach of visitors. The door swung friends, remember that I love you be
slocker. Dannox, the guard, is In the abduction plot.
He fells Lorry with a terrible blow. Anguish to the
open, and through the grate he saw cause you love her and because she
drawn.”
rtscue. X I.— Lorry quartered in the castle. The prin
The latter loves you enough to intrust a most
"Alas, it cannot! 1 would gladly or Dnugloss and Quinnox.
cess visits him, but forbids all talk of love. X II.—
Graustark is bankrupt and owes the neighboring prince
wore
a
long
military
rain
coat
and had dangerous secret to your keeping, the
der his release if I could, but you can
dom of Axphain $30,000,000. The creditor demands
just
come
in
from
a
drenching
down commission of an act that may mean
see
what
that
would
mean
to
us
—
a
cash or the cession of the richest districts of Graustark.
X III.—The Prince of Axphain offers to extend the loan
pour.
Lorry’s reverie had been so the downfall of your nation.” He
war,
Mr.
Anguish,”
she
sighed
misera
if the princess will marry hi* ron Lorenz. Prince Ga
deep that he had not heard the thun shook hands with them fervently.
bly.
briel of Dawsbergen also bids for the princess's hand
with ofTer of a loan. Yetive tells Lorry tha* she belongs j
“ It cannot bo that. sir. It may cost
der nor the bowling of the winds.
“
But
you
will
not
see
an
innocent
to her heople and will marry Lorenz.
| man condemned?” cried he, again in Springing to his feet, he advanced the lives of three of her subjects, but
no man save yourself can involve the
quickly to the grated door.
••Anguish! Show him to this room dignant.
“ Captain Quinnox brings a private princess or the crown. They may kill
" I have only your statement for that,
quickly! Oh, Dagnmr, he brings word
from him! lie comes from him! Why sir, if you will pardon me. 1 hope from i message from the princess,” said the us. but they cannot force us to betray
the bottom of my heart that he did chief, the words scarcely more than her. I trust you will be as loyal to
is im so slow? Acli, I cannot wait!”
not
murder the prince after being hon whispered. It was plain that the mes the good girl who wears a crown not
Far from being slow. Anguish was
sage was important and of a secret na upon her heart.” said Dangloss ear
orably
challenged.”
exceedingly swift in approaching the
ture. Quinnox looked up and down nestly.
“
He
is
no
coward!”
thundered
An
room to which he feared admittance
the
corridor and stairway before
guish.
startling
both
women
with
his
“ I have said my life is hers, gentle
might be denied.
"Tell me! What is it?” she cried as vehemence. " I say lie did not kill the thrusting the tiny note through the men.” said Lorry simply. “ Oh, if I
he stopped In the center of the room prince, but I ’ll stake my life he would bars. It was grasped eagerly, and could hut throw myself at her feet! I
have done so had they met this morn trembling fingers broke the seal. Bend must see her before I go. I will not go
and glannl at her.
ing near the light, he read the lines, his without telling her what is in my
ing.”
"1 don't care whether you like it, and
vision blurred, liis heart throbbing so heart!” he added passionately.
"H
e
may
be
able
to
clear
himself,”
it doesn’t matter If you are a princess.”
fiercely
that the blood seemed to be
suggested
the
countess
nervously.
“ Y’ ou must obey the commands im
he exploded, "there are a few tilings
drowning
out other sounds for all time plicitly on your word of honor or the
“
And
he
may
pot;
so
there
you
have
I'm going to say to you. First. 1 want
to know what kind of a woman you are it. What chance have two Americans to come. In the dim corridor stood the transaction ends now,” said Quinnox
to throw into prison a man like—like— over here with everybody against us?” two men. watching him with bated firmly.
“ Stop! Y’ou shall not say that! He breath and guilty, quaking nerves.
oh. it drives me crazy to think of it!
“ This escape means, then, that I am
'‘Oh!” gasped Lorry, kissing the mis not to see her again.” he said, his voice
1 don't care if you are insulted, lie ’s shall have full justice at any cost, and
a friend of mine, nnd lie is no more there is one here who is not against sive insanely as his greedy eyes careen choking with emotion.
guilty than you are, and I want to him!” cried the princess, with flashing ed through the last line. There was no
“ Her instructions nre that you are to
signature, but In every word he saw go tonight, at once,” said Dangloss, and
know what you mean by ordering ills eyes.
"I am aware that everybody admires her face, felt the touch of her dear the black eyed soldier nodded confir
arrest.”
Her lips parted as if to speak, her him because he lias done Graustark a l and, heard her timid heart beating for niation.
idee grew deathly pale, lier lingers service in ridding it of something ob him—for liim alone. Rapture thrilled
The prisoner paced the floor of his
Hutched the edge of the divan. She noxious-a prospective husband. But him from head to foot, the delirious cell, his mind a jumble of conflicting
stared at him piteously, unable to that does not get him out of jail.”
rapture of love. lie could not speak, emotions. His clinched hands, twitch
“ You are unkind again.” said the so overpowering was the joy, the sur
move, to speak. Then the blue eyes
ing lips and half closed eyes betrayed
filled with tears, a sol) came to her princess slowly. "1 chose my husband, prise. the awakening.
the battle that was inflicting him with
lips, and her tortured heart made a and you assume much when you inti
"Obey!” whispered Quinnox, his face its carnage. Suddenly he darted to the
mate that I am glarl because he was aglow with pleasure, his finger quiver
last brave effort at defense.
door, crying:
"1—I—Mr. Anguish, you wrong me—I murdered.”
ing as he pointed eommandingly to
“ Then I refuse to obey! Tell her that
"Do not be angry,” cried the count ward the letter.
— 1” — She tried to whisper through
If she permits me to leave this hole I
the closed throat and stiffened lips. ess impatiently. “ We all regret what
“ Obey what!” asked Lorry dully.
shall be at her feet before another
Words failed her. but she pleaded with l as happened, and I, for one, hope that
"The last line!”
night has passed. Say to her that 1 re
those wet. Imploring eyes. His heart Mr. Lorry may escape from the tower
He hastily reread the last line and fuse to go from Graustark until I have
melted, ids anger was swept away in and laugh forevermore at ids pursuers. then deliberately held the precious mis
seen her and talked with her. Y’ou.
a twinkling. He saw that he had If he could only dig ids way out!”
sive over the lamp until it ignited. He Quinnox, go to her now nnd tell her
The princess shot a startled look to would have given all he possessed to i
Wounded her most unjustly.
this, and say to her also that there is
“ You brute!” hissed the countess, ward tlie speaker as a new thought en have preserved it. But the last line |
with flashing, indignant eyes, throwing tered her wearied brain. A short, in commanded, "Burn this at once and in i something she must hear from my own
lips. Then I will leave Graustark. nnd
her arms aliout the princess and draw voluntary gasp told that it bad lodged th.c presence of the bearer.”
not
till then, even though death be the
and would grow. She laughed at the
ing her head to her breast.
"There!” lie said regretfully ns he alternative.” The two men stared at
"Forgive me.” he cried, sinking to Idea of an escape from the tower, but crumpled the charred remnants be
ills knee before the princess, shame as she laughed a tiny spot of red began tween ids fingers and turned to tbe si him in amazement and consternation.
“ You will not escape?” gasped Quin
nnd contrition in ids face. “ 1 have to spread upon her cheek and her eyes lent watchers.
nox.
been half mad this whole day, and I glistened strangely.
"Her crime goes up in smoke,” mut
Anguish remained with them for half tered Dnugloss sententiously.
have thought harshly of you. I now
(Continued)
an hour. When he left the castle, it
"The princess commits no crime,” re
see that yon are suffering more In was with a more hopeful feeling in his
Ducthess Trousers— 10 cents a but
torted
Quinnox angrily, “ when she
tensely than I. I love Lorry, and that breast. In the princess’ bedchamber
ton
and $1.00 a rip. Bailey’s Big
la my ouly excuse. He is being foullv late that night two girls in loose silken trusts four honest men.”
"Where is she?” whispered the Dris- Store.
* »1.4.^.^.^.^ *
•:• .-• ■:♦* •> * * * ♦:♦*:• •* *:■ *:* ❖
•r-x« * ♦> ♦:♦•!♦ •:•
* -:* 4 ~ m »+ •;
GRAUSTA R K
guivna aat uerore a low nre ana taiKeu
of something that caused the countess
to tremble with excitement when first
her pink cheeked sovereign mentioned
it in confidence.
I