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10 THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS : THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1005. llts Rp.VArlv frf IS GEORGE BARR g UBVOI IJ Ul g SCUTCHEON, p "vsv.'' V B Author of "Gru1aeli" J"-Vv,.'vJ iy.&tf.yJ. . 'r.v..:w .V.' - chapter xn. ID T was a di'owsy day, find, be sides, RaMos was not in a com ni inicutive frame of mind. Bever! v put forth her best of- Mforts during tlio forenoon, but nfter Fthe bnBket Itincbeon had been disposed cf i: the shade at tho roadside slip was content to give up the struggle and sur mider to the soothing Importunities cf the coach as It bowled along, She dozed peacefully, conscious to the InHt that lie was a most ungracious creature anil more worthy of resentment than of benefaction. Italdos was not Inten tionally disagreeable; he was morose and unhappy because he could not help It. Was ho not lcavin;; his friends to wander alone In the wilderness while lie drifted weal.ly Into the comforts I and pleasures of an enviable service? Ills heart was not In full sympathy with the present turn of alfalrs, and I he could not deny that a selfish motive was responsible for his aetlou. He had the all too human eagerness to serve beauty; the blood and (Ire of youth I were strong In this wayward noble nan of the bills. Lying back In the sent, he pensively studied tho face of the sleeping girl whose dark brown head was pillowed against th corner cushions of the ' coach. Her hat had been removed for the sake of comfort. The dark lashes fell like a soft curtain over her eyes, obscuring the merry gray that had overcome his apprehensions. Her breathing was deep and regular and peaceful. One little gloved hand rest ed carelessly In her lap, the other upon her breast near the delicate throat. The li"art of Baldos was troubled. The picture he looked upon was en i trancing, uplifting: he rose from the lowly state In which she had found him to the position of admirer In se i cret to a princess, real or assumed. He , found himself again wondering If she I were really Yetive, and with Uiat fear I in his heart he was envying Grenfall Lorry, the lord and master of this ex quisite creature, envying with all the I helplessness of one whose hope is blast ' ed at birth. The note which had been surrepti tiously passed to him in Ganlook lay crumpled and forgotten inside his coat pocket, where ho had dropped It the moment it had come into ids posses sion, supposing that the message con tained information which had been for gotten by Franz and was by no moans I of a nature to demand immediate at tention. Had he read it at once his suspicions would have been confirmed, and it is barely possible that he would have refused to enter the city. Late in the afternoon tho walls of Edelweiss were sighted. Tor the first time he looked upon the distant house 'tops of the principal city of Oraustark. Up In the clouds, on the summit of the mountain peak overlooking the city, etood the famed monastery of St. Val entine. Stretching up the gradual in cline were the homes of citizens, access ible only by footpaths and donkey roads. Beverly was awake and impa tient to reach tho journey's end. Ho I had proved a most disappointing com 1 panlon, polite, but with a baffling in ; difference that irritated her consldera- bly. There was a set expression of de fiance in his strong, clean cut face, the t look of a soldier advancing to meet a powerful foe. "I do hope he'll not always act this way," she was complaining In her 1 --.noughts. "He was so charmingly lm. , pudent out in the hills, so deliclously I human. Now he is like a clam. Yetive 'will think 1 am such a fool if he doesn't ' live up to the reputation I've given him!" "Hero are tho gates," lie said, half to I himself. "What Is there in store for me beyond those walls?" "Oh, I wish you wouldn't be so dis mal!" she cried In despair. "It seems dust like a funeral." "A thousand apologies, your high ness," he murmured, with a sudden lightness of speech and manner. "Henceforth I shall bo n most amiable 1 Jester to please you." Beverly and the faithful Aunt Fanny 1 were driven to tho castle, where tho former bade farewell to her new knight j until the following morning, when ho I was to appear before her for personal I Instructions. Colonel Qulunox escorted Idm to the barracks of the guard, where 1 he was to share a room with young Hnddan, a corporal In the service. "The wild, untamed gentleman from the hills came without a word, 1 see," said Lorry, who had watched the ap proach. He and Yetive stood In tho (window overlooking the grounds from the priucess' boudoir. Beverly bad Just entered and thrown .herself upon a divan. "Yes; he's bpre," alio said shortly. ' "How. long do you, with all your cleverness, expect t. hoodwink hlra into the belief that you are the prill cess?' asked Yetive, amused, but unr- Ion. "He's n great fool for being hood- fwlnked nt nil," said Beverly, very, much at odds with her protege, ."In, fiu hour from now he will know the truth and will l:o howling like a mad man for bis freedom," f I "Not 60 soon os that, Beverly," said M&orry consolingly. "Tho guanls and iWacers have their instructions to keep Holm in the dark as long as possible." I "Well, I'm tired and mad and hun gry and everything else that isn't com patible. Let's talk about the war," ald Beverly, the sunshine In her face momentarily eclipsed by fao dark cloud of disappointment; I B.ildos was notified (hat. duty would bo assigned to him in the morning. He went through the formalities which bound bliu to the service for six ! months, listening Indifferently to the words that foretold the fate of a itraitor. It wus not until btf nw iml form and equipment carae Into bis possession that ho remembered the 1 note resting in lib) Docket. He drew It I nut nml liepiin to rend it with tho . slight Interest of one who has antici pated the effect. But not for long was ho to remain apathetic. Tho first few llue.i brought a look of ULrstandlng to his eyes; then he laughed tho easy laugh of one who has cast care and confidence to the winds. This Is what be read: She ts not the princess. We have been duped. Last night I learned tho truth. She Is Miss Calhoun, an American, Kolng to be a guest at the castle, ltefuso to go with her Into Edelweiss. It may be a trap and may mean death. Question her bold ly before committing1 yourself. There came the natural Impulse to make a dash for the outside world, lighting his way through If necessary. Looking back over the ground, ho won dered how ho could have been deceived nt all by the unconventional American. In the clear light of retrospection be now saw how Impossible It wns for liar to have been the princess. Every act, every word, every look, should have told him the truth. Every flaw in lfer masquerading now presented It self to him, and he was compelled to laugh at his own simplicity. Caution, nfter all, waB tho largest component part of his makeup. The craftiness of tho hunted was deeply rooted In his being. Ho saw a very serious side to the adventure Stretching himself upon , tho cot In the corner of the room, he 1 .gave himself over to plotting, plan ning, thinking. In the midst of his thoughts a sud den light burst in upon him. His eyes gleamed with a new fire, bis heart ;leaped with new animation, his blood iran warm again. Leaping to his feet, he ran to the window to reread tho note from old Franz. Then he settled back and laughed with a fervor that cleared the brain of a thousand vague misgivings. "She Is Miss Calhoun, an American, going to bo a guest nt tho castle;" not the princess, but Miss Calhoun. Once more the memory of the clear gray eyes leaped Into life. Again he saw her asleep In the coach on the road from Ganlook. Again he recalled the fervent throbs his guilty heart had felt as he looked upon this fair crea ture, at one time the supposed treasure of another man. Now she was Miss Calhoun, and her gray eyes, her en trancing smile, her wondrous vivacity, were not for one man alone. It was marvelous what a change this sudden An 1 1 -n t it ("rut rrli 1 11 T I nrt i li nml ! of him. The whole situation seemed to , bo transformed Into something more desirable than ever before. His face cleared, his spirits leaped higher and higher with the buoynjicy of fresh re lief, his confidence in himself crept back into existence. And all because tho fair deceiver, the slim girl with the bravo gray eyes who bad drawn him I Into a net was not a princess! Something told him that she had not drawn him Into his present position with nny desire to Injure him or with tho slightest sense of malice. To her it had been a merry jest, a pleasant com edy. Underneath all he saw fho good ness of her motive in tnklng him from the old life and putting him into his present position of trust. lie bad helped her, and she was ready to help him to the limit of her power. His position In Edelweiss was clearly enough deflued. The more ho thought of It the raoro Justifiable it seemed as viewed from her point of observation. How long she hoped to keep hlra in the dark he could not tell. The outcome would be entertaining. Her efforts to deceive, If she kept them up, would be amusing. Altogether ho was ready, with tho leisure and Joy of youth, to nwnlt developments and to enjoy the comedy from a polut of view which she could not at once suspect. His subtle effort to draw Haddan Into a discussion of the princess and her household resulted unsatisfactorily. Tho young guard was annoylngly un responsive. He had his secret instruc tions und could not be inveigled into betraying himself. Baldos went to sleep that night with his mind con fused by doubts. His talk with Had dan had left him quite undecided as to tho value of old Franz's warning. Either Franz was mistaken or Haddan was a most skillful dissembler. It struck him as utterly beyond jtho pale of reason that the-entire castle guard should have been enlisted In the scheme to deceive him. YVhen sleep came ho was contenting himself with tho thought that morning doubtless would give him clearer Insight to tho situa tion. Both he and Beverly Calhoun were Ignorant of the true conditions that at tached themselves to the new recruit. Baron Dangloss alone know that Had dan wns a trusted agent of the secret service, with Instructions to shadow the newcomer day and night. That there was a mystery surrounding tho character of Baldos, the goat hunter, Dangloss did not question for an in stant, and in spite of the Instructions received at tho outset he was using nil bis skill to unravel It. Baldos was not summoned to the cas tle till noon. His serene Indifference to the outcome of the visit was calculat ed to deceive the friendly but watchful Haddan. Dressed carefully In the close fitting uniform of the royal guard, taller than most of his fellows, hand somer by far than any, be was the most noticeable figure In and about tho barracks. Haddan coached him In tho way he was to approach the princess, Baldos listening with exaggerated in tentness and with deep regard for de tail. Beverly wns In the small audience room off the main reception hall when he wns ushered Into her presence. The servants and ladles In waiting dlsap poared at a signal from her. She arose to greet him, and ho knelt to kiss her hand. For n moment her tongue was bound. Tho keen eyes of the new guard had looked Into hers with a di rectness that seemed to penetrate her brain. That this scene was to be one of tho most lnlermtlng In the. little comedy was proved by the fact thut two eager young women were hidden behind n heavy curtain In a corner of tho room. Tho Princess Yetive and the Counless Iiagmar were there to en joy Beverly's tlrst hour of authority, und she was owaru of their presence. "Have they told you that you are to act ns my especial guard and escort?" she asked, with a queer flutter In her voice. Somehow this tall fellow with the broad shoulders was not the same as the ragged goat hunter she had known at first. "No, your highness," ho said easily. "I have come for Instructions. It pleases mo to know that I nm to have a place of honor and trust such as this." "Uenernl Marians has told me that n vacancy exists, and I have selected you to fill It. The compensation will be attended to by the proper persons, and your duties will be explained to you by one of the officers. This after noon, I believe, you are to accompany me on my visit to the fortress, which I am to Inspect." "Very well, your highness," he re spectfully said. He was thinking of Miss Calhoun, an American girl, al though he called her "your highness." "May I be permitted to ask for In structions that' can come only from your highness?" "Certainly,"' she replied. Ills man ner was more deferential than she had ever known It to be, but he threw a bomb Into her tine composure with his next remark. He addressed her in the Grnustark language: "Is It your desire that I shall contin ue to address you in English?" Beverly's face turned a bit red, and her eyes wavered. By a wonderful ef fort she retained her self control, stam mering ever so faintly when she said in English: "I wish you would speak Engh," unwittingly giving nnswer to his ques tion. "I shall Insist upon that. Your English is too good to be spoiled." Then ho made a bold test, his first having failed. He spoke once more In the native tongue, this time softly and earnestly. "As you wish, your highness, but I think it is a most ridiculous practice," he said, and his heart lost none of Its courage. Beverly looked at him almost pathetically. She know that behind the curtain two young women were en joying her discomfiture. Something told her that they were stifling their mirth with dainty lace bordered hand kerchiefs. "That will do, sir," she managed to say firmly. "It's very nice of you, but after this pay your homage In English," she went on, tnklng a long chance on his remark. It must have been com plimentary, she reasoned. As for Bal dos, the faintest sign of a smile touched his Hps, and Ills eyes were twinkling as ho bent his bead quickly. Franz was right; she did not know a word of the Oraustark language. "I have entered the service for six mollths' T0Ur highness," he said In Eng "Your hlnhncsH, I fear we have splea and eavesdroppers here." llsh. You have honored me, and I give my heart as well as my arm to your cause." Beverly, breathing easier, was prop erly Impressed by this promise of feal ty. She was looking with pride upon the figure of her stalwart protege. "I hope you have destroyed that hor rid black patch," she said. "It has gone to keep company with other devoted but deserted friends," he said, a tinge of bitterness in his voice. "The uuifOTin Is vnstly becoming," she wont on, realizing helplessly that sho wns providing Intense amusement for the unseen auditors. "It shames the rags in which you found me." "I shall never forget them, Baldos," she said, with 11 strange earnestness in her voice. "May I "presume to Inquire after the health of your good Aunt Fnnny and, although I did ot seo blm, your Uncle Sam?" ho asked, with a face as straight and sincere as that of a Judge. Bev erly swallowed suddenly and checked a laugh with some difficulty. "Aunt Fanny Is never 111. Some day I shall tell you more of Uncle Sam. It will Interest you." "Another question, if It please your highness. Do you expect to return to America soon?" This was the unexpected, but sho met It with admirable composure, "It depends upon tho time when Trlnce Dantan resumes tho throuo In Dawsbergen," she said. "And that day may never come," said he, such mocking regret In his voice that she looked upon him with newer interest. , "Why, I really believe you want to go to America!" sho cried. The eyes of Baldos had been furtive ly drawn to tho curtain more than once during the last few mluutes. An oc casional movement of the long oriental hangings attracted bis attention. It dawned upon him that the little play waB being overheard, whether by spies or conspirators ho knew not. Resent ment sprang up In his breast and gave birth to a daring that was as spectac ular as It was confounding. With long, noiseless strides ho reached the U " H C V I"---""" door before Beverly could Interpose. She halt Htarted from her chair, her eyes wide with dismay, her lips parted, but bis band was already clutching the curtain. Ho drew It nslde relentlessly. Two startled women stood exposed to view, smiles dying on their amazed faces. Their backs were against tho closed door, and two hands clutching handkerchiefs dropped from a most significant altitude. One of them flash ed, nu Imperious glance nt the bold dis coverer, and he knew bo was looking upon tho real princess of Oraustark. He did not lose his composure. With out n tremor be turned to the American BlrJ. "Your highness," he said clearly, cool ly, "I fear wo have spies and eaves droppers here. Is your court made up of- I should say, they are doubtless a pair of curious ladles In wnltlng. Shall I begin my service, your highness, by escorting them to yonder door?" CHAPTER XIII. EVERLY gasped. Tho countess stared blankly nt the new guard. Yetive flushed deeply, bit her lip In hopeless chagrin B and dropped her eyes. A pretty turn, Indeed, the play had taken I Not a word was uttered for a full half nibiute; nor did tho guilty witnesses venture forth from their retreat. Baldos stood tall and Impassive, holding the curtain aside. At last the shadow of n smile crept Into tho face of tho princess, but her tones were full of deep humility when she spoke. "Wo crave permission to retire, your highness," she said, nnd there was vir tuous appeal in her eyes. "I pray for giveness for this indiscretion and im plore you to bo lenient with two mis erable creatures who love you so well that they forgot their dignity." "I am amazed and shocked," was all that Beverly could say. "You may go, but return to me within an hour. I will then hear what you havo to say." Slowly, even humbly, tho ruler of Oraustark and her cousin passed be neath tho upraised arm of tho new guard. He opened a door on tho oppo ulte side of the room, and they went out, to ajl appearance thoroughly crest fallen. The steady features of the guard did not relax for the fraction of a second, but his heart was thumping disgracefully. "Como here, Baldos," commanded Beverly, a bit pale, but recovering her wits with admirable promptness. "This Is a matter which I shall dispose of privately. It is to go no further, you are to understand." "Yes, your highness." "You may go now. Colonel Quinuox will explain everything," she said hur riedly. She was eager to be rid of him. As ho turned away sho observed a faint but peculiar smile at the corner of bis mouth. "Come here, sir!" she exclaimed hot ly. He pauswl, his face as somber ns an owl s. " hat 1I0 you mean by laughing like that?" she demanded. He caught the fierce note in her voice, but gave It the proper interpretation. "Laughing, your highness?" ho snld In deep surprise. "You must bo mis taken. I nm sure that I could not havo laughed in tho presence of a princess." "It must havo been a a shadow, then," she retracted, somewhat star tled by his rejoluder. "Very well, then. You are dismissed." As he was about to open tho door through which he had entered the room It swung wide and Count Marlaux strode In. Baldos paused irresolutely and then proceeded on his way with out paying the slightest attention to the 1 commander of the army. Marlanr came to an amazed stop, and his face flushed with resentment. "Halt, sir!" he exclaimed harshly. "Don't you know enough to salute me, sir?" Baldos turned Instantly, his figure straightening llko n flash. His eyes met those of the Iron Count and did not waver, although his face went white with passion. "And who are you, sir?" bo asked In cold, steely tones. The count almost reeled. 1 our superior officer! That should bo enough for you!" he half hissed, with deadly levelness. "Oh, then I see no reason why I should not salute you, sir," sold Baldos, with one of his rare smiles. He salut ed his superor officer a shade too elab orately and turneJ away. Marlanx'a eyes glistened. "Stop! Have I snld you could go, sir? I have a bit of advlco to" "My command to go comes from your superior, sir," said Baldos, with Irritating blandnobS. "Bo patient, general," cried Beverly, in deep distress. "Ho does not know nny better. I will stand sponsor fot him." And Baldos went away with a light step, his blood singing, his devil-may-care heart satisfied. The look in her eyes was very sustaining. As ho left tho castle he said qloud to hlra nelf with an easy dUregafd of tho con sequences: "Well, It seems that I am to bo asso ciated with the devil as well as with angels. Heavens! June is a glorious month." "Now, you promised you'd be nice to Idm, General Marlanx," cried Beverly tho instant Baldos was out of the room. "lie's new nt this sort of thlug, you know, and, besides, you didn't ad dress I1I111 very politely for an utter strauger." "The Insolent dog!" snarled Marlaux, his self control returning slowly. "Ho shall bo taught well and thoroughly, never fear, Miss Calhoun. There is a way to train such recruits ns he, and they never forget what they havo learned." "Oh, please don't bo harsh with him," she pleaded. The smile of the Iron Count was not at all reassuring. "I know he will be borry for what he has done, nnd you" "1 nm qulto sure he will be sorry," said he, with a most agreeable bow in submission to her appeal. "Do you want to seo Mr. Lorry?" she asked quickly. "I will send for him, general." She was at the door, impa tient to be with the banished culprits. "My business with Mr. Lorry can wait," he began, with a smile meant to be inviting, but which did not Impress her nt ull pleasantly, "Well, unyway, I'll tell blm you'ro here," sho said, her band on tho door knob, "Will you wait here? Ooodby." And then she was racing off through ' ! l.ar Jjallanl.-iin l.iwui ,!''' I1 (. toward the boudoir of the princess. There is no telling how long the nulled count remained In tho anteroom, for the excited Beverly forgot to tell Lor ry that ho was there. There were half n dozen people In the room when Beverly entered eager ly. Kho was panting with excitement. Of all tho rooms In the grim old castle'' tho boudoir of tho princess was the most famously attractive. It was real ly her home, the exquisite abiding place of an exquisite creature. To lounge on her divans, to loll In the chairs, to glide through her priceless rugs, was tho ncino of Indolent pleasure. Few were they who enjoyed the privileges of "little heaven," as Harry Anguish had christened It on one memornblo night loiig beforo the, princess was Mrs. Grenfall Lorry. "Now, how do you feel?" cried the flushed Amcrlcnu girl, pausing In tho door to point an Impressive finger nt the princess, ,who wns lying back in a huge chair, the picture of distress and annoyance. "I shall never bo able to look that man In the face again," came dolefully from Yellve's humbled Hps. Dagmar was all smiles nnd In the fittest of humors. She wns tho kind of culprit who loves the punishment because of the crime. "Wasn't It ridiculous, nnd wasn't it Just too lovely?" she cried. "It was extremely theatrical," agreed Beverly, seating herself on tho arm of Yetlve's chair and throwing a warm arm around her neck. "Have you all hoard about It?" sho demanded naive ly, turning to tho others, who unques tionably had had a Jumbled account of the performance. "You got Just what you deserved," said Lorry, who was Immensely amused. "I wonder what your august vnga- bond thinks of his princess nnd her ladles lu hiding?" mused Harry An guish. Tho Count and Countess Hal font were smiling In spite of the as sault upon tho dignity of the court. "I'd glvo anything to know what ho reallv thinks," said the real princess, "Oh, Beverly, wasn't It awful? And how he marched us out of that room!" "I thought It was great," said Rev erlv. her eves glowing. "Wasn't It splendid? And isn't he good look' Ing?" "He Is good looking, I imagine. But I am no judge, dear. It was utterly impossible for me to look at his face," lamented the princess. ,'.nf o.n rttt nnlnr, tfl An With 11!'?" asked Dagmar penitently. "You are to spend tho remainder of your life in n dungeon, with Baldos as guard," decided Miss Calhoun. "Beverly, dear, that man is no ordi nary person," said tho princess quite positively. "Of course he isn't. He's a tall, dark mystery." "I observed him as ho crossed the ter race this morning," said Lorry, "ne's n striking sort of chap, and I'll bet my head he's not what he claims to be." "no claims to be a fugitive, you must remember," said Beverly in his de fense. "I mean that be is no common male factor, or whatever it may be. Who and what do you suppose ho is? I con fess that I'm interested in the fellow, and ho looks ns though one might like him without half trying. Why haven't you dug up his past history, Beverly? You are so keen about him." "lie positively refuses to let me dig," explained Beverly. "I tried, you know, but ho he well, he squelched me." "Well, after all Is said and done, he caught us peeping todny, nnd I nm filled with, shame," said the princess "It doesn't matter who he Is, he must certainly havo a most unflattering opln ion as to what we are." "And he is sure to kno-y us sooner or later," said the young countess, mo. mentarlly serious. "Oh, if it ever come, to that I shall be in a splendid position to explain It all to him," said Beverly. "Don't you see, I'll 'have to do a lot of explaining myself?" "Baron Dangloss!" announced tho guard of the upper hall, throwing open the door for the doughty little chief of police. "Your highness sent for me?" asked he, advancing after the formal saluta tlon. The princess exhibited genuine amazement. "I did, Baron Dangloss, but you must have como with tho wings of an eagle. It Is really not more than three minutes since I gave the order to Colo nel Quinnox." Tho barou smiled mys terloifsly, but volunteered no solution, The truth Is, he was entering the cas tie doors as the messenger left them, but ho wns much too fond of effect to spoil a good situation by explanations, It was n long two miles to his office in tho Tower. "Something has just hap pened that impels mo to ask a few questions concerning Baldos, the new guard." "May I first ask what has happen ed?" Dangloss was at a loss for the meaning of tho general smile that went around. "It is quite personnl and of no con sequence. What do you know of blm My curiosity is aroused. Now, be quiet, Beverly. You are as eager. to know ns the rest of us." "Well, your highness, I may ns well confess that the man Is n mr47le to nie Ho comes hero a vagabond, but ho cer taluly does not net llko one. He admit that ho is being hunted, but takes no ono Into his confidence. For that he cannot be blamed." "Hnve you any reason to suspect who ho is?" asked Lorry. "My instructions were to refrain from Questioning him," complained Dangloss, with a pathetic look at tho original plotters. "Still, I have made Investigations along other lines." "And who is ho?" cried Beverly eagerly. "I don't know," was tho disappoint Ing nnswer. "Wo are confronted by nueer set of circumstances. Doubtless vou all know that young Prince Dan tan is firing from the wrath of his half brother, our lamented friend t-anriei He is supposed to bo in our hills witn a half starved body of followers seems Impossible that he could hav reached our northern boundaries with out our outposts catching a gllnipso of blm at somo tlm6. The trouble is that his face is unknowu to most of us, umong tho others. I have been going on the oresuraotlon that Buldos is lu reality Prlneo Dnntnn, but last night tho belief received a severe shock." 'What arc you (inlng; to do with nut" "Yes?" came from several eager lips. ".My men who nre watching the Dawsbergen frontier came In last Ight nnd reported that Dantan had been seen by mountaineers no later than Sunday, three days ago. These mountaineers were In sympathy with hlra and refused to tell whither ho went. Wo only know that he wns In the southern part of Oraustark three days ago. Our new guard speaks many angttages, but he has never been beard to uso that of Dawsbergen. That fact in itself Is not surprising, for, of all things, ho would avoid his mother tongue. Dantan Is part English by birth and wholly so by cultivation. In that he evidently finds a mate in this Baldos." "Then ho really isn't Prince Dau tan?" cried Beverly, as though a cher lshed ideal lyxd been shattered. "Not If we are to believe the tales from the south. Here is another com plication, however. There is, ns you know, Count Halfont, and perhaps all of ya, for that matter, n pretender to the throuo of Axphaln, tho fugitive Prince Frederic. He is described as young, good looking, a scholar and the next thing to a pauper." Baldos a mere pretender!" cried Beverly in distress. "Never!" "At any rate, he Is not what ho pre tends to be," said tho barou, with a wise smile. "Then you think he may be Prince Frarteric?" asked Lorry, deeply inter ested. I am Inclined to think so, although nnother complication has arisen. May it please your highness, I nm in an nmazlngly tangled state of mind," ad mitted the baron, passing his hand over his brow. "Do you mean that another mystorl ous prince has come to life?" asked Yetive, her eyes sparkling with Interest In tho revelntion.-i. "Early this morning a dispatch came to mo from the Grand Duke Michael of Rapp-Thorberg, a duchy in western Europe, informing me that the duke's eldest son had fled from home and Is known to have come to the far cast, possibly to Graustark." "Great Scott!" exclnlmed Anguish "It never rains but It halls, so here's hall to the princes three." "Wo are tho Mecca for runaway roy airy, it seems," said Count Halfont "Go on with the story, Baron Dan gloss," cried tho princess. "It Is lUje a book." "A description of tho young man ac companies the offer of a large reward for Information that may lead to his return homo for reconciliation, and" here the barou paused dramatically "And what?" Interjected Beverly, who could not wait. "The description fits our friend Bal dos perfectly!" You don't mean it?" exclaimed Lor ry. "men he may lie any one or tno three you havo mentioned?" Let mo tell you what tho grand duke's secretary says. I havo tho of ficlal notice, but left it in my desk Tho runaway sou of tho grand duke Is called Christobal. He is tweuty-seven years of age, speaks English fluently besides French and our own language, It seems that ho attended an English college with Prince Dantan and some of our own young men who are still In England. Six weeks ago he disappear ed from his father's home. At the samo tlmo a dozen wild and venturous retainers left the grand duchy. The party was seen in Vienna a week later. and the young duke boldly announced that he was off to the east to help his friend Dantan in the fight for hi throne. Going on the theory that Bal dos la this samo Christobal we have only to provide a reason for his pre ferring the wilds to the comforts o our cities. In tho first place, he know there is a large reward for bis appro benslon and he fears our police. In the second place, ho does not care to direct the attention of Prince Dantan's foes to hitnself. He missed Dantan in tho hills and doubtless was lost for weeks, but tho true reason for his flight is made plain In the story that was print ed recently In Paris and Berlin es papers. According to them, Chrlstoba rebelled against his father's right to select a wife for him. The grand duko had chosen a noble and wealthy bride, nnd tho son had selected a beautiful girl from tho lower walks of life. Fa ther and sou quarreled and neither would give an Inch. Christobal would not raurry his father's choice, and tho grand duke would not sanction hi union with tho fair plebeian." Here Beverly exclaimed proudly "He doesn't look like the sort of ma who could bo bullied Into marrying anybody If he didn't want to." "And ho strikes me as the sort who would marry any one he set his heart upon having," added the prlucoss, with a taunting glance at Miss Calhoun. "Umph!" sniffed Beverly defiantly, The baron went on with his narrative, exhibiting signs of excltcmont. "To leiid color to tho matter, Chrlsto- bal's sweetheart, the daughter of game warden, was murdered tbo night before her lover fled. I know nothing of the circumstances attending the crime, but It Js my understanding that Christobal Is not suspected. It Is pos slble that he Is Ignorant even now o the gill's fate." ' "Well, by tho gods, wo have a good J l let at Iicroes about us!" exclaimed Lorry. But, after nil," ventured the Count ess Halfont, "Baldos may be none of these men." Good heavens, Aunt Yvonne, don't uggest anything so distressing," said Yetive. "Ho must be one of them." "I suggest n speedy way of deter mining the matter," said Anguish. Let us send for Baldos nnd nsk blm point blank who he la. I think It In up to him to clear away the mystery." No!" cried Beverly, starting to her feet. "It seems to bo the only way," said orry. "But I promised hlni that no ques tions should bo asked," said Beverly, Imost tearfully, but quite resolutely. Didn't I, Yet your highness?" "Alas, yes!" said the princess, with n pathetic smile of resignation, but Willi loyalty lu the clasp of her hand. CHAPTER XIV. lD AT same afternoon Baldos. blissfully Ignorant of the stir ho had created in certain cir cles, rode out for the first tlmo e n member of the castle guard. IIo and Hnddau were detailed by Colonel Quinnox to act as prlvuto escort to Mls Calhoun until otherwise ordered. If Haddan thought himself wiser than Baldos In knowing that their chargo was' not the princess ho wns very much mistaken. If he enjoyed the trick that was being playod on his fellow guards man his enjoyment wns ns nothing when compared to tho pleasure Baldos was deriving from the situation. Tho royal victoria was driven to tho fortress, conveying tho supposed prin cess and the Countess Dagmar to tho homo of Count Marlanx. The two guards rode bravely behind the equi page, resplendent In brilliant new uni forms. Baldos was mildly surprised and puzzled by the homago paid tho young American girl. It struck him as preposterous that the entire population of Edelweiss could be In tho game to deceive him. "Who is the princess companion?" ho inquired of Haddan as they left tho castle grounds. "The Countess Dagmar, cousin to her highness. Sho Is tho wife of Mr. An guish." "I have seen her before," said Baldos, a strange smile on his face. The Countess Dagmar found It diffi cult at first to meet the eye of the new guard, but he was so punctiliously oblivious that her courage was restored. Sho even went so far as to whisper in Beverly's ear that ho did not remember hfir face and probably would not rec ognize Yetive ns ono of the eavesdrop pers. The princess had flatly refused to accompany them on tho visit to tho fortress because of Baldos. Struck by a sudden impulse, Beverly called Bal dos to tho side of tho vehicle. "Baldos, you behaved very nicely yes terday in exposing the duplicity of those young women," she said. I am happy to have pleased your highness," he said steadily. "It may interest you to know that they ceased to be ladies in waiting aft er that exposure." "Yes, your highness, it certainly is in teresting," he said as he fell back into position beside Haddan. During the remainder of the. ride he caught him self time after tlfne gazing reflectively at the back of her proud little head, possessed of an almost uncontrollable desire to touch the soft brown hair. "You can't fool that excellent young man much longer, my dear," said the countess, recalling the look in his dark eyes. The same thought had been af flicting Beverly with its probabilities for twenty-four hours and more. Count flarlanx welcomed his visitors with a graclousness that awoke won der in the minds of his staff. ILs marked preference for the American girl did not escape attention. Some of the bolder young otlicers indulged in surreptitious grimaces, and all looked with more or less compassion upon tho happy facpd beauty from over tho sea. Marlaux surveyed Baldos Bteadlly and coldly, deep disapproval In his sinister eyes. IIo had not forgotten the en counter of the day before. I see tho favorite is on -;uard," he said blandly. "Has he told you of the lesson in manners he enjoyed last night?" He was leading his guusts to ward the quarters, Baldos and Haddan following. The new guard could not help hearing the sarcastic remark. You didn't have him beaten.'" cried Beverly, stopping short. No, but I Imagluo It would have been preferably 1 talked with him for half an hour," said the general, laugh lug significantly. When the party stopped at the drink ing fountain In the center of tho fort JBaldos halted near by. His face was as Impassive as marble, his eyes set straight before him, his figure erect nnd soldierly. An occasional sarcas tic remark by the Iron Count, meant for bis ears, made no Impression upor, the deadly composure of the new guard, who had had his lesson. Miss Cal houn was conscious of a vague feeling that sho had served Baldos an 111 turn when she put him Into this position. The count provided a light luncheon in his quarters after tho ladles had gono over the fortress. Beverly Cal houn, with all of n woman's Indiffer ence to thlugs material, could not but see how poorly equipped tho fort was as compared to the ones she had seen in the United States. She and the countess visited tho armory, tho ar senal and tho repair shops before luncheon, reserving tho pleasures of tho clubhouse, the officers Quarters nnd the parade ground until afterward. Count Marlanx'a liome wns in the southeast corner of tho Inclosure, near theVgates. Several of tho otlicers lunch ed Vlth blm and the young ladles. Marlanx was assiduous In bis atten tion to Beverly Calhoun, so much so, In fact, that tho countess teased her afterward about her conquest of the old and well worn heart. Beverly thought him extremely silly and senti mental, much preferring htm In tha character of tho harsh, Implacable mar tinet. At regular Intervals she saw the straight, martlal--form of Baldos pass the .window ncaf'whlch she sat. Ho was -patrolling the narrow piazza which fronted the house. Toward the close of the rather trying luncheon she was almost unable to control the Im pulse to rush out nnd compel him to relax that imposing, machine-like stride. She hungered for a few mlu