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11iE SENTINEL JOURNA. Entered April 28, 1908 at Piokens., B. 0., a seoond elas matter. under not of Congress of Maroh 8. 1879. VOL. ZIRU, I3I & il CARQ LIIA, TZERlDIf, Tj MARCH 5 49, Aini't 'l -THESE ARE BR1GHT -. BEVERLY OF GRAUSTARE By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEOA Author of "Grtutark" CoWleIht, 19o.6y Dodd. Mead and Compa ed, and she did not think him proix Alepressed. "Yes." she answered after a pa that seemed like an eternity, and went quietly, silently away. CIIAPTER XXIV. ILE Baldos was stand guird in the long, lofty bl way the I1011 Count was hI with the machinat Ions W1 were calculated to result in a starti upheaval With the break of at new dI HeL prepared and swore to the char I'referred against Baldos. They w disipantched to the priaicnss for peru'lsal in the morning. Then lhe nhout preparing. the vilest accusa ti against Beverly Calhoun. In his o handwvriting and over his own sig turo)he charged her with compiliclty the ;retraiyal of Graust ark, influen by the desires of tihe lover who n lueraded as her protege. At ac length lie dwelt uponl the we'll laid I of' the spy and his necomplice, Hie i of their secret meoetings, their ouitra against the dIgnity of the court thieir unmiistakable nuimosity tow Grinustark. For eaich and every co In his vious Indictment against girl he professed to have absol piroof by menns of miore than reputable witness. It waIs not the desi54gn of Mariam~ present this docuiment to the print andi her enbinet, ie knew full that it would meet the fate it deser' It was Intended for the eyes of Revy Calhoun alone. By means of the necusations, false though they were hoped to terrorize her into submirs Hie longed to possess this lithe, benl ful creature from over the sea. In his life lhe had not hungered for thing uis lie now craved Beverly bioun. Hie saw that lis position in nrmy was rendered insecure by events of the last (lay. A bold, vic stroke was his only means for seec: the prlze lhe longed for more thiar longed for honor and fame. Rlestless and- enraged, consumed Jealousy and fear, ho hung about 'hey Cute. ... whlve ol ftera 'asre. .......... degraato. E o . th ;4 ACED YOUNG AME.RICANS, __ , ii~edabo1i chrgi?Fe -knew that Bl~ados was Inside the castle, favored, while he, a noble of the realm, WVas rele gated to Ignominy and the promise of degradation. Encamped outside the city walls the army lay without a leader. Each hour saw the numbers augmented by the arrival of reserves from the districts of the principality. His place was out there with the staff, yet he could not drag himself away from the charmed circle in which his IN prey was sleeping. Morose and grim be anxiously paced to and fro in an obscure corner of the grounds. -"What keeps the scoundrel?" he said r to h!msclf angrily. L Presently a villainous looking man, lie (ressed in the uniform of the guards, stealthily approached. "I missed him, general, but I will get him the next thne," growled the nin. lag "Curse you for a fool!" hissed Mar ill- lanx through his teeth. As another ,sy hireling came up, "What have you got ich to -ay?" ug The man reported that Baldos had 11Y. been seen on the )alcouy alone, evi eS deutly on watch. ore Ma-lanx ground his teeth and his crblood stormed his rettson. "The jai set must he done tonight. You htave . sinistructions. Capture him if pr' e wnbut, if necessary, kill him. E o Iyour fate If you fail." Marla' 9itual inly grinned at the thought of th ',umisht meut he~ would mete out to them. as-, "Now be off!" me! lot Rash ly lie made his way to the castle fronit. A bright moon cast its mellow ol low over the mass of steo outlined Ldagainst h western sk.For an hu card he glowered in the shade of' the trees, Lunt giving but slight heed to the guards the who passed from time to time. His ut eyes never left thme enchanited balcony. eanme from the door at the end of the to halcony, paced the full length In the moonlIght, paused for a moment near Bl everly Calhoun's window anmd thon d.disappeared through the~ same doer thait had afforded him egress. SI nside the dark castle tihe clock at lhe the end of the hall melodioQalsy boomed the hour of 2. Dead quiet followed ui- the soft echoes of the gong. A tail all tigure stealthIly opened the door tc -Yetlve's chapel and stepped Inside, .There was a streak of moonlighi the through the clear window at the fin the end of' thei room1. Baldos, his hieari la beating rapidly, stood stIll for a moe nig ent, awaiting the next move in th( lie gamie. Th le ghostlike figure of awo au suddenly stood before himw In the bypath of the moonbeam, a hooded flg. the ~ idrk robes.m le satedi as ii 0Come," came in a~n agitated whis per, and be stepped to the side of the phantom. She turned, and the moon light foll upon the face of Beverly Cal boun. "Don't speak. Follow me a quickly as you can." He grasped-her atm; bringing her tc a standstill. "I have. changed my mind," he whis pored in her ear. "Do you think I will run away qnd leave you to shoulder the blame for all this? On the balcony near your window an hour ago I" "It doesn't make any differenco," she argued. "You have to go. I want you to go. If you knew just how I feel to ward you you would go without a murmur." "You mean that you bate me," he groaned. "I wouldn't be so unkind as to say that," she fluttered. "I don't know who you are. Come, we can't delay a minute. I have a key to the gate at the other end of *the passage, and I know whore the secret panel is locat ed. Hushi It doesn't matter where I got the key. See! See how easy it Is!" He felt her tense little fingers In the darkness searching for his. Their hands were ley cold when the clasp came. To gether they stood In a niche of the wall near the chanoel rail. It was dark, and a cold draft of air blew across thelt faces. E could not sea, but there was proof enough that she had opened the secret panel In the wall and that the damp, chill air came from the under ground passage which led to a point outside the city walls. "You go first," she whispered nerv ously. "I'm afraid. There is a lantern on the steps, and I have some matches. We'll light it as soon as- Oh, what was that?" "Don't be frightened," he said. "I think it was a rat." "Good graclous!" she gasped. "I wouldn't go In there for the world." "'Do you mean to say that you intend. ed to do so?" he asked eagerly. "COrtainly. Some one has to return the key to the outer gate. Oh, I sup pose I'll have to go in. You'll keel them off, won't you?" plaintively. He was -smiling in the darkness. thinking what a dear, whImsical twliig sho 'Waa., "With my life," he saia softly. "They're ten times worse than lions," she announced. "Yoe must not forget that you re turn aonae," he said triumphantly. "BMt I'll have the lantern going full blast,. she said and then allowed him to lead' her into the narrow passage way. She closed the panel and then felt amIout with her foot jmntil it located the latern. In a minute they had a light. "Now, don't be afrald," she said encoura'glngly. le laughed in pure de light. She misunderstood his mirth and was conselouw of a new and on almost unendurable pang. lie was filled with exhilaration over the prospect of es cape! Somehtow she felt an implulse to throw her arms about him and drag him bnck into the cliapel In spite of the ghost of the game warden's daughter. "What Is to prevent me from taking you with me?" le said intensely, a mighty longing in his breast. She laughed, but drew back uneasily. "And Jive unhappily ever after ward?" said she. "Oh, deari me! Isn't this a funnm proceeding? Just think of me, Ibererly Cailhoun, being mixed up in schemes and plots and lutrigues and all that! It seems like a great big diream.- And that remind s m you will fiud a rain coat at the foot of the ste'ps. I couldn't get other clothes for you, so you'll have to wear the uniform. There's a stiff hat of Mr. Lorry's also. You've no Idea how dif fleult it Is for a girl to collect clothes for a man. There doesn't seem to be any real excuse for It, you know. Goodness, it looks black ahead there, doesn't it ? I hate underground things. They're so damp and all that. How far is it, do you suppose,. to the door in thme wall?" She was chattering on, simply to keep up her courage and to make her fairest show of corkmposiure. "It's a little more than 800 yards," he rep~lied. They were advancing through the low, narrow stono lined passage. She steafastly ignored the hand lhe held bacek for support. It was not a pleasant placel, this underground way to the outside wvorld. Tlie walls were damp andl moldy; the odor of the rank earth assailed the nostrils; the ,air wias chill and deathlike. "Hlow do you know?2" she demanded quickly. "I have traversed the passage be fore, Mliss Calhoun," ho replied. She stopped likec one paralyzed, her eyes wide and incredulous. "Franz was my guide from the outer gate into the chapel. It is easy enough to get out side the walls, but extremely diffcult to return," ho went on easily. I"You mean to say that you have been in and out 1)y way of this pas. sage? Theni, what was your object sir? shneaed trniy.* 'My desire to communicate with friends who could not enter the city. Will it interest you if I say that the particular object of any concern was a young woman ?" She gasped and was stubbornly si. lent for a long.ttme. Bitter resentment filled her sou,. bitter disappointment in this young man. "A young woman!" he had said, oh, so insolently! There could be -but one Inference, one conclu sion. The realization of it settled one point in her mind forever. "It wouldn't interest me in the least I don't even care who she was. Per wit me to wish you much joy with her Why don't you go on?" Irritably, for getting that It was she who delayed progress. Ils smile was invisible It the blaekness above the lantern. Ther. were no words spoken until aftor the had reached the little door in the wa!J Here the passage was wider. Ther. were casks and chests on the floor, evi dently containing articles that requiro& Instant removal from Edelwetss 1i case of an emergency. "Who was that woman?" she asko.. at last. 'The key to the door was in tb nervous little hand. "One very near and dear to me, Mis Calhoun. That's all I Can say at th14 time." "Woll, this is the only time you wil have the chance," she cried loftily "Here we part. Hush!" slo whispered. luvoluntarily grasping his arm. "I think I heard a step. Can any one be following us?" Tey stopped and lie tened. It was as still as a tomb. "It must be the same old rat." he answered jokingly. She was too norv ous for any pleasantries and. releasing her hold on his arm, said timidly. "Goodby!" "Am I to go In this mannor? Have you no kind word for me? I love you better than my soul. It ,Is of small consequence to you, I know. but I crave one forgiving word. It may be the last." He clasped her hand, and she did not withdraw it. Her lips were trembling, but her eyes were brave and obstinate. Suddenly she sat Oown upon one of the chests. If he had not told her of the other woman! "Forgive mO instead, for all that I hpe brought.. *i'to.," she- murmured. "It was all ny fault. I shall never forget you or forgive myself. I-I am going back to Washin'ton immediately. I can't bear to stay here now. Good by. and God bless you. Do-do you think we shall ever see each other again?" Unconsciously she was cling ing to his hand. There were tears in the gray eyes that looked pathetically down there in the gmowsome passage way with the fitful rays of the lantern lighting her face. Only the strictest self control kept him from seizing her in his arms, for something told him that she would have surrendered. "This Is the end. I fear," he said, with grim peralstence. he eniht her breath in half a sob. Then she arose resolutely, although her knees trem bled s1hRlamielessly. "Well, then, goodby." she said very endily. "You are free to go where id to whomi you like. Think of me once in awhile, Uildos. Ihere's the key. 11111-1-y! I-I can't stand it much longer!" She was ready to break (own. ItId Ie Kaw it, but he 11111de no sign. Turning the key in the rusty lock, he enitioisly opned the door. Tho moon lit world lay beyond. A warm. intox lating breath of fresh air citme in upon01 them, ie suddenly stoped and kis-sed her hland;. "Forgive me for haviug annoyed you with myl3 poor Iove,." lie said as he stood in the door, looking into the night beyond. "All--all ight," sheO chiokedl out as she started to close the door atfter him. "IHalt! You are our~ pr1isoner~l!" Tfhe words r-anzg out sharply In the allenice or the ight. Instinc(tively Bev erly made(1 an attempt to close the door, lbut she' was too late0. 'i'wo bJur1y, villainous looking men, sword in hand, blocked the exit and adva-nced upon them. "Unack! Baick!" Balos aboutedl to Beverly, dIrawinlg his.' sword. Like a flash s:he pieked up the Ian tel-l and spraing out of lisa way. Cap ture or wvor-ee seeimd certain,. but her heart did nt fall her. "Put up y-our sword! You are under ar-rest!" ('ame1 from the foremost of the two. TIe hand heaird enough of Baldo' r'use might lhe successful and that he. would surrender peaceably to niumb~ers. The men's itustructions were to take their quarry alive If piossibie. The re ward for the mian living exceeded that for himi; dead1. Baldos instaintly recognised them as I es1~ emloyed~0 by Marlanx. They had been dogging his footsteps for days and even; had tied to murder him. 'The desir-e fo.r vengeance wa-is workinug like madnessC~l 11n hIs blood, ie was /IWP " Onet!" crUed Baldos. of hiS sworil. Baysie"i'~Tiifee vouchsafed that he would show little mercy. "Arrest me, you cowardly curs" he exclaimed. "Neveri' With a spring to one side he quickly overturned one of the casks, and, pushing it in front of him, it served as a rolling bulwdrk, provetiting a joint attack. "You first!" he cried coolly as his sword met that of the leader. The un happy wretch was no match for the finest -swordsman In Graustark. He made a few desperate attemps to ward off his inevitable fate, calling loudly for his comrade to aid him. The latter was eager enough, but Baldos' strate gic roll of the cask effectively prevent. ed him from taking a hand. With a vi cious thrust the blade of the goat hunt er tore clean through the man's chest and touched the wall behind. "One!" cried Baldos, gloating in the chance that had come to him. The man gasped and fell. He was none too quick in withdrawing his dripping weapon, for the second man was over the obstacle and upon him. CHAPTER XXV. OLD the lantern higher, Be" In the fury of the fight he remembered the risk and im portance of not mentioning her name and stopped short. He was fighting fast, but warily, for he real ized that his present adversary was no mean one. As the swords played back and forth in fierce thrusts and parries he spoke assuringly to Beverly: "Don't he frightened! As soon as I finish with this fellow we will go on! Ah! Bravor Vell parried, my man! How the deuce could such a swordsman as you become n cutthroat of Marlanx?" Beverly had 1een1 statnding still all this time. holding the light high above ,ber head. accQrding to her lover's or der, for she knew now that such he was an3d that she loved him with all her heart. Sbe was a weird picture standing there its sihe watched Baldos lighting for. their lives. her beautiful nee deathlik in its Pallor. Not a cry escaped her lips as the sword blades swished and clashed, She could hear the (eiep breathing of the conbatahts in that tomb.like passage. Slddenly she started and listened keenly. From behind her, back there in the darkntess, hurried footsteps were unmistakably approaching. What she had heard, then, was not the scurrying of a rat. Sonme one was followintg them. A terrible atnguish seized her. Louder andi nearer came the heavy steps. "Oh, Italdos!" site screamed in terror. "An other is cominag!" "Have no fear, dear onel" he sung out gayly. His voice wvas infinitely more cheerful than lie felt, for hte teal izedl only too well the desperate situa tion. ie was penned in and forced to mteet an attack f.'om front and rear. Hie fell upon his assailant with redou lied fury, aiming to finish him before the newvcomier could give aid. From out of thte gloom carrx fi end ish laugh. Instantly the dam k figure of. a man appeared,~l his facoeecompletely hidden by a broad sloucht hat and the long cloak whtich enveloped him. A sardotnie voice hissed: "Trapped at last! M1y lady and1( her lover thought to es cape, did thtey!" Thie voice was unfa millar, but the atmosphere seemed charged with Mlarlanx. "Kill him, Zemn!" lie shiouted. "Don't let him es cape you! I will take care of the little witch, never fear!" ie clutched at the girl and tried to dlraw~ her to him. "Mlarlanix! By aill the god1s!" cried Baldos in despair, Ie had1( w.ounided hisa man several times, though ntot serious ly. Hie dIared ntot turn to Beverly's aid. The sceine was thrilling, grewsomie. Within this narrow, dimly lighted un derormtmu la g, wi... smut