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BGraust? 's ^?'??.?.l?i"v?';*""' -- -*? ' iY"i -??y, ?**Were I dying I should refuse to seated while your highness stanc said he simply. His shoulders seen to square themselves involuntarily, i "his 3-e?t hand twitched as though customed to the habit of touching ?word hilt Beverly sat down lusts 3y. With his usual easy grace he ti 4i chair near by. They were alone the antechamber, v "Even though you were cn your 1 iegs?" she murmured, and men wonc <?d how she could have uttered a thing so inane. Somehow she was ginning to fear that he was not the dioary person she had judged him be. "You are to be discharged fr the hospital tomorrow," she adc hastily. 'Tomorrow?* he cried, his eyes lig lng with joy. "I may go then?" "I have decided to take you to Ed 'weiss with me," she said, very much if that were all there was to it . stared at her for a full minute though doubting his ears. "No!" he said at . last his jaws s tiing, his eyes glistening. It was terrible setback for Beverly's coi dence. 4<Your highness forgets that have your promise of absolute fr< dom." "But you are to be free," she prote ed. "You have nothing to fear. It ?tot compulsory, you know You do xiave to go unless you really want i But my hean: is set on having you ii in the castle ;ruard." His bitter, moe tug laugh suj*prised and wounded h< which he was quick to see, for I contrition was immediate. "Pardon, your highness. I am rude, ungrateful wretch, and I deser pmiishment instead of reward. Tl proposal was so astounding that I fe got myself completely," he said. Whereupon, catching him in mis co trite mood she began a determined a sault against his resolution. Eor ? hour she devoted her whole heart ai ?oui to the task of overcoming h prejudices, fears and objections, mee iug bis protestations firmly and Jogi "> -a?y. unconscious of the ^act that h< ?very entire .;ias-v; was betraying her 1 %hz. The 5rst signs cf weakening L Mflft* spired lier afresh and at last she wi H^R??ding ove him roughshod, a hapj HBKrictor. Sh ? made pr omises that Yetti _ ("plger?oif ."-or.ld not have made; she offe HBKL inducements that never could t ^HBprriecl out, although in her zeal sh SHB?? not \r ow it to be so; she painte BBB p:ct-:res of ease, comfort an ^Hu:<i:re :hat he wondered why roya Bfcd not exchange places with it jjffjjj; Ht*-^ *n ***e en(*" overcome by th BHBBSL0- adventure and a desire to b * r, he agreed to enter the servie ^r^^?. months, at the expiration o which time be was to be released fror ail obligations if he so desired. ""But my friends in the pass, you *??gh?ess." he said in surrendering ''what is to become of them? They ar ??ajtfxng for me out there in the wilder cess. I am not base enough to deser .them." -'"Can't you get word t* them?'" sh< 'asked eagerly. "Let them come int( the city too. We will provide for th( poor- fellows, believe me." "That at least, is impossible, yom "highness," he said, shaking his heac sadly. "You will have to slay then before you can bring them within the <3ty gates. My only hope is that "Frans may he here tonight He has permis? sion to enter, and I am expecting him today or tomorrow." '"You can send word to them thal you are sound and safe, and you can tell them that Graustark soldiers shall be instructed to pay no attention to them whatever. They shall not be dis? turbed." He laughed outright at her enthusiasm. Many times during her ?ager conversation with Baldos she had almost betrayed the fact that she was not the princess. Some of her expressions were distinctly unregal. and some of her slips were hopeless as she viewed them in retrospect "What am I? Only the bumble goat tranter, hunted to dealb and eager for a short respite. Do with me as you like, your highness. You shall be my princess and sovereign for six months at least." he said, sighing. "Perhaps it is for the best." "You are the strangest man. I've ever seen," she remarked, puzzled beyond expression. That night Franz appeared at the hospital and was left alone with Bal-, dos for an hour or more. What passed between them no outsider * knew, though lhere were tears in the eyes of both at the parting. But Franz did not start for the pass that night, as they had expected. Strange news had come t-,-- the ears o?' the faithful old follower, he- hung about Ganlook until morita^ came, eager to catch the ear s "J ti:der before.it was too late, e coach was drawn up in front of i hospital at 8 o'clock. Beverly tri hant in command. Baldos came j the steps slowly, carefully, fa lg the newly healed ligaments in .?gs. ' She smiled cheerily at him, . . he swung O?s rakish nat low.' ? was no sign of the black patch. Suddenly he started and peered in? tently into the little knot ol . near the coach. A look of -crossed his face. From the ' van ced a grizzled old beggar, boldly extended, his hand. Bal ? grasped ih?^ i-Toi7? ViW.l hand and i'. -u 3te*/pvd k*'> ?ie coaefc. v> one saw the .. > ....-;__ ?A y ?ft""^^y>?w <?5ffi&h*^^ ^"^w^sy ^?yti^^ 'l'^'v* ".A"""1"*.**" I*^^%^.vi"^v'r?*^?y*^v-? . ?. . . * T- * *. . .?.. ?? . . ._?. . ? .. . i * : . .*...?<?..?..-".*. .-** ....?....';.. I*.*.* e.*-..-*^.* r*v?? . . .?-? .. fm *> m sm GE0R6E BARR m W? M'OJTCHEON, ? g?? <***.!*?. bf Dodd. ?g? bit of white paper . at pass?d~fr< Franz's palm into the possession Baldos. Then the coach was off 1 Edelweiss, the people of Ganlook < Joying the unusual spectacle of a m; terious and apparently undistinguisb stranger sitting in luxurious ease 1 side a fair lady in the royal coach Graustark. CHAPTER XII. OT was a drowsy Jay, and, I sides, Baldos was not in? communicative frame of mir Beverly put forth her best < forts during the forenoon, but aft the basket luncheon had been dispos of in the shade at the roadside she w content to give up the struggle and si render to the soothing importuniti of the coach as it bowled along. S! dozed peacefully, conscious to the la that he was a most ungracious crea tu and more worthy of resentment thi of benefaction. Baldos was not inte tionally disagreeable; he was moro and unhappy because he could not he it. Was he not leaving his friends wander alone in the wilderness whi he drifted weakly into the comfor and pleasures of an enviable servid His heart, was nol; in full sympatl with the present turn of affairs,'ai he could not deny that a selfish motr was responsible for his action. He hi the all too human eagerness to sen ? beauty; the blood and fire of you were strong in this wayward nobl man of the hills. Lying back in the seat, he pensive! studied the face of the sleeping gi whose dark brown head was pillowe against the corner cushions of tl coach Her hat had been removed f( the sake o? comfort The dark lash? fell like a soft curtain over her eye obscuring the merry gray that ha overcome his apprehensions. H< breathing was deep and regular an peaceful. One little gloved hand res ed carelessly in her lap, the other upo her breast near the delicate throa The heart of Baldos was troubl?e The picture he looked upon was e: traDCiag, uplifting; he rose from th lowly state in which she had foun him to thc position of admirer in s< cret to a princess, real or assumed. H found himself again wondering if sh were really Yetive, and with that fea in his-heart he was envying Grenfa! Lorry, the lord, and master of this es quisite creature, envying with all th helplessness of one whose hope is blasl ed at birth. The note which had been surrepti tiously passed to him in Ganlook la; crumpled and forgotten inside his coa pocket where he had dropped it th* moment it had come into his posses sion, supposing that the message con tained information which had been for gotten by Franz and was by no mean of a nature to demand immediate at tention. Had he read it at once tm suspicions would have been confirmed and it is barely possible that he woulc have Hid to enter the city. Lb in the afternoon the walls ol Edt zeiss were sighted. For the firsi time he looked upon the distant house tops of the principal city of Graustark Up in the clouds, on the summit of th( mountain peak overlooking the city stood the famed monastery of St. Val? entine. Stretching up the gradual in? cline were the homes c'f citizens, access ible only - by footp^ Jos and donkej roads. Beverly was awake and impa? tient to reach the journey's end. He had proved a most disappointing com? panion, polite, but with a baffling in? difference that irritated her considera bly. There was a set expression of de? fiance in his strong, clean cut face, the 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 thoughts. "He was so charmingly im? pudent out in the hills, so deliciously human. Now he is like a clam. Yetive will think I am. such a fool if he doesn't live up to the reputation I've given him!" "Here are the gates," he said, half to 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 just like a funeral." "A thousand apologies, your high? ness," he murmured, with a sudden lightness of speech and manner. "Henceforth I shall be a most amiable "ester to please you." Beverly and the faithful Aunt Fanny . ""vere driven to the castle, where the former br.de farewell to her new knight until the following morning, when he was to appear before her for personal Instructions. Colonel Quinnox escorted hin to the barracks of the guard, where he was to share a roora with young Hac'dan, a corporal in the service. "The wild, untamed gentleman from the hills came without a word, I see," said Lorry, who had watched the ap? proach, lie and Ye;ive stood in the window overlooking the grounds from the princess' boudoir. Beverly had just Neutered and thrown herself upon a divan. "Yes; he's here," she said shortly. ; "i( ?6cg do you, with all your -ot to hoodwink him :^it you are the prin? : CH. Yetive, amused, but anx I ions. j 'He's a . gr Cfit Cool? l'or being Iiooc? '. winked ?.t all," ?.-.I-J Bevsrcly, ry mach at odds \vi:h her protege, an hour from now* he will know truth and will be howling like a,rr. m*V'n tor his freedom." "Not so soon as that, Beverly/" t Lorry consolingly. "The guards ; officers have their instructions to k him in the dark as long as possible. "Well, I'm tired and mad and h gry and everything else that isn't o patible. Let's talk about the W? said Beverly, the sunshine in her f momentarily eclipsed by the d cloud of disappointment Baldos was notified that duty wo be assigned to him in the morni He went through the formalities wt bound him to the service for months, listening indifferently to words that foretold the fate of traitor. It was not until his new t form and equipment came into possession that he remembered note resting in his pocket He dre** out and began to read it with slight interest of one who has ant pated the effect But not for long v he to remain apathetic. The first f lines brought a look of understand to his eyes; then he laughed the ei laugh of one who has cast care a confidence to the winds. This is wi he read: She ls not the princess. We have tx duped. Last night I learned the tn: She is Miss Calhoun, an American, go to be a guest at the castle. Refuse to with her into Edelweiss. It may be at and may mean death. Question her bc ly before committing yourself. There came the natural impulse make a dash for the" outside wor fighting his way through if necessa Looking back over the ground, he w< dered how he could have been deceit at ail by the unconventional Ameria In the clear light of retrospection now saw how impossible it w?s J her to have been the princess! i've act, every word, every look, shot have told him the truth. Every fii in her masquerading now presented self to him, and he was compelled laugh at his own simplicity. Cautii after all, was the largest compone part of his makeup. The craftiness the hunted was deeply rooted in 1 being. He saw a very serious side the adventure. Stretching himself up the cot in the corner of the room, gave himself over to plotting, pla liing, thinking. In the midst of his thoughts a sn den light burst in upon him. His ey gleamed sri th a new fire, his hea leaped with new animation, his bio ran warm again. Leaping to his fe< he ran to the window to reread tl ^note from old Franz. Then he settli back and laughed with a fervor th cleared the brain of a thousand vagi misgivings. "She is "Miss O "bonn, an America going to ">e a guest at the castle;*" a the princess, but Miss Calhoun. Oa< in or,, thc- ;^o:r of the dea? gr: eyes leape?i|B:o life. Again he sa ?er asleep ur the coach on tao rot from Ganlook. Again he recalled tl fervent throbs his guilty heart hs felt as he looked upon this fair ere ture, at one time the supposed treasm of another man. Now she was Mb Calhoun, and her gray eyes, her e: trancing smile, her wondrous vivacity were not for one man alone. It w? marvelous what a change this sudde realization wrought in the view ahea of him. The whole situation seemed 1 be transformed into something moi desirable thad ever before. His fae cleared, his spirits leaped higher an higher with the buoyancy of fresh n lief, his confidence in himself cre? back into existence. And all becaus the fair deceiver, the slim girl with th brave gray eye3 who had drawn hii Into a net was not a princess! Something told him that she had no drawn bim into his present positio with any desire to injure him or wit the slightest sense of malice. To her I had been a merry jest a pleasant con: edy. Underneath all he saw the gooc ness of her motive in taking him froE the old life and putting him into hi present position of trust. He ha? helped her, and'she was ready to hel] I him to the. limit of her power. Hi i position in Edelweiss was clearl: .enough defined. The more he though ! of it the more justifiable it seemed a viewed from her point of observatioD j How long she hoped to'keep bim in th< dark he could not tell. The outcom< would be entertaining. Her efforts ti deceive, if she kept them up, would tx amusing. Altogether he was ready with the leisure and joy of youth, ti await developments and to enjoy th< comedy from a point of view whid she could not at once suspect His subtle effort to draw Haddar into a discussion of the princess anc her household resulted unsatisfactorily The young guard was annoyingly un responsive. He had his secret instruc tions and could not be inveigled inte betraying himself. Baldos went tc sleep that night with his mind con fused by doubts. His talk with Ha-! dan had left him quite undecided u? to the value of old Franz's warning Either Franz was mistaken or Haddau was a most skillful dissembler. Ii struck him as utterly beyond the pals ? ??f reason that the entire castle guard j Fhould have been enlisted in the scheme ! tc deceive him. When sleep came be j was contenting himself with the ! thought that morning doubtless wo-/. ! j give him clearer insight to the sit : tlon. Both he and Beverly Calhoun were j ignorant of the true conditions that 11 inched themselves to the new reci ? Baron Dangloss alone knew that I : dan*was a trusted agent of the se . service, with instructions to sha< . ? the newcomer day and night. 'J there was :t mystery surrounding character of Baldos, the goat hnr i Dangloss did not question for au : . stint, and in spite of the instruct received at the outset he was u ih - all his skill to unravel it. Baldos was not summoned to the tie till ooo'. His serene ?nd?fferenc - the outcome of the visit was calculat? ed t ? ?I; r?ive the fri. but ware'-"-* Hac'dai Dressed carefully in close fitting uniform of the royal guard, taller than most of his fellows, hand? somer by far than any," he was the most noticeable figure in and about the barracks. Haddan coached him in the way he was to approach the princess, Baldos listening with exaggerated in? tentness and with deep regard for d<> talL Beverly was in the small audience room off the main reception hall when he was ushered into her presence. The servants and ladies In waiting disap? peared at a signal from her. She arose to greet him, and he knelt to kiss her hand. For a moment her tongue was bound. The 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 the most interesting in the little comedy was proved by the fact that two eager young women were hidden behind a heavy curtain in a corner of the room. The Princess Yetive and the Countess Dagmar were there to en? joy Beverly's first hour of authority, and she was aware of their presence. "Have they told you that you are to act as 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. "?o, your highness," he said easily. "I have come for instructions. It pleases me to know that I am to have a place of honor- and trust such as this.'' "General Marlanx has told me that a 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 th?t can come only from your highness?" "Certainly," she replied. His man? ner was more deferential than she had ever known it to be, but he threw a I bomb bato her fine composure with his | next remark. He addressed her in the j Graustark 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 English," unwittingly giving answer to his ques? tion. "I shall insist upon that Your English is too good to be spoiled." ; Then he made a ?ro?d *est his first ? having failed. He spoke oflce more ia ; i the native tongue, this -_.*,.: s softly and j ! eareestiy. "As you wish, your highness, but I \ think it is a most ridiculous practice.*' he said, and his heart lost none of its j courage. Beverly looked at him almost I pathetically. She knew 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, taking 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 lips, and his eyes were twmlding as he bent his head quickly. Franz was right; she did not know a word of the Graustark language. "I have entered the service for six months, your highness," he said in Eng? lish. -"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 bf 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 uniform is vastly becoming," she went on, realizing helplessly that she was providing intense amusement for the unseen auditors. "It shames the rags in which you found me." "I shall never forget them, Baldes," she said, with a strange earnestness in her voice. "May I presume to Inquire after tbf health of your good Aunt Fanny ard, although I did not see him. your Dacie Sam?" be asked, with a face as straight and sincere as that of a judge, bev? erly swallowed suddenly RU-- - ~ -3 a laug': wifib some ??i'^.-ul?r*. "Your highness, I fear we have spies j andi eavesdroppers here." eyes "wide with dismay, her lips parted, but his hand was airead ; clutching the curtain. He drew it aside relentlessly. Two startled women stood exposed to view, smiles dying on their amazed faces. Their backs were against the closed door, and two hands clucching handkerchiefs dropped from a most significant altitude. One of them flash? ed an imperious glance at the bold dis? coverer, and he knew he was looking upon the real princess of Grau stark. He did not lose his composure. With? out a tremor he turned to the American girl. "Your highness," he said clearly, cool? ly, "I fear we have spies and eaves? droppers here. Is your court made up of-I should say, they are doubtless a pair of curious ladies in waiting. Shall I begin my service, your highness, by escorting them to yonder door?"1 THE ODnGRATTOX DECISION. Review of the South Carolina "Wit tckind Case." Washington, Dec. 25.-A memoran? dum of the South Carolina immigrant cases, growing out of the first trip of the Nor:h German Lloyd steamer Wit? tekind to Charleston, has been pre pared by the solicitor of the depart? ment of commerce and labor. In the course of a careful review of the subject this opinion says: . It appears from the record in this case that for some time past the ag? ricultural and manufacturing indus i tri?s of South Carolina have been re? tarded -T. i were in danger of material [? injury ">n account of the hick of la- j j born and the South Carolina mills j haye tried, lp the State itself: hi ??- j joining States and in various parts of the United States, to secure the necessary labor, but without success. In order to relieve this unsatisfactory condition of affairs the legislature of South Carolina, on November 23, 1904, pa.ssed an act creating a State department of agriculture, commerce, and immigration, and appointing a commissioner thereof, who was charg? ed generally with the duty of promot? ing the industrial development of the same by the publication of informa? tion addressed to those seeking homes and investments. Among other things the act empowered the commissioner to -mak?: such arrangements with steamship companies and immigration agencies in this country and abroad as would best serve the interests of successful immigration, the necessary expenditure being made . within an appropriation made for that purpose. The act further authorized the com? missioner to receive contributions from such citizens of the -State who, through the South Carolina Immigra? tion Association and the department, might wish to meet the excess ex? pense of bringing desirable immi? gra*'' . to the State. j Jin Hardin shot and killed Lovick H< iib in '-ancaster on Christmas day. h re colored men. Jar Kimbrough and John Cun ninsrham, white men of "Lancaster, he ? ame involved in a difficulty on hristmas day, resulting in Cunning nam being probably fatally wound? ed. s rd ? night Dock Rogers, a ^an who lives near Ai . : robably wounded a . . Charlie Webb. Liquor ci the trouble. ' " r .yiVTfNtfV*- ? ^^^^^^ rv well-to-do SOUTHERN TRAIN WRECKED. Fireman Killed and Three of the Train Crew Injured. Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 26.-South? ern Railway passenger train, No. 35, from Washington, was wrecked at Moncrief, five miles from Jackson? ville, at 5 o'clock yesterday morning. Dead: Jofcn Holmes, colored fire? man. Seriously injured: Enginee: Ure/u-. hart, of Savannah; scalded by escap? ing steam. Slightly injured: J. A. Kramer, white, express messenger; J. E. Ru? ben, colored, express helper. None of the passengers were injur? ed. * a Physicians were sent out and the injured were brought here for treatment. Through some unexplained error, the switchman in the tower turned on the derailing switch in front of the~ fast-moving train, which caused the engine to turtle and throw the express car from the track. The State of Minnesota Brings Action Against the Great. Northern. St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 26.-Attorney General Young and R.. A. Stone, as? sistant attorney general, this after? noon began an action- in the Ramsey county district court on behalf of the State of Minnesota against^ the Great Northern Railway company, asking for a permanent injunction against the company, its ofneers, agents and servants, from proceeding in any manner with the prone ?. .J issue of capital stock recently z tthorfzed by the board of directors h New York. The attorney general aiso asks that the court restrain the defendants from receiving or collecting the amounts due on any subscriptions which may have been or which will hereafter be made, or from taking any action to carry out these plans until the Great Northern company shall first have made application in writing to the railroad and warehouse commission of the State of Minnesota and procured the commission's co2 sent to the issue of the stock. . A tem? porary injunction, pendente lite, is also asked for. PERSONAL AND GE^TRAL. According to 1905 figures, the total number of industrial workers in Bei? gh;:., was 1,26r.,00O, of which 2i-Zt 000 core women. rdiha? Gibbons may have been 've'd by false reports. A: any. rate, the French minister of public instruc? tion. Mr. Brian, denies that he ever said: "Jesus Christ has been hunted out of the army, the navy and the schools, and now we must hunt him out of the State." Sweet potatoes are pricipaily tsed in the Azores to make alcohol, the yield being 10 to ll per cent The present price is about 13 "cents (Uni? ted States currency) per liter (i. 0567 quarts). Germany leads the world in the production of chemicals. The total output for the year amounts to $257, 000,000. This includes a million tons of sulphuric acid and half a million tons of soda. According to an official investiga? tion, embracing the decade of 1SS2 '91, the average annual wages for a male agricultural worker in Russia was less than $32, and for a female worker less than $1$. Emperor William has startled Ger? many by appointing Herr Pruno Paul, the caricaturist of "Simpiie'ssimus," to be director of the Berlin Industrial Art School. Herr Paul's appointment is a triumph for secessionist art and p..ay signify the death blow to many old-fashioned ideas. Captain A. W. V. Trant, of the Transatlantic liner Devonian, handles his ship in first class style, and an ad? dition finds time in the spare moments of his voyages to paint pictures in oil. write the words for music and compose verses that are of more than ordinary merit. A. C. Fox-Davis, a London law? yer, who has written 54 volumes, mainly on the peerage and law, has broken into the fieid of fiction with a detective story, in which he warrants thai the law is all right. He virote the book just because he found the law . ' wrong in one of the best of the - . ?ck Holmes stories.