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liS Beverly Graustark A"f ? 6E0R6E BARR UB g M'CUTCHEON, ^ CH?PTEB XIV. C^SR?T Bame afternoon I III blissfully ignorant of tb I be had created in certa! " i ' des, rode ont for the firs 2* a member of the castle guare and Haddon were detailed by C Quiunox to act as private esci Miss Calhoun until otherwise on If **** ** T? thought himself wisei Baldos in knowing that their c was not the princess he was very mistaken. If he enjoyed the tricl Ife was being played on his fellow gt ftvrn his enjoyment was as nc -when compared to the pleasure B jg! was deriving from the situation. The royal victoria was driven t fortress, conveying the supposed cess and the Countess Dagmar t< . borne of Count Marian*. The guards rode bravely behind the page, resplendent in brilliant new forms. Baldos was mildly snip and puzzled by the homage paid young American girl. It struck hi preposterous that the entire popuh of Edelweiss could be in the gan: jSfc deceive him. "Who is the princess* compani he mquired of Haddan as they lefl hastie grounds. "The Countess Dagmar, cousin tc filghmsss. She ls the wife of Mr. *T have seen her before," said Bal a strange smile on his face. The Countess Dagmar found it < cult at first to meet the eye of the : guard, but, he was so punctilio Iff oblivious that her courage was resto She even went so far as to whispe Beverly's ear that he did not remen III tier face and probably would not ?gnize Yeti ve as one of the eavesd pers. The princess had flatly refs to accompany them on the visit to fortress because of Baldos. Struck ;\ a sudden Impulse, Beverly called 1 ? dos to the side of the vehicle. "Baldos, you behaved very nicely 3 terday ia exposing the duplicity those young women," she said. T am happy to have pleased y< jhighness," he said steadily. ;><2t niiiy interest you to know ti #hey ceased to be ladies in waiting a *er Hist exposure." .<4Xes, your highness, it certainly is -terestmg," he said as he fell back lr position beside Haddan. During t remainder ot the ride he caught hh self time after time gazing reflective at the back of her proud little bea possessed of an almost uncontrollab .desire to touch the soft brown hair, ^"?ou can't fool that excellent your, man much longer, my dear," said tl countess, recalling the look In his dai ?yes. The same thought had been a fliciing Beverly with its probabffltie for twenty-four hours and more. Ccnnt Marlanx welcomed his visitoz with a graciousness that awoke woi der in the minds of his staff. Hi marked preference for the .America ?g&3 did not escape attention. Some 0 -the bolder young officers indulged i: surreptitious grimaces, and all looke with more or less compassion upon th nappy faced beauty from over the sea Marlanx surveyed Baldos steadily an< coldly, deep disapproval in his siniste .eyes. He bad not forgotten the en counter of the day before. JK^I see the favorite is on guard," h( l saicT blandly. "Has he told you of th< lesson in manners he enjoyed las night?" He was leading his guests to ward the quarters, Baldos and Haddai following. The new guard could no belp hearing the sarcastic remark. *Tou didn't have him beaten?" crie< Beverly, stopping short "No. but ? imagine it would hav< been preferable. I fcalked with him foi half an hour," said the general laugh lng significantly. When the party stopped at the drink lng fountain in the center of the for Baldos baited near by. His face w?s as Impassive as marble, his eyes se' straight before him, his figure erec and soldierly. An occas., nal sa reas tic remark by the Iron Count mean: for his ears, made no impression upor the deadly composure of the new guare who -had had bis lesson. Miss Cal noun was conscious of a vague feeling that she bad served Baldos an ill tun when she put him into this position. The count provided a light luncheoi in his quarters after the ladies bac gone over the fortress. Beverly Cal bonn, with all of a woman's indiffer ence to things material, could not bul see how poorly equipped the fort was as compared to the ones she had seer in the United States. She and the countess visited the armory, the ar? senal and the repair shops before luncheon, reserving the pleasures ol the clubhouse, the officers' quarters and the parade ground until afterward, Count Marlanx's home was in the southeast corner of the inclosure, near the gates. Several of the officers lunch? ed with him and the young ladies. Marians was assiduous in bis atten? tion to Beverly Calhoun, so much so, in fact that the countess teased her afterward about her conquest of the ?ld and well worn heart Beverly thought him extremely silly and senti? mental, much preferring him in the character of the harsh. Implacable mar? tinet At regular intervals she saw the straight, martial form of Baldos pass the window near which she sat He was patrolling the narrow piazza which fronted jthe house. Toward the dose of the tether trying lunched* was almost unable to control tb? pulse to rush out and compel hi relax that imposing, machine stride. She hungered for a few j utes of the old time freedom with I The Iron Count was showing some rare antique bronzes, he had lected in the south. The luncheon over, and the countess had stroll? toward the bastions with the y< officers, leaving Beverly alone wit! host Servants came in to clear tables, but the. count harshly ord them to wait until the gv.ests hac parted. "It is the dearest thing I have sc said Beverly, holding a rare old cai stick at arm's length and looking ; in as many ways 'as the wrist c ! turn.' Her loose sleeves ended just low the elbows. The count's eyes j lowed the graceful curves of her w j forearm with an eagerness that annoying. "I prize it more dearly than other piece in. my collection," he s "It came from Borne. It has a his which I shall try to tell you some and which makes it almost invalua A German nobleman offered m< small fortune ?f I would part with "And you wouldn't sell it?' ? "I was saving ii for an occas your highness," he said, his steely ? glittering. "The glad hour has c< vhen I can part with it for a rec pense far greater than the bar* gold." "Oh, isn't it lucky you kept it?" cried. Then she turned her eyes av quickly, fpr his gaze seemed gree< endeavoring to pierce through the I insertion covering her neck and sh< ders. Outside the window the stei tramp of the tall guard went on i notonously. 'The recompense of a sweet smile tender blush and the unguarc thanks of a pretty woman. The c; dlestick is yours, Miss Calhoun--if j will repay me for my sacrifice by ; cepting it without reservation." Slowly Beverly Calhoun set the ct dlestick down upon the table, her ey meeting his with steady, disdain. **What a rare old jester you a Count Marians," she said without simile. "If I thought you were in e* nest I should scream with laught' May I suggest that we join the com ess? We must hurry along, you kno She and I have promised to play teni with the princess at 3 o'clock." Tl count's glare of disappointment last? but a moment The. diplomacy of eg tism came to his relief, and he be back the gift for another day, but n< for another woman. "It grieves me to* have you burr away. My afternoon is to be a du one. unless you permit me to watch th tennis game." he said; *'T thought you were interested onl; in the game of war," she said point edly. "I stand in greater awe of a tenni ball than I do of a cannon ball, if it i sent by such an arm as yours/' an< he not only laid his eyes, but his hand upon her bare arm. She started as i something had stung her, and a cole stiver raced over her warm flesh. Hii eyes for the moment held her spell bound. He was drawing the hand tc his lips when a shadow darkened th? French window, and a saber rattled warningly. Count Marians looked up instantly a scowl on his face. Baldos stood ai the window in an attitude of alert at? tention. Beverly drew her arm away spasmodically and took a step toward the window. The guard saw by hex eyes that she was frightened; but, ii his heart beat violently, his face was the picture of military stoniness. "What are you doing there?' snarled the count "Did your highness call?" asked Bal? dos coolly. "She did not call, fellow!" said the count, with deadly menace in his voice. "Report to me in half an hour. You still have something to leam, I see." Beverly was alarmed by the threat in hi3 tones. She saw what was in store j for Baldos, for she knew quite as well I as Marlanx that the guard had delib 1 erately intervened in her behalf. I "He cannot come in half an hour!" ! she cried quickly. "I have something I for him to do. Count Marlanx. Besides, I I think I did call." Both men stared j at her. j "My ears are excellent" said Mar j lanx stiffly. "I fancy Baldos' must be even better, . for he heard me," said Beverly, herself . once more. The shadow of a smile j crossed ti:e face of the guard. ' "He is inpertinent, insolent your highness. You will report to me tomor : row, sir, at 0 o'clock in Colonel Quin I nox's quarters. Now, go!" commanded the count. "Wait a minute, Baldos. We are go? ing out too. Will you open that win? dow for me?" Baldos gladly took it as a command and threw open the long French window. She gave him a grate ful glance as she stepped through, and j he could scarcely conceal the gleam of ! joy that shot into his own eyes. The dark scowl on the count's face made absolutely no impression upon him He closed the window and followed ten paces behind the couple. "Your guard is a priceless treasure," said the count grimly, i ."That's what you said about the can dlestick," said she sweetly. She was disturbed by his threat to reprimand Baldos. For some time her mind had been struggling with what the count had said about "the lesson." It grew upon her that her friend had been bullied and humiliated, perhaps in the presence of spectators. Resent? ment fired her curiosity into action. While the general was explaining one of the new gun carriages to the count? ess Beverly walked deliberately over to where Baldos was standing. Haddan's knowledge of English was exceedingly limited, and he could understand but little of the rapid conversation. Stand? ing squarely in front of Baldos, she questioned him in low tones. "What did he mean when he said he had given you a lesson?" she demand? ed. His eyes gleamed merrily. "He meant to alarm your highness." "Didn't he give you a talking to?" "He coached me in ethics." "You are evading the question, sir. Was he mean and nasty to you? Tell me; I want to know." j "Well, he said things that a soldier must endure. A civilian or an equal might have run him through for it, your highness." A flush rose to his cheeks, and his lips quivered ever so slightly. But Beverly saw and understood. Her heart was in her eyes. "That settles it," she said rigidly. "You are not to report to him at 9 tomorrow." "But he will have me shot, your highness," said he gladly. "He will do nothing of the kind. You 8xTe my guard." And her eyes were gleaming dangerously. Then she re? joined the group, the members of which had been watdiing her curious? ly. "Count Marlanx," she said, with entrancing dimples, "will you report ! to me at 9 tomorrow morning?" "I have an appointment," he said slowly, but with understanding. "But you will break it, I am sure," 6ke asserted confidently. "I want to give you a lesson in-in lawn tennis." Later on, when the victoria was well away from the fort^ Dagmar took her companion to task for holding In pub? lic friendly discourse with a member ?f the guard, whoever he might be. I "It is altogether contrary to custom a!*d"- But Beverly put her hand over the critical lips and smiled like a gailty child. "Kow, dont scold," she pleaded, and the countess could go no further. The following morning Count Mar? lanx reported.at 9 o'clock with much better grace than he had suspected himself capable of exercising. What she taught him of tennis on the royal' courts in the presence of an amused awiience was as nothing to what he learned of strategy as it can be prac? ticed by a whimsical girl. Almost be? fore he knew it she had won exemp? tion for Baldos, that being the stake for the first set of singles. To his j credit, the count was game. Hp took j the wager, knowing that he in his j Ignorance could not %vin from me blithe young expert in petticoats. Then b? offered to wager the brass candle? stick against her bracelet She consid? ered for a moment and then in a spirit of enthusiasm accepted the proposition. After all, she coveted the candlestick. Half an hour later an orderly was rid? ing to the fort with instructions to re? turn at once with Miss Calhoun's can? dlestick. It is on record that they were "love" sets, which goes to prove that Beverly took no chances. Count Marlanx, puffing and perspir? ing, his joints dismayed and his brain confused, rode away at noon with Baron Dangloss. Beverly, quite happy in her complete victory, enjoyed a nap of profound sweetness and then was ready for her walk with the princess. They were strolling leisurely about the beautiful grounds, safe in the shade of the trees from the heat of the* July sun, when Baron Dangloss approached. "Your royal highness," he began, with his fierce smile, "may I beg a mo? ment's audience?*' "It has to do with Baldos, ill take oath," said Beverly with conviction. "Yes, with your guard. Yesterday be visited the fortress. He went in an offi? cial capacity, ft is true, but he was privileged to study the secrets- of our defense with alarming freedom. It Baldos stood at the window. would not surprise me tb find that this stranger has learned everything there is to know about the fort" His listen? ers were silent The smiles left their faces. "I am not saying that he would betray us" "No, no!" protested Beverly. -"but he is in a position to give the most valuable information to an ene my. An officer has just informed me that Baldos missed not a detail in re? gard to the armament or the location of vital spots in the construction of the fortress." "But he wouldn't be so base as to use his knowledge to our undoing!" cried Yetlve seriously. "We only know that he is Dot one us. It is not beyond reason that his al legiance is tb another power-Daws bergen, fer instance. Count Marlanx is not at all in sympathy with him, you are aware. He is convinced that Bal? dos is a man of consequence, possibly one of our bitterest enemies, and he hates him. For my own part, I may say that I like the man. I believe he is to be trusted, but if he be an agent of Volga or Gabriel, his opportunity has come. He is in a position to make ac? curate maps of the fort and of all our masked fortifications along the city walls." Beyond a doubt the baron was I worried. "Neither am I one of you," said Bev I erly stoutly. "Why shouldn't I prove to be a traitress?" "You have no quarrel with us, Miss Calhoun," said Dangloss. "If anything happens, then, I am to be blamed for it!" she cried in deep distress. "I brought him to Edelweiss, and I believe in him." "For his own sake, your highness, and, Miss Calhoun, I suggest that no opportunity should be given him to communicate with the outside world. We cannot accuse him, of course, but we can protect him. I come to ask your permission to have him detailed for duty only in places where no sus? picion can attach to any of his ac? tions." "You mean inside the city walls?" asked Yetive. "Yes. your highness, and as far as possible from the fortress." "I think it is a wise precaution. Don'r IM; angry. Beverly," the princess said gently. "It is for his own sake, you see. 1 am acting on the pr?somp? tion that he is wholly innocent of any desire to betray us." "It would be easy for some one high in position to accuse and convict him," said Dangloss meaningly. "And it would be just like some one, too," agreed Beverly, her thoughts, with the others', going toward none but one man "high in power." Later in the day she calied Baldos to her side as they were riding in the castle avenue. She was determined to try a little experiment of her own. "Baldos, what do you think of the fortress?" she asked. "I could overthrow it after half an hour's bombardment, your highness," he answered without thinking. She started violently. "Is it possible? Are there so many weak points?" she went on, catching her breath. "There are three vital points of weak? ness, your highness. The magazine can be reached from the outside if one knows the lay of the land, the parade ground exposes the ammunition build? ing to certain disadvantages and the big guns could be silenced in an hour if an enemy had the sense first to bom? bard from the elevation northeast of the city." "Good heavens!" gasped poor Bever? ly. "Have you studied all this out?" "? was once a real seedier, your high? ness," he said simply, "It was impos >?j:L' for ase rr of fo see the aefecta in your fort." "You-you haven't told any one ot . this, have you?" she cried, white faced and anxious. "No one but j our highness. You do not employ me as a talebearer. I trust"' "I did not mean to question your honor," she said. "Would you mind going before the heads of the war de? partment and telling them just what you have told me? I mean about the weak spots." "If It is your eommand, your high? ness," he said quietly, but he was sur? prised. "You may expect to be summoned, then, so hold yourself in readiness. And Baldos" "Yes, your highness?" "You need say nothing to them of our having talked the matter over be? forehand-unless they pin you down to it, you know." [TO BX COSTEfUED.] TERRIFIC EXPLOSION AT A HIGH EXPLOSIVE FACTORY Plant and Buildings of Standard Powder Mill Destroyed and Seven Men Killed-Fire StllT Burning and Warehouse Filled Wit?t Powder and Dynamite m Danger. Holidaysburg, Perm., Jan. IO.-The plant and buildings of the Standard Powder Company of Pittsburg, lo? cated at Horrel Station, four miles away, were destroyed by' an explo? sion early today. The explosionw as caused by fire. The damage exceeded $I&0-,000. The fire is now in progress, and the flames are eating their way to the storehouse where 5,000 kegs of powder and two carloads of dynamite are stored. Traffic has been suspended on the Williamsburg branch of the Pennsyl? vania Railway ard the inhabitants of the vicinity are fleeing from the an? ticipated explosion. Machine Republicans Control Legis? lature and Block Reforms. Albany, N. Y., Jan. 10.-With ma? chine Republicans in control of all the legislative committees Governor Hughes is fighting single handed for the reforms he believes will bring re? lief from corporation rule. Senators who are regarded as Hughes men have received insignifi? cant assignments and there seems but little chance for reform legislation that Senator Raines, the Republican leader, does not approve. Governor Hughes declared today that if he got In difficulty in the course of his administration he would appeal to the people of the State. This means he will follow Governor rolk's example in Missouri. The Free Alcohol Law. Cheap and good alcohol for chaf? ing dishes, automobiles, and for gen? eral provision of light, heat and pow? er in manufactures, arts, and domes tic economy has been freely prophe? sied as a result of the withdrawal from bond on the 1st of January, tax fre?, of alcohol that shall be rendered ! unfit for beverage or liquid medicinal ! uses by mixture with suitable denatu ? ring materials. After its passage, j however, a clause was found in the j act apparently prohibiting the general j distillation of alcohol by the farmers, j in whose interest primarily the bill was passed, which reads as follows: * * * such denaturing to be be done -upon the application of any registered distillery in denaturing bonded warehouses specially desig? nated or set apart for denaturing purposes only, and under conditions prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue with the appioval of the Secretary of the Treasury. The double expense of a distillery warehouse ' and a bonded warehouse certainly would not allow the small producer to manufacture alcohol for his own use from the waste products of his farm, ?s is possible in Germany j today. But since the introduction last week of Senator Hansborough^ amendment to the free alcohol stat? ute, providing that farmers might op? erate small stills to which shall be at? tached suitable alcohol tanks, these to be supervised under lock and seal by visiting Government officials, Inter? nal Revenue Commissioner Yerkes has made to the Washington corres? pondent of The Tribune the following authoritative statement: The Government pays the salary of the Inspector, and the farmer is not charged a cent. That's what this Government offers to do, and it does not make one bit of difference whether he makes five gallons, 500 gallons, or 5,000,000 gallons a day. The Government will pay the cost of inspection, and not a cent will be de? ducted from the profits of the distil? ler for that purpose. There is noth? ing on earth to prevent any farmer in ! the country from going into the manufacture of denatured alcohol to? morrow if he wants to, and he cam do it on a capital of $400, $4,000, or al? most any amount he pleases, j Commissioner Yerkes has sent out letters to all the commissioners of in? ternal revenue in the country in? structing them to furnish him with Information about the manufacture of denatured alcohol as soon as it starts in their districts, and he has prepared to supply them with ail the additional help needed properly to supervise the industry. There is. of course, nothing to hinder farmers fi om clubbing together to build dis? tilleries and warehouses, as they haye in past years built creameries and cheese factories. The question is whether the business will be profit? able in all localities. The house com? mittee of ways and means obtained last year from the books of a large, distillery m Peoria, 111., its record' showing an average cost of 42.36 cents a bushel for the corn used, and an additional cost for making 90 per cent, alcohol of 3.4 cents a wine gal? lon, or 19.4 cents in all. But this was on an average of 4.76 proof gal? lons yielded per bushel of corn. Im? provements in distilling have increas? ed the yield to five gallons of proof alcohol to a bushel, which would re? duce the cost to 18.4 cents per wine gallon. The denaturing process would raise~ the whole cost to 20.5 cents a* gallon. In the Dakotas and al; other western points, where corn is often 1* and 15 cents les? a bushel, the cost may be greatly reduced. A gallon of alcohol produces 10 per cent, more power than a gallon of gasoline. The forthcoming report of Prof. C. E. Lucke of Columbia, who has completed for the government the first of a series of experiments on th? availability of alcohol for differ? ent types of engine, will show to what extent alcohol may now be used as a fuel.-New York Times. SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS. Convicted on the Charge of Breaking the Sabbath-A Test Case. Spartanburg, Jan. 10.-Revs. R. T. Nash, J. J. Roper and Allie Johnson, Seventh Day Adventist ministers, were tried today in the general ses? sions court upon a charge of working on Sunday. A test case was made in the instance of Mr. Nash and upon his being convicted, the other men pleaded guilty to the indictment. All of the men were fined $1, which they paid, although there is a probability of aa appeal. The indictments grew out of a pre? sentment made by the grand jury at thc last term of court, when they re? quested the solicitor to prosecute the men. The preachers live in the upper part of the county and have been making a habit of attending to their worldly affairs on Sunday, observing Saturday as their Sabbath. The neigh? bors objected and hence the indict? ments. The Adventists' have no law? yers, Preacher Nash conducting his own case. His argument to the jury was very much in the nature of a ser? mon and there were frequent inter? ruptions by the court. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS NOTES, [tenis of Interest Condensed and Par? agrapned for Quick Reading. D. P. McLaurin has been appoint? ed postmaster at Clio, S. C. Omar Temple, Mystic Shriners, was organized in Charleston Friday night. The State Bankers' association will meet at the Isle of Palms on June 18th. Mr. G. W. Tiedeman, a native of Charleston, was elected mayor of Sa? vannah on Tuesday. John Barron was shot to death by Zeke Ragsdale in York county last Saturday night. It is one thing to appreciate a compliment and another thing to swallow it. Maj. Micah Jenkins has been re? appointed collector of internal reve? nue for South Carolina. Mail Carrier J. W. Boulware, of Fairfield county, was arrested on last Wednesday for rifling the mail bags. Mr. Sam P. Reese, of Asheville, fell beneath the wheels of a passenger train at Greenville Thursday and had one leg crushed. : SR Andrew Carnegie has given j|4,000 more to complete the library for Fur man university. It will cost ?23,000, and will be completed in May. Bishop W. W. Duncan, who has been very ill at his home in Spartan burg for several weeks, is improving and it is now hoped he will recover. Col. J. H. Wharton, late of the railroad commission, is said to be a canlidate for superintendent of the penitentiary. He says he is consider? ing the matter. P. J. Doyle, a prominent business man of Georgetown, S. C., died in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Monday. Grandeson Gaines, colored, of Barnwell county, beat his 15-year-old son almost to death Saturday night. He tied the boy and beat him with a fence rail. Henry W. G. Kennedy, a railway mail clerk, was convicted of robbing the mails and sentenced to two years imprisonment by the federal court in Charleston Tuesday. Hugh McRea & Company, bankers, of Wilmington, N. C., have purchased the Hatton Shoals water power in Anderson county for $100,000, and will immediately proceed to develop th? power. The livery stables of McLaurin Bros., at Clio, were burned Wednes i day night. Eight horses were burned, together with many vehicles. The hardware store of G. P. McCall was burned and several adjac?nt build? ings. Total loss $1S,000. MAKE FORESTRY STATE ISSUE. Suggestion of Secretary Wilson in View of Hopelessness ? of Federal ? Aid. Washington, Jan. 9.-Forestry, its purposes, its methods and its accom? plishments, was considered at the .an? nual- meeting of the American For? estry association held at the New Wil? lard hotel. After a meeting of the board of directors at the agricultural department the session of the * as? sociation was called to order. Secretary Wilson, who presided, laid great stress , in his opening ad? dress, upon the importance of pre? serving the forests of the country. He explained that th^re '. Ill be lit? tle likelihood of getting an appropria? tion through this or any other con? gress apropos of the proposed re? serves in Southern Appalachian 'ranges and in the White mountains. He stated that the efforts of the de apartment and others for several years past have been unavailing and that 'in consequence it would be better for the States to make forestry a State issue, inasmuch as *t would redound [to their own respective interests in ^the future Alfred Gaskill spoke on the neces? sity of securing a more vigorous ex? pression from the people of New England and the Southern Appalach? ian States that the reserves are want :ed. Upon motion the board of di rectors was asked to call a conven? tion of the governors of all the States interested directly in the Southern Appalachian and White mountain forest reserve bill for January. IS, in Washington, to consider further the passage of the bill. RAILROAD CROOKS SCORED. Chicago, Jan. 10.-Before the re? sumption of the hearing by the inter? state commerce commission today it was stated officialy that another hear? ing will be held in New York by the commissioners as soon as expedient Steps will be taken in the meantime to keep William Rockefeller, James Stillman, H. H. Rogers, H. C. Frick, J. J. Hill, E. H. Harriman, Jacob Schiff and others concerned in this country as witnesses. The probable method to be used will be a writ of no-exeat. Because of the threatened hejira of some of these gentlemen it may be found necessary to adopt some measure, as suggested, to se? cure the presence when wanted to testify.