1 ? J? Beverly c f| Graustar ; **!>::5:: ^^ * > ^.v? = ;S 0 -.* ? i; V:; /; ;t:*^? CHAPTER III. I A i PONDEROUS coach lumbered I A I slowly, almost painfully, along I I the narrow ronil that skirted : ' ' the base of a mountain. It was [ drawn by four horses, and upon the , seat sat two rough, unkempt Russians, ouo holding the reins, the other lying back !u a lazy doze. The month was ml June, and all the world seemed soft and sweet and Joyous. To tlu< righi flowed u turbulent mountain stream, bailing savagely with the alien waters of the .flood senson. Ahead of the creaking 1-oaeli rode four horsemen, all heavily aruied; another quartette followed some distance in the rear. At the side of the coach an officer of the Russian mounted police was riding easily, jangling his accouterments with a vigor that disheartened at least one wocupaut of the vehicle. The windows of the coach doors were lowered, permitting the fresh mountain air to caress fondly the face of the young woman who tried to find comfort in one of the broad seats. Since early morn she had struggled with the hardships of that seat, mid the late after. noon found her very much out of pavj ticnee. The opposite seat was the rest-^ Ing place of a substantial eolored woman and a stupendous pile oP bags and boxes. The boxes were continually .toppling over, and the bags were for ever getting under the feet of the once placid servant, whose face, quite luckily. was much too Mack to reflect the anger she was able otherwise, through years of practice, to conceal. "How much farther have we to go, ' ; lieutenant?" asked the girl on the rear j I scat piamtivciy. even numbly. The man was very deliberate with' his English. lie had been recommended to her as the best linguist in the serv4) ice at Kadoviteb, and lie liad a repu/ tation to sustain. "It another hour is but yet," he managed to inform her, with a eonfldent smile. "Oh, dear," she sighed, "a whole hour , of this!" 4*\VC ROOH ; yo* inak' up yo' inin' to res' easy-like, ! on* we"? Hut tlio faithful old colored 1 Woman's advice was lost In the wrath- . ful exclamation that accompanied nnother dlslodgmont of bags and boxes. The wheels of the coach had dropped suddenly Into a deep rut. Aunt Fanny's growls wore scarcely more potent ? than poor Miss Beverly's moans. "It la getting worse and worse," exclaimed Aunt Fanny's mistress petulantly. "I'm black and blue from bead to foot, aren't you. Aunt Fanny?" "Ah eain' say as to de blue. Miss Bev'ly. Hit's a 1110s' monstrous bad I road, sho 'nough. Stay up dar, will 1 yo'?" she concluded, jamming a bag | into an upper corner. 1 Miss Caliioun, tourist extraordinary [again consulted the linguist in the sa? Idle. She knew at the outset that th Wrest would he hopeless, but sl:e con! Ithlnk of 110 better way to pass the nex hioi:r than to extract a mito of inform:: kion from the ollicor. I "Vnw fur n ?mrvl oi l <'li:lt'" h1:i> Learning a smile upon the grizzled Kus klau. "I3 there a lUevnShotcl in tin X ^Willage?" she asked. Tlioy were on die e.lge of the village efore she succeeded in finding out nli Liat* she could, and it was not a great cal. either. She learned that the town tf Bnlak was in Axphaiu, scarcely n die from the Graustnrk line. There ias an cut lug and sleeping house on e main street, and the population of e place did not exceed 300. When Miss Beverly awoke the next orniug, sore and distressed, she look1 back upon the night with a horror at sleep had been kind enough to lurrupt only at Intervals. The wretched stelry lived long iu her secret cata;ue of terrors. Iler"bed was not a id; it was a torture. The robin, the ble, the? but it was all too odious for jscrlption. Fatigue was her only lend In that miserable hole* Aunt |nny had slept on the lloor near her [stress' cot, and It was the good old lorcil woman's grumbling that awoke jvcrly. The sun was climbing up the luntains in the east, and there was air of general activity about the ce. Beverly's watch told her that It 8 past 8 o'clock. Good gracious!" she exclaimed. *s nearly noon, Aunt Fanny. Hurry ? ng here and get me up. We'must t*,? *lila nliiimlmililn nl:ici> ill tell mill 3." She was up and raciug about itedly. f * [Jefo* brenkfas'?" demanded Aunt my weakly. Joodness. Aunt Fanny, is that all think about?" Vell? honey, yo'll be thinkin' ghjy serious 'bout break fas' 'long ids Me en o'clock. Dat ll'l turn* o' yourn'll be pow'ful mad 'cause lidu' ery well, Aunt Fanny, you can iJong and have the woman put up jakfast for us. and we'll eat it on o -oad. I positively refuse to cat ler niouthrul in that awful dining [ I'll be down in ten minutes." i was down in less. Sleep, no Vr how hard earned, had revived bit-its materially. She pronounced U ready for'any thing. Thero was ,; Vs >. *.. r ?&* By ?SM bf Sit GEORGE BARR H?f n ii M'GUTCilEON, M k*:V-'?i^V A??horof"Cr.u.Urk? v: to sr .v'v: ' r by Dodd. MwJ and Cordon* ;V>V- ?:: ^ a wholesome disdain lor Hit* rlpors of l!n? coniiup ride throu;;h the mountains ia (lie way she pave orders for the start. The Russian oflicer met her just outside the entrance to (lie Inn. lie was less Eaplish than ever, hut ho eventually pave her to understand that he had secured permission to escort her as far as Gunlook, a town in Graustark not more than fifteen miles from Edelweiss and at least two days from Balak. Two competent Axphniulan puldes had been retained, and the party was quite ready to start, lie. had been warned of the presence of Iv^ipaiuls In the wild mountainous passes north of Ganlook. The Russians could po no farther than Ganlook because of a royal edict from Edelweiss forblddinp the nearer approach of armed forces. At that town. however, he was sure she easily could obtain nil escort of Graustarkian soldiers. As the big coach crawled up the mountain road nud farther into the oppressive solitudes Beverly Calhoun drew from the ditQcult lieutenant considerable Information concerning the state of affairs In Graustnrk. She had been eagerly awaiting the time when ^something definite could be learned, before leaving St. Petersburg early in the week 6he was assured that a state of war did not exist. The Princess Yetive had been in Edelweiss for six weeks. A formal dcmaud was framed soon after her return from America requiring Pawsbergen to surrender the person of Prince Gabriel to the authorities of Graustnrk. To this demand there was no definite response, Dawsbcrgen Insolently requesting time in which to consider the proposition. Axphaln immediately sent an envoy to Edelweiss to say that all friendly relations between the two governments would cease unless Graustnrk took vigorous steps to recapture the royal assassin. On one side of the unhappy principality a strong, ovor bearing princess was egging Graustark on to fight, whllo on the other side an equally aggressive people defied Yetlve to come and take the fugitive If she could rw.. i>ituv??s Ivun uw tween two ugly alternatives, and a struggle seemed Inevitable. At Balak It was learned thnt Axphain had recently sent n final appeal to the government of Graustark, and It was uo secret that something like a threat at.coinpauled the message. Prince Gabriel was in complete coutrol at Serros and was disposed to laugh at the demands of his late captors. Ills half brother, the dethroned Prlnoo Dan tan. was still hiding in the fastnesses of the hills, protected by a small company of nobles, and there was no hope that he ever could regain bis crown. Gabriel's power over the army was supreme. The general public admired Dautan, but it was helpless In the face of circumstances. "But why should Axphain seek to linruss CJi-niist sirlc sir this llnin?" <1p mamlcd Beverly Calhoun In perplexity and wrath. "I should think the brutes would try to help her." "There Is an element of opposition to the course the -government is taking," the ofllcer informed her in his own way, "but U-Js greatly in the minority. The Ast*dalnians have hated Gruustark sineg the last isyar, and the princess despises tills American. It is nil open fact that the*T,)uke of Mizrox leads the opposition to I'rlncess Volga, and she is #ure to have hitu beheaded if the chance affords. He is friendly to ^.^uipst tlie policy of h^^-hKvss from the start." "I'd likotonugrhe Piike of Mizrox," cried Beverly warmly. The otlicer did not understand her, but Aunt Fanny was scandalized. "Good Lawd!" she muttered to the boxes and bags. As the coach rolled deeper and deep er into the rock shadowed wilderness Beverly Calhoun felt an undeniable sensutlon of awe creeping over her. The brave, impetuous girl had plunged gayly Into the project which now led her into the deadliest of uncertainties with but little thought of the consequences. The first stage of the journey by con eh had been good fun. They had passed along pleasant roads, through quaint villages and among interesting people, and progress had been rapid. The second stage had presented rather terrifying prospects, and the third day promised even greater vicissitudes. Looking from the coach windows out upon the quiet, desolate grandeur of her surroundings, poor Beverly began to appreciate how abjectly helpless end alone she was. Her companions were ugly, vicious looking men, any one of whom could inspire terror by a look. She had intrusted herself to the care of these strange creatures In the moment of inspired courage, and now she was constrained to regret her action. True, they had proved worthy protectors as far as they had gone, but the very possibilities that lay in their power were appalling, !> >-. that she hnd time to consider the situation. The oflleer in charge had been recommended as a trusted servant of the czar; an American consul had secured i the escort for her direct from the frontier patrol authorities.' Men "high* in | power had vouched for t])9 integrity' ???|Mfa??? or the detachment, but all this was forgotten in the mighty solitude of the iflountains. She was beginning to fear lier escort more thau she feared the brigands of the hills. Treachery seemed printed on their hacks as they rode ahead of her. The big otlicer was ever polite and alert, but she was ready to distrust hint on the slightest excuse. These men could not help knowiug that she was rich, and it was reasonable for them to suspect that she carried money and jewels with her. In her mind's eye she could picture those traitors rifling her bags and boxes in some dark pass, and then there were other horrors that almost petrified her when she allowed herself to think of them. Here and there the travelers passed by rude cots where dwelt woodmen nnd mountaineers, and at long intervals a solitary but picturesque horseman stood aside and gave them the road. Ap the coach penetrated deeper Into the gorge signs of human life nn?J nctvity became fewer. The sun could not send his light into this shadowy tomb of granite. The rattle of the wheels and the clatter of the horses' hoofs sounded like a constant crash of thunder in the ears of the tender traveler, a dainty inui.iL-i among nawKS and wolves. There was an unmistakable tremor in her voice when she at last found heart to ask the oilicer where they were to spend the night. It was far past noon, and Aunt Fanny had suggested opening the lunch baskets. One of the guidea was called back, the leader being as much in the dark as his charge. "There is no village within twenty miles." ho said, "and wo must sleep in the pass." Beverly's voice faltered. "Out here in all this awful"? Then she caught herself quickly. It came to her suddenly that she must not lot these men see that she was apprehensive. Her voice was a trifle shrill and her eyes glistened with a strange new light as she went on, changing her tack completely: "IIow romantic! I've often wanted to do something like this." The offlecr looked bewildered and said nothing. Aunt Fanny was speechless. Later on. when the lieutenant had gone ahead to confer with the guides about the suspicious actions of a small troop of horsemen they had seen, Beverly confided to the old negress that she was frightened almost out of her boots, hut that she'd (lie before the men should sec a sign of cowardice iu a Calhoun. Aunt Fanny was not so proud and imperious. It was Wua difficulty that her high strung young mistress suppressed the wails that had long been uuder restraint Iu Aunt Fanny's huge and turbulent bosom. "Hood Lawd, Miss Bev'ly. dev'll chop us.nil ' an money an cioes an ev yunng else we done Rot about us. Gooil Lawd, le's tu'n buck, Miss Bev'ly. We aln' pot no 10 y sliow out beali In dcse mountains dan a"? "Be still. Aunt Fanny!" commanded Beverly, witli a line sliow of courage. "You must lie brave. Don't you see wo can't turn hack? It's just as dangerous and a heap sight more so. If we let on we're not one bit afraid they'll respect us, don't you see, aud men never harm women whom they respect." "Uniph!" grunted Aunt Fanny, with exaggerated irony. "Well, they never do!" maintained Beverly, who was not at all sure about It. "And they look like real nice men - honest men, even though they have such awful whiskers." "Dey's do wust trash Ah eveli did see," exploded Aunt Fanny. "Sh! Don't let them hear you," whispered Beverly. In spite of her terror and perplexity she was compelled to smile. It was all so like the farce comedies one sees at the theater. As the olilecr rode up his face was pale in the shadowy light of the afternoon, and he was plainly very nervous. "What is the latest news from the i run it sue uquueu eueeriuiijr. "The men rel'uso to ride ou," he exclaimed, speaking rapidly, making it still harder for her to understand. "Our advance guard has met a party of hunters from Axphaln. They insist that you ?'tiie fine lady in the coach'?are the Princess Yetive, returning from n secret visit to St. Petersburg, where you went to plead for assistance from the czar." Beverly Calhoun gasped in astonishment. It was too incredible to believe. It was actually ludicrous. She laughed heartily, "llow perfectly absurd." "I am well aware that you are not the Princess Yetive," he coutinued emphatically, "but what can 1 do? The men won't believe me. Thby swear they have been tricked and are panic stricken over the situation. The hunters tell them that the Axphaln authorities, fully aware of the hurried Uight of the princess through these wilds, are preparing to intercept her. A large detachment of soldiers is nlready across the Graustnrk frontier. It is oidy a question of time before the 'red legs' will be upon them. I have assured them that their beautiful charge Is not the princess, but an American Kli1' nnd that there is no mystery about the coach end escort. All in vain. The Axphain guides already feel that their heads are on the block, while as for the Cossacks, not even my dire threats of the nwful anger of the white czar when ho finds they have disobeyed his commands will move them." "Speak to your men once more, sir, and promise them big purses of gold when we reach 05 an look. I have no money or valuables with mo, but there I can obtain plenty," said Beverly, shrewdly thinking it better that ihoy should believe her to he without funds. The cavalcade had halted during this eolloquy. All the men were ahead conversing sullenly and excitedly with UiucU sc#!iculaU?n, r | ill creatine, seemingly indltlerent to nil j tliat Was going on. aloue reinained at bis post. Tbe situation, apparently I dangerous, was certainly most unuoyi ing. lint if Beverly could have road : the mind of that silent figure on the j box she would Lave felt slightly re; 1 loved, for lie was Infinitely more aux- ] ions to proceed than cveu she. but from I far different reasons, lie was a Itussiau convict who bad escaped ou tbe way to Siberia. Disguised as a coachman. he was seeking life and safety In Gruustark or any out of the way place. ; It mattered little to him where the es- ; cort concluded to go. lie was going ahead, lie dared not go back; he must go 011. At the end of half an hour the officer returned. All hope bad gone from his face. "It is useless!" he cried out. "The guides refuse to proceed. See! They are going ofT with their countrymen! We are lost without them. I do not know what to do. We cannot get to 'Ganlook. 1 do uot know the way, and the danger is great. Ah, madam, here they come! The Cossacks ??r?* g->iug back." Asia? spoke the surly mutineers were riding slowly toward tbe coach. Every man had bis pistol 011 the high pom.acl of the saddle. Their faces wore an I \TT73Pn Ilia only tliowjlit xv(is to yet away. j ugly look. As they passed llie officer one of them, pointing ahead of him with his sword, shouted savagely, "BaUik!" It was conclusive and convincing. They were deserting her. "Oh, oh. oh! The cowards'." sobbed Beverly in rage and despair. "I must go on: is it possible lliut even such She was interrupted by the voice of the officer, who. raising his cap to her, commanded at the same time the driver to turn Ills horses and follow the escort to Baink. "What is that?" demanded Beverly in alarm. From far off came the sound of (irearms. A dozen shots were lircd ar.d reverberated down through the gloomy pass ahead of the coacli. j "They are lighting somewhere in the hills in front of us," answered the now frightened ollicer. Turning quickly, he saw the deserting horsemen halt, listen a minute and then spur their horses, lie cried out sharply to the driver: "Come, there! Turn round I We have no time to lose!" I With a savage grin, the hitherto motionless driver hurled some insult? iug remark at the ollicer, who was already following his men. now in full flight down lite road, and, settling himself (irmly on (he seat, taking a fresh grip of (he reins, he yelled to his < horses, at the same time lashing them furiously with his whip, and started | the coach ahead at a fearful pace. His < only Thought was to.get away as far I I as nossible from the Russian officer, i then deliberately desert the coach and i Its occupants and take to the hills. 1 CHAPTER IV. fflHOROUOHLY mystified by the action of the driver and at length terrified by the pace that carried them careening along the narrow road, Beverly cried out to him, her voice shrill with alarm. Aunt Fanny was crouching on the floor of the coach between the seats, groaning nnd praying. "Stop! Where are you going?" cried Beverly, putting her head recklessly through the window. If the man heard her he gave no evidence of the fact. Ills face was set forward, and lie was guiding the horses with a firm, uuqulvering hand. The coach rattled and bounded along the dangerous way hewn in the side of the mountain. A misstep or a false turn might easily start the clumsy vehicle rolling down the declivity on the right. The convict was taking desperate chances and, with a cool, calculating brain, prepared to leap td the ground in case of accident and save himself, without a thought for the viqfims Inside. "Stop! Turn around!" she cried in a ' frenzy. "We shall be killed. Are you i crazy?" _ - * I By this time they had struck a de' scent in the road and were rushing along at breakneck speed into oppressive shadows that bore the first imprints of night. Realizing at last that her cries were falling upon purposely deaf cars, Beverly Calhoun sank back | into the seat, weak and terror stricken. ' It was plain to her that the horses were uot running away, for the man had been lashing them furiously. There was but one conclusion?he was deliberately taking her farther into the mountain fastnesses, his purpose known only to himself. A hundred terrors presented themselves to her as she lay huddled against the side of the coach, her eyes closed tightly, her teniae, t$s?cd (pK&uslg abQUt. with 1 SEASON 1 EATAE Eg California Pink Be Sgg tively new dish on tl palatable and inexpens MS California Lima B< Beans, in cans, 15 cent: Red Kidney Beans, jj?j| 2 for 25 cents, jpjl Boston Baked Be cans, any size desired, Tomato Sauce. Pickled Pig Feet ii E less Pig Feet in cans. *3# Codfish in any shaj Smoked Herring. EPl Pickled Salmon. Mackerel, any size If you do not fin ^ looking for on this bill store a visit and we wi! fiSi it. #*?3 We carry in season ??5 son, all first class Noi g&J fornia Fruits, Canned 1 tables, and handle it Florida and Mountain jggj kind. If it something to < looking for, The Unio ggjj pany is the place you w I UNION 0R0( the sway of the vehicle. There was the i fundamental fear that she would be ! !. lashod to death down the side of the | neai mountain, but apart from this her ' slnu juick brain was evolving all sorts of "V possible endings?none short of aliso- you' lute disaster. own liven as she prayed that something cour might intervene to cheek the mad rush cons xnd to deliver her from the horrors of valo the moment the raucous voice of the lifte lriver was heard la King to his horses, they md the pace became slower. The aw- cow: ful rocking and the jolting grew less Th severe, the clatter resolved itself into a pod broken rumble, and then the coach Intel stopped with a mighty lurch. and Dragging herself from the corner, pear poor Beverly Calhoun, no longer a dis- than iainful heroine, gazed piteously out i not into the shadows, expecting the inur- | soss< ilerous blade of the driver to meet her 1 pare us she did so. Pauloff had swung from 1 "I' the box of the coach and was peering high first into the woodland below and then how upon the rocks to the left. lie wore tlio hi \ expression of a man trapped and seek- c'cn ing means of escape. Suddenly he dart- h*on od behind the coach, almost brushing a''k against Beverly's hat as he passed the l'ic window. She opened her lips to call hve liiiu, but even as she (lid so lie took kat to his heels and raced back over the ?ro' road they had traveled so precipitously. "1 Overcome by surprise and dismay, *? * she only could watch the flight In si- aut* ieiice. Less than a hundred feet from crle< where the coach was standing lie turned to the r?ght and was lost among the cco^ rocks. Aiiead, four horses, covered no with sweat, were panting and heaving *?rv as if in great distress after their mad *or'run. Aunt Fanny was still moaning toa:" and praying by turns in the bottom of ^eai the carriage. Darkness was settling *urc down upon the pass, and objects a bun- 1 dred yards away wore swallowed by the gloom. There was no sound save 1:11,1 the blowing of the tired animals and ,ca the moaning of the old negress. Lever- '11S ly realized with a sinking heart that cnu they were alone and helpless In the clu* mountains, with night upon them. She never knew where the strength anil courage came from, but she forced open the stubborn coach door and j, scrambled to the ground, looking fran- t.ou ticnlly in all directions for a single asj; sign of hope. In the most despairing , j,'rc terror she had ever experienced she J g(r( siarieu toward me lead Dorses, Doping vaj, against liope that nt least one of her |10 , men had remained faithful. n j A man stepped quietly from the Inner pj0( side of the road and advanced with the voj( uncertain tread of one who is overcome Gf j by amazement. lie was a stranger pVo and wore an odd, uncouth garb. The t." failing light told her that he was not 'pno one of her late protectors. She shrank |,an back with a faint cry of alarm, ready od to fly to the protecting arms of hopeless 0ne Aunt Fanny If her uncertain legs could ;?j: i carry her. At the same Instant another you ragged strauger, theu two, three, (our ^ 3 WIMMdU MMMH IABLE J iLES! I ans, a compara= Ss lis market, very jggj ive dish. j?| eans, Porto Rico Sg| s, 2 for 25 cents. |P?S in cans 15 cents, jpjj m ans, dried or in jg?j| with or without >g^)J n bulk, or BoneMS >e desired. desired. d what you are jp[| of fare, pay our Iff! II help you to find jgS i and out of sea- Kss rthern and Cali- jjigj Meats and Vcge- jffijjj 1 their seasons, &K9 Produce of every ?at that you are n Grocery Com'ill find it. jpg ;ERK IjU. Q vo. appeared as if by magic. some her. ethers approaching from (he tows. Vho?who in heaven's name are r" sho faltered. The sound of Iter voice in a measure restored the age that had been paralyzed. I n ciously this slim sprig of southern r threw hack her shoulders ai..I d Iter cliln. If they were brigands should not Hud her it cringing ird. After all. she was a Calhoun, o man she had lirst observed stopnear the horses' heads and peered ltly at her from boner h a broad rakish bat. He was tall and aped to be more respectably clad bis fellows, although there was one who looked as though lie postal a complete out lit of wearing ap1. oor wayfarers, may It please your ness," replied the tall vagabond, ing low. To her surprise, be spoke cry good English, llis voice was r. aiul there was a tinge of polite y in the 1 p es. "But all people are e in the mountains. The king and thief, the princess and the jade ill lllc? cii'iiinnii lotil " Ami liiu swung so low that it touched the .uid. am powerless. I only implore you nke what valuables you may hail let us proceed unharmed!" she d rapidly, eager to have it over, 'ray, how can your highness prol? You have no guide, no driver, escort," said the man moc!;in. ly. erly looked at him nppealingly, ut)' without words to reply. The 3 were welling to her eyes, and her t was throbbing li!;e that of a c pd bird. In after life she was able ucture in her mind's eye a'.l lie ills of that tableau In the 1110 inpass?the hopeless coach, the tiling horses, the rakish bandit and picturesque men. the tower'ag 's and n unite of a girl facing liio of everything. [TO I1F CONTINUED.] A Will In Three Worth. 1 tiie probate division of the London nty court Sir (Jorell Barnes was (?(l to mimit to probate tbe will of deriek Thorn of Amesbury avenue, ?alham, who died leaving property tod at $-1,000. A day or so before lied, counsel stated. Mr. Thorn had niralytie stroke. lie asked for a e of paper, and they gave an en>pe to him. lie wrote on the back t, in the presence of his wife and i of his children, "All to mother. I<\ This was witnessed by Arthur rn and Percy Thorn. The wi'l ?as ded ?p to his lordship, who re u kthat it was probably the sho. st on record. It was duly el w!tnc.'..tc;l an 1 he ' foe-? -a. nc l for it.