Graustark

answering the third question. In his nervousness he spoke in English, advancing to the middle of the room.

hall kill you. Be calm, and allow

rds. Instead there was a deathly silence. Had she swooned? His heart was l

he dressing table. Take them

ss," whispered the man. "For God's sake, do not make an o

ger. Oh, how can I expect mercy at your hand

bed, discernible as his eyes grew accustomed to the darkne

she

must aid me!

er room. You must tell me where she sleeps. There is no time to be lost. I am no thief, before God! I am telling you the truth. Do not be alarmed, I im

you?" came back a w

f I attempt the slightest injury. Where ar

lease! Please

ven's name help me to save her. Those

lothes. He was bending eagerly

o the Princess's door, I think. My God, be quick! D

ed the voice from the bed, calmer and with s

u-you-are you the Princess?"

itting bolt upright in the bed, th

ough to leave your bed and hide in another part of the room? The scoundrels have mistaken the door, but th

ought! He had composed this woman under the most trying circumstances that could have

she asked, to

merican-Grenfall Lorry

ment, but he distinctly h

ed, faintly. Her fingers no

't like to order you aro

ght!" she interrupted,

s face. It was not a bright light, but what she saw satisfied her. He c

e shall I go? Come, be quick, madam! Do you want to be carted off to Ga

arm the guard?" she whispered,

those devils myself. Afterwa

she surprised him b

here, and I will call the Countes

econd. He saw before him a graceful figure in trailing wh

ed, staggering toward her.

head, his legs seemed to be anywhere but beneath him, he felt as though he were rushing toward the ceiling.

her," whispered a soft voice at his back, and he

ut of danger. They will be here in a mome

ly. "Why should you risk your life now? You have ac

. "And I am sorry you are the P

whispere

of a curtain, she close behind his stalwart figure. He could hear his own heart and hers beating, could feel the warmth of her body, although it did not touch

ch they stood, crawled the dark figure of a man. Her hand

ht to look toward their doorway. The abductor was doubtless remembering the instructions t

opied bed in the corner The chloroformer holding the curtains had turned his screen-la

he door-post, Lorry leaped toward the center of the room, a pis

w decided tones. "Here, Harry!" he shouted. "Sc

lamps, sprung into life from the walls, while a great chan

, half throwing hi

d then a stinging blow across the head and neck. As he sank

trike again! You

leaped past him from he knew not where, and then there was a shout, the report of a pistol, a horrid yell. Something heavy crashed down beside

tles you,

ligible. He was conscious of an effort on his part to prevent the blood from streaming ov

. . .

glaze over them that was slow in wearing off. There were persons in the room. He could see them moving about and could hear them t

ish. See, his eyes are open

red her, she was in white, and he was puzzled now to see her in a garment of some dark material, suggestive of the night or the green of a shady hillside. There was the odor of roses and violets and carnations. Then

A man sat down beside him on the couch or bed, and a

near his head, "you really

just recovering from the effect of the ether. Had the blow not been a glancing one his skull would ha

throat as he looked up into the tender, anxious blue eyes. A thrill came over him. Princess or not, he loved her-he love

d, but he was too weak. She glided away,

feel better." A moist cloth was held beneath his nose, and a strong, pungent odor darted thro

Don't be too hasty. The d

y?" asked the wou

ll tell you all ab

in her

oss the hall in"-here he whispered-"U

s the Prin

t lu

t misery!" half

so loud, either! There are

s staring eyes fixed on the ceiling. He was thinki

ked at last, turning his

ious or under the influence of ether for over f

them. Was any one killed?

sides the one I attended to. Lord, they don'

hat happened.

hastly, isn't it? I feel beastly queer. It was he who turned on the lights and went at you with a club. I heard you call, a

ned

the next minute to see old Dangloss himself come puffing and blowing into the hall, redder and fiercer than ever. 'Now I know what you want in Edelweiss!' he shrieked, and it took me three minutes to convince him of his error. Then he and some of the men went up to the Princess' room, while I quickly led the way to the big gate and directed a half-dozen officers toward the ravine. By this, time the grounds were alive with guards. They came up finally with the two fellows who had been stationed beneath the window and who were unable to find the gate. When I got back to where you were the room was full of terrified men and women, half dressed. I was still dazed over the sudden appearance of the police, but managed to tell my story in full to Dangloss and Count Halfont-that's Uncle Caspar-and then the chief told me how he and his men happened to be there. In the meantime, the castle physician was attending to you. Dannox had been carried away. I never talked to a more interested audience in my life! There was the Princess at my elbow and the Countess-pretty as a picture-back of her, all eyes, both of 'em; and there was the old gray-haired lady, the Countess Halfont, and a half-dozen shivering maids, with men galore, Dangloss and the Count and a lot of servants,-a great and increasing crowd. The captain of the guards, a young fellow named Quinnox, as I heard him called, came in, worried

ng faintly over

probably hers. I'll not allow you or anybody to giv

e is a little of the credit due me, of course, and I'll take it gracefully, but I only come in as an accessory, a sort of bushwhacker who had only to do the

l those men?" cried Lorry

onsult me, though, come to think of

at his side again, while Count Cas

. Lorry," began the Prin

ke a confess

alfont? Did they confess? Great heav

aking Lorry's hand kindly. "They were caught in

hief was such a shrewd m

ce, and Baron Dangloss was a mem

demanded Lorry. They surveyed him in amazement, except

to know why not?"

knew the man that hired them, how in the name of your alleged justice you ar

excuses and withdraw, swearing to catch the arch-conspirator or to die in the attempt. Not a soul in the castle, not a being in all Graustark could offer the faintest clew to the identity of the man or

er aunt's shoulder, her face grav

, have I not been good to my people? God knows I have done all that I can. I could ha

ring their assistance in running down the chief villain. And as the hours went by Count Halfont font came in and, sitting beside Grenfall, begged his pardon and asked him to forget the deception that had been p