Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, November 6, 1916, Page 13

——— Vitagraph MR. EARLE WILLIAMS LILIAN TUCKER as Next Week Another Story and New Picture | Copyright, 1916, by the Star Company. CHAPTER 1V, THE HIDDEN PRINCE. Christopher Race stared at the in- vitation, and stared again. If it had come to him in his palmy days he might not have been thus bienkly amazed; but at best who was Christo- pher Race that he should be bidden to a reception at the Foreign office to meét royalty? Of cotirse, Christopher said to him- self, he would not go. Before the day of the reception he would be away in the country with Scarlet Runner, trailing a’ fat and vulgar Australlan millionaire, with his fat and vulgar millionairess about rural England. But there was another letter in this morning's mail and he suddenly changed his mind. It covered no more than a page, and was signed “Eloise Dauvray.” That name had wrung in his ears, mysterious and sweet as the music of bells floating over the sea from a city of mirage, since the masked ball, where he had been lucky enough to serve the fair southerner's purpose. N Now his heart gave a leap as he read the summons which called him back inte her life, Her letter had no conventional be- ginning: “Since T have besn a grown woman,” she said, “I have known only two real men, and you are one of those two. T want you to meet the other. Something great may come of the meeting, and this time you would be with me in an adventure of which neither of us need be ashamed. As for me, I am in it deeply, heart and soul. If you will throw in your for- une with mine, come tomorrow night to the Foreign office reception, for which I will-see that you have an in- vitation. Yours—gratefully for the past, hopefully for the future— “BLOISE DAUVRAY.” No. question now as to whether he would go or not go! He wanted to see Eloise Dauvray; he wanted to know. why and how she needed him: he wanted to be in that adventure, whatever it might prove, because she would be in it; and though it was a drawback that he was not the only Real Man on her horizon, he wanted to find out what the other one was like. Christopher stepped out of his car into a blaze of light and ¢olor, and in- doors the luscious perfume of flowers, mingled with the thought that he was about to see Eloise Dauvray, went to his head like some rich Spanish wine. “Mr, Race,” murmured a voice that no man who had heard it once could forget; and, turning, he was face to face with Eloise Dauvray-—an aston- ishingly changed Eloise Dauvray. She had ‘been beautiful before, but she was ‘doubly beautiful now, with the radiant morning beauty of a girl of eighteen. The eyes; once clouded with .mystery or tragedy, had been turned into stars by some new happi- ness; and for a giddy second Christo- pher asked himself if it could be his presence that— But thé thought broke before it fin- ished; for he saw: the'Other Man, and, seeing him, knew the skeret of the change ip Eloise Dauvray. This man was no «<ommon man, and suddenly it was ag if Christopher saw his tall figure framed in such another niche, glowing with strange jewels, unique | and splendid. If there had been jeal- | ousy in° Christopher's soul it must| have been burnt up like chaff in the | brave fire of the Other Man's eyes, as they welcomed him. “Mr. Race,” said Eloise Dauvray again, “I wanted you to come and| meet Prince Mirko of Dalvania, I have told him about you.” “I am here with my grandmother,” said Miss Dauvray. “You have not! met her, but she is an old friend of the foreign secretary's wife. Prince Mirko and you ang I must talk to- gether.” ! They found a quiet corner, out of | the way‘of the crowd. “Now I am going to.tell you a secret,” the girl went on. “You see how I trust you— how weiboth trust you? For it's a seeret that, if known, might spoil a plan whose success means everything to the prince—everything, therefore, | to me.” H “Whatever vou T will do,” said stopher rashly He was in the mood g, be rash; not only for Miss Dauvray's sake, but now for the sake of the prince as well. There was something of that extraordinary mag- netism about the young man which house of Stuart had and made use of in enlisting followers. “You ‘had bett wait and hear fi " Mirko warned him. But at this moment arrived an anxious look- #g gentleman, whose face cleared at sight of the group of three. Bowing courteous! to' Miss Douvray, at whom hg glanced quickly with veiled curiosity, he announced in indifferent French that he had been searching everywhere for His Royal Highness in the hopé of introducing him—by spe- cial request—to a very great per- sonage. Such a'request was a command, and smiled permission to go. at is the Dalvanian ambassa- she nmurmured, as the tall, vouthfulfigure and the short, middle- aged oné moved away together. ie Jooks clever,” said Christopher. 2 clever,” replied Eloise, “and alieve—he is on our side. Not for < T don't mean that. I hope | N and pray he knows nothing, and may css nothing until too late to inter- f I mean something of more im- portance, to Dalvania than a love af- fair. Perhaps, after all, it's just as well that I can tell you what I have to tell you alone. First, I thank you for coming, and—isn’'t he glorious?” “Yes,?' said Christopher. “If 1 were a $oldier I should like to fight tor him." “How strange you should say that!" half whispered the girl. “It is ex- actly what I want you to do. Will you be a ‘soldier of fortune' and fight for us both? But no; it isn’t fair to ask you .that until you know the whole story.” So she ‘told him the 'story, briefly she could, keeping down her own From the Popular Novel of the same name by C. N. and A. M. Williamson /unolr-. Company as CHRISTOPHER RACE ELOISE DAUVRAY All Foreign Rights reserved. against their king and killed him; that | the queen and her children had been saved only by flight; that a distant relative of the dead man-——a person ! favored by Turkey—had been raised to the throne; and that the Dalvanians, who ought to have been elated at l(‘hll“ success, had been more or less dis- satisfied ever since. | Now, Prince Mirko's errand in the | most important island of the world was to enlist sympathy for his cause among those who would lend him their money or their help in organiz- ing a secret raid; and the adventure, 180 Eloise Dauvray eagerly explained |'to Christopher Race, was not so hope- less as It might seem. The Dalvanian ambassador, who had just called the prince away, had been put in his place by Turkey, like all other Dalvanian diplomats of King Alexander's day; nevertheless, he had private reasons for being at heart Mirko's friend. Damiello Rudovics knew what was Mirko’s mission in England; knew that he was trying to get together a hundred thousand pounds to buy arms and feed a small army; knew that he was inviting ad- venturous or rich young Englishmen to join him secretly at the Montene- grin frontier of Dalvania, for a certain purpose; yet Rudovics was giving no | hint to Turkey, his real employer, or} the business afoot. “And that is not | because of any personal love for the| prince,”. finished the woman who loved the prince above all, “but be- cause he wants Mirko to marry his wife's daughter, If Mirko would take | her, Turkey would let him gain his| throne with no more than a mere theatrical struggle.” “T se said Christopher. “The plot thickeng” “It grows very thick indeed,” answered Eloise, “for Mirko won't think of the Lady Valda—will think of no one but me. Yet he must keep Rudovics' friendship for the present. That's why our engagement has to be secret; and our marriage must be secret, too. Only my grandmother knows—and you. At least, that's what hope. 1 daren't dwell upon the things that might happen to Mirko if anyone who wished either of us evil should find out.” “Yes,” said Christopher. “I under- stand, and I'd give anything—éven | Scarlet Runner—to help.” .“We want you both—you and Scar- let. Runner.” i “What if it carried a prince—the rightful ruler of his country?” smiled Christopher. ‘‘Some such though was in my mind,” said Eloise. “It would create a profound sensation. People would think him a god in the car.” “There ought also to be a goddess in the car,” remarked Christopher, thoughtfully. “She need not be lacking—if she had an invitation,” said: Miss Dauvray. “She has the invitation now." “Thank you! And you have—an in- vitation to her wedding.” ““When is it to be?” he asked, with outward calmness. “That is the greatest secret of all. It is to be next week. I will let you know the day, and should like you to be there. So would Mirko. He knows what you did for me. Already you are to him more than other men, for my sake. And if you would help him—if you would take us into Dal- vania—-"" “Not only will I do that, but I think, if the prince still needs it, I can get him money.” “He needs it desperately. But you —are not rich?" “My Uncle James is." “] heard something of your story from—but you can guess. I hate even to speak his name, in these good and happy days. Your uncle has disin- herited you." “That's still on the knees of the gods. It's partly a question of con- duct, partly the question of a girl. I'm not sure he hasn't a sneaking fondness for me. But there's one thing he worships; a title.” Eloise Dauvray’s colour brightened. “Prince Mirko would give him a dukedom and the Order of the Red Swan of Dalvania. Though it's a small | country; the Swan is famous—as old as Constantine the First, and has been bestowed on few who were not kings or princes. You may hate noticed that Mirko is wearing it tonight.” “I did notice and thought—of my He would give ten years of his life for the Swan, and a hundred thuosand pounds for a dukedom, even though Dalvanian—or 1 don't know him. You and Prince Mitko could in- | duce him to do it, if you would let me take you both in Scarlet Runner to Hyde Hampton, his place in Middle- sex, to pay an afternoon visit."” “We will go; I can promise for Mirko,” said Eloise. He had not seen his relative for months, nor had he communicated with him since he had taken to earn- ing his own living with Scaflet Run- ner. Nevertheless, his long and elabo- | rate wire the next day was promptly answered by old James Revelstone Race with a cordial invitation for any day that suited His Royal Highness. Old James Race was enchanted | with the prince, almost collapsing with joy at Royalty's gracious prajse of his picturesque Jacobean house and wonderful Dutch gardens. Such an| honour had never come his way be- | fore; but, snob as the old man was at | heart, he genuinely admired Mirko, and was ficed by the romance of the! young prince's situation. The confi- dence that Mirko reposed in him he regarded as an overwhelming com- pliment, and hinted a suggestion of help even before the quickly following offer of the dukedom. That could not be bestowed until Prince Mirko 8hould become King Mirko; but the Red Swan of Dalvania, on fire with the blaze of rubbies and small brilliants, was transferred from Mirko's breast to that of the dazzled old man. On the way baeck to London, after this triymphant. visit, Eloise told Christopher that the weddtng would take place on the following Saturday. The banns of Theodore (one of Mirko's many names) Constantinus excitement, which would grow with the tale. Christopher knew little or nothing of Dalvanian affairs, except that «the people of that turbulent country had risen some years ago and Eloise Dauvray had been read three times in a quiet little church of South Kensington—a church where nobody would recognize either name; and all was now ready. Nor nced THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, Ncarler 7 “WHE IAT *> o EVER YOU ASK, I WILL DO,” SAID CHRISTOPHER, RASHLY. 19186. 4 S there be further delay in starting for Dalvania, since old Mr. Race's thou- sands—added to those already sub- sribed—would put ghe prince in funds. Unless Christopfier heard to the contrary, he was to call at the house in Regent's Park at 12 o'clock on Sat- urday. His car was not to accompany him, but he volunteered her services and his to spin the bride and groom as far as Southsea. It was after 5 o'clock when he some-what relucantly returned to Chapel street; and nearly stumbled against the lodging house maid-of-all- work, carrying somebody's tea. “Oh, sir, what a good thing you've got back!" she exclaimed. “The lady’'s been waiting for you a good half hour. Missus said 1 was to take her up this to amuse her, as she was in such a state at your not being at 'ome.” “A lady?” echoed Christopher. Christopher put no more questions, but ran up the two flights of stairs to the second floor, two steps at a time. As he opened the sitting room door Eloise Dauvray sprang up, “At last!” she cried. “I've been praying for you to come. You'ré my one hope)’ “What has happened?” Christopher asked abruptly. “Mirko has disappeared,” answered. “Mr. Race, what do you think has become of him? Has Turkey got wind of the plot for the raid, and has he been murdered, like his father?"” “Don’t think of such a thing,” said Christopher. “They wouldn't go so far as that at worst. A dozen things may have happened-—none of them tragic. He may have been motoring with Wenden or some other friends, and have got en panne miles from a telegraph office. | “I thought of that; but he had no plan of motoring today or he would have told me. And I feel that some- thing is wrong-—desperately wrong.” “Shall T go to his house and find out what I can from his servants?” asked Christopher. “Oh, if you would!" she sighed. “It was one thing 1 wanted you to do.” “I'll start at once,” he sald. “I can be back in half on hour.” He was back in less; but he had very little that was satisfactory to tell.” He had asked for Prince Mirko, alleging an engagement with him, only to hear from the stately hall porter that His Highness had walked out alone about 9 o'clock in the morning saying nothing of his intentions, and had not come in since. Even his valet had no idea where he had gone, nor when he intended to return. On hearing this, Christopher, know- ing that the- valet was more or less in his royal master's confidence, asked to speak with him. The man was brought, and Christopher saw him alone, behind doors, in a small ante- room off the hall. All the valet could tell him, however, was that the prince had appeared somewhat distrubed when reading some leters which came by the first post. One of these he| had placed under a paperweight, and had put it in an inner pocket of his coat immediately after dressing, which he did more quickly and earlier than usual. This letter the valet believed to be one which he had noticed because | Eloise | which it was addressed in Prince Peter's hand, ‘and post marked Paris. An- other letter His Royal Higness had read carefully, two or three UmPH' over; and then, ordering the fire al- ready laid in the grate to be lighted, | had burned it, watching till the paper | and envelope were both entirely con- | sumed. { Christopher declared that if he were | | to help Eloise Dauvray, he could be- | gin in no better way than by learning | what manner of man was the Dal- vanlan Ambassador to the Court of St. James. He had no friends in the diplomatic service living in England, for Max Lind was far away, hut old Major Norburn, an ancient crony of James Race, had a nephew who was a clerk in the foreign office. Christopher went at once to the club where his uncle's friend spent his afternoons; and by a stroke of luck the budding diplo- matist had called to keep an appoint- ment with his relative. The two were oh the eve of starting out, but had a few moments to spare, and young Norburh was boyish enough to be flat- tered by Christopher’'s questions, wheth implied inside knowledge on his part, He perhaps did not know all he affected to know; but he described Rudovies as inordinately vain, end- lessly ambitious, subtle and proud ot his subtlety, not bad at heart though sufficiently unscrupulous. ‘‘His part is a bit above his capacity said the young man from the foreign office, “and he'd have had.no chance of it except through his wife. His marriage was brought about to serve the con- wvenience of the powers that be in Turkey; but the worman—who's half would be in the thick of all the plot- tings. Of course, if that romantic- looking chap, Mirko, would take a fancy to the stepdaughter, who is na- turally a favoured protegee of Tur- key, things might get uncomfortable for Alexander in Dalvania.” “What sort of girl is she?” asked Christopher. “They say beautiful, and quite a woman, though only seventeen. The mother’s Catholic, and follows Euro- pean customs when in Europe; the girl, Valda, has been brought up in a Paris convent. Lately they've had her in London, no doubt, for Mirko's in- spection; but nobody seems to know whether the affair marches or not. Christopher would glady have learned more, but the source of in- formation was pumped dry, and he apologized for having kept the two Norburns so long from thelir engage- ment. & “Rudovics is surely in this,” Chris- topher said to himself; and suddenly an idea of what he would do in Rudo- vies' place sprang into the young man’s mind. If Rudovics had done that—well, it would make things dif- ficult. But, perhaps, after all, by this time Mirko had some home, with a simple explanation to the mystery. Before seeing Eloise again he decided to call for the second time at Lord Dendon’s house to make inquiries. “Has His Royal Highness Prince Mirko come back?” he asked of the hall porter. “No, sir; but His Royal Highness Prince Peter has arrived from Paris,” was the answer. Christopher thought for a moment, and then seribbed a few lines on a card for Prince Peter, whom he had never seen. Presently he was invited to enter the Ibrary, where he had once bheen received by Mirko, and there stood the younger brother, a surprising llkeness of the elder. Such a face as Peter's could be trusted for loyalty, if net for pru- dence, and Eloise had sald that the boy knew of the engagement. Now Christopher, claiming friendship with Mirko and Miss Dauvray, spoke with partial frankness of his suspicions. “I belleve,” he said, “that somehow the Dalvaniah ambassador has got wind of the prince's engagement, and has tricked him, by means of a letter your brother received this morning, into calling at the embassy. There he'll keep him, if my ideéa s right, until after the appointed wed- ding day, perhaps indefinitely, to separate him from Miss Dauvray, and if possible to bring about a'marriage with his stepdaughter. ‘“‘Great heavens, sir!” The day that by brother marries Valda will be the day of my death,” exclaimed Peter. “I love her—she loves me. But Mirko | doesn’'t know. He might take her without dreaming: that he wronged me; and Valda i8 so young that she| would not dare thwart her stepfather. 1 have been with Mirko often at the embassy and the first moment I saw | Valda I loved her—as it was with my brother and Miss Dauvray. 1 knew | I had nothing to fear from his rivalry, | 8o I kept my secret, though I knew | his; for there seemed no hope of mar- | riage for me until my brother's rise | in fortune should give me something to offer—and I feared he would dis- approve, as we are both so young. Mirko sent me to Paris some days ago with a letter to a friend of his who is enlisting recruits and raising money. But yesterday came a tele- gram from Valda, forwarded to me | from his house—(I don’'t know who could have helped her, unless her maid)—begging me to come back, as she foresaw trouble. I wrote my! brother I must return, wound up his| affairs as well as I could, and here I am, only to find that trouble has| come indeed. What shall 'T do? Shal| I demand Mirko at the embassy?" “Certainly not,” sald Christopher. “But I'll tell you what you might do— elope with Mlle. Vdlda. That would; be a valuable move. If her mald | helps her to send off secret telegrams, | she will help smuggle you into the| house. Do you know her name?" “Anastasla,” replied Peter, | “'Disguise yourself as a man of her own class, and ask for her at the servant's door. If you can get Mlle. | Valda out of the embassy before the | day fixed for Prince Mirko's wedding | with Miss Dauvray your brother's| happiness as well as your own will be | assured. Take the young lady to| Scotland with her mald for chaperon, and marry her quickly; afterwards| you can do things again in proper form. If her stepfather or her mother | knows nothing of your love, neither of | you will be watched or suspected; | you ought not to have great difficul- | ties; and I'll lend you my motor car for the elopement.” | “What! The Scarlet Runner, of which my brother wrote? But that release Prince Peter guessed. “Your business will be to my brother?" “That's easier said than done,” Christopher answered gravely. “If he's in the embassy, it's his own embassy, you see; there's no other power to appeal to. Turkey would defend Rudo- vies' action, if he declared that it was the only way to save a royal prince from a marriage with an untitled, de- signing woman. Rudovics has nothing to fear in any case. And if we can learn that Prince Mirko is his pris- oner, even if we can release him, still, goodbye to his happiness.” “What do you mean?" Peter, horrified. “Something would certainly happen to Miss Dauvray. Thelr engagement known, those two would never be al- lowed to come together again. In some way-——who knows how ?—they would be separated forever. To res- cue your brother from the embassy ~—taking it for granted he's there— exclaimed means the breaking of his engage- ment." “Then, the breaking of his heart. Have you no plan to save ham?" “I have a plan,” sald Christopher, “but It's a queer one."” “Can I help?" asked Peter. “By seeing Anastasia, finding ou the gossip of the servants' hall, if any, concerning your brother, and running off with, Rudovics' stepdaughter as quickly as you can."” When Prince Peter of Dalvania and Christopher Race had sketched out something which faintly resembled a plan, and had made arrangements concerning Scarlet Runner, Christo- pher kept his promise by going to Regent's Park and telling Eloise all that was in his mind. “You are right,” she sald, when she had heard him to the end. “That let- ter the valet told you Mirko burnt must have been from Rudovies. No doubt he asked to have it d stroyed, 80 that Mirko could not be traced He would have spoken of important news from Dalvania, and hinted at mysterious reasons why Mirko should let no one know he had been bidden in such haste to the embassy. While they have him there I may be safe enough; but once he escapes, and they know it, T will tell you what they could do. They would have such hor- rible things published about me in the Dalvanian papers that, for Mirko'y own sake, T could never consent to he his wife. The things need not all be true, but they would he believed; and even if Mirko would glve his people a queen they could not respect, I would not let him do it. Fitzgerald alone might try something of the sort, but I don’'t believe that unassisted he'd have influence to get such atuf! pub- lished; and if only I could appear first | In Dalvania as Mirko's bride, the peo- pie would love me and be loyal.” “I've thought of all that,” Christopher. “It's exactly what Rudo- vies and Fitzgerald would do-—if they did nothing worse. But once married to you, and the little Valda in Scot- land with Peter, Rudovics’ hands wouhld be tled. It would do him more harm than good to hurt you then.” “Ah, yes; if once we were married!"” | sighed Eloise. “Please be ready at the time already | fixed for the wedding,” said Chris- topher, quietly. “And have everybody else concerned in the ceremony ready, |- too.” “What are you planning?" cried Bloise, the rose of hope blushing in|: her cheek. “I can't tell you yet,” he answered. | “A good deal depends on Prince Pe- ter and Scarlet Runner, and a good deal on my uncle and a house-agent I'll write you what I'm doing and| | what you must do the moment 1 have anything definite to Ly Bloise was bewildered, but she was | & | sons, who had stepped out of a closed said | a woman of tact, and knew when it was wise to be silent Half an hour later Christopher, din- nerle: but too excited for hunger, was towards Hyde Hampton with Sc Runner. Ten minutes at his uncle's was enough, for old James Race was heart and soul for|: Prince Mirko and Eloise now. Chris- topher flew back Londonward a signed check In his pocket; and,| calling at Lord Wendon's in the car, found Prince Peter jubilant, just back | from the Dalvanian embassy. He had | gone there in his valet's clothes and | Insisted on seeing Anastasia, whose cousin he pretended to be, The maid had permission from Mme. Rudovics to go out on Friday evening; Valda would pretend some slight indisposi- tion, keep her room all day, and leav the house, well veiled, in Anastasia’s hat and cloak. Afterwards the woman | would do her best to follow unob- served, and a rendezvous would be made somewhere in the neighborhood after dark, with Scarlet Runner in waiting. Then it was not likely that Valda's absence would be discovered till morning, and by that time she and with | Irish—has been-a beauty in her day, and all poor old Rudovics' honours have been given him for her sake. Those who are ‘in the know' say he despises King Alexander, and if he weren’t afraid of his Turkish master myself, for London; chauffeur.” but will bring me luck.” “I hope 80, for everyone concerned,” | to Scotland. said Christopher. “I can't take you have business in get you a good 1 shall r J her lover would be far on their way As for Mirko's presence in the house Anastasia had been able to say nothing definitely, but she did know that since | : morning one of the rooms had been ceiling had fudlen, and no one was {0 go in until workmen should have me to reg amage. On hear- b thoughtful tion of Ing one th 71GE" d, on the plea that part of the | tric bell, they were almost immediately admitted into the dark, unfurnished house. “Is all well-——so far?" asked Eloise Dauvray, whispering, in the dim cor- ridor. b G ok, All is well—so far, answered ST ba e “eht of the|Chiistopher Race, corrl v It was not until after 10 o'clock the middle of the e} excluimed topher, I | thought they'd put 1 there, for K on the wa'l would do nol G W trled it ¥ n em house on (he right, K e | one on the left's occupice can | masine old Rudovies iny the ! prince into the room, as it I« ceret | neetine w L Nsome em about the | he rocm's honed wood- | wouses i | are prob- | or ||:'<>“l('l'fl‘ he were at | ront moment when it opened for business. He informed the man- ager that he had been empowered by Mr. James Race of Hyde Hampton to take N 36 Queen Anne’s Gardens for three years (the shortest term permissible), if immediate possession could be given. The agent thought there would be little difficulty about this, and became certain of it when there was no at- tempt at cutting down the high rent asked for the old house, unlet for sev- eral years, A telephone message was sent to the owner, papers were signed, a check in advance for a quarter’s rent was paid; and presently Christopher found himself in possession of the keys of 36 Queen Anne’'s Gardens, the house adjoining the Dalvanian embassy on the right-hand side About 10 o'clock that night, having giveh all necessary instructions con- cerning Scarlet Runner to the chauf- feur he trusted, Christopher unlocked the front door of his uncle’s newly- acquired town house and walked in. He had with him, in a golfer's bag, o pick-ax, one or two other handy tools and an electric lantern, To begin work, he choose the back room on the second floor, which, according to his calculations, was separated from Prince Mirko's prison only by the house wall. With a small hammer he tapped lightly once, twice, without re- celving an answer. Then he was re- jolced by a responsive rapping on the other side. At first the knocks seemed to him desultory and irregular, but in a moment he realized that words were beig formed by taps and spaces, long and short, according to the Morse code of telegraphy. v Long ago Christopher had learned it at Bton, when /he and another boy had sought means of secret commu- nication, Evidently the occupant of the room beyond the wall had learned it, too. In ten minutes the two men, thus divided by bricks and mortar, were able to come to an understanding. Christopher was assured that he was talking with the prince. Mirko was informed that he was talking with Christopher Race. Also Christopher was able roughly to communicate his plan to the prisoner, and learned to his delight that there was a good pros- pect of success. Mirko indicated the position of a large wardrobe which stood in his room against the dividing wall, and suggested that Christopher's boring operations should be conducted behind it. When the bricks should be loosened Mirko would pull out the wardrobe and be ready to push it back into place in case of danger. All ni;iht long Christopher worked, refreshed with bread and wine from his bag; and by early dawn ha had dug a hole through which he could speak to the prince. Until this no- ment he had outlined his plan but vaguely; and what Mirko heard now amazed him. While London slept, and the ¢ld houses in Queen Anne's Gardens kept thelr wooden eyelids closed, four per- carriage round the corner, walked quietly to the door of No. 36, There were three men and one woman, and, having pushed the long-unused elec- In the merning that the absence of Litde Lady Valda and her maid was dfeovered by Mme. Rudovics, for she w o late riser by habit, and the girl had posed as an invalid the day be- fore. Under Valda's pillow a note had been slipped. “I have gone away to marry Prinde Peter of Dalvania. We love cach other.” And that news had sent the ambassador in haste to the door of the closed room, where no work had §et been begun upon the | “fallen celling He unlocked the door, and knocked by way of courtesy, two men—tall Dalvanians both, in his own private service nding on guard as usual lest the prisoner should attempt an escape. liach time since Mirko's cap- ture Rudovies had himself brought the prince's meals In this fashion, twice within twelve hours, bearing algo a hundred apologies for his “necessary but regrettable harshness.” Not once before had the indignant Mirko answered the knogk, but now his volce responded with a cheerful “Come in," “Congratulate me,” he continued, as Rudovics fell back upon the threshold, aghast at what he saw, “And let me introduce you to my dear wife, the Princess Eloise,. We thought a wed- ding at the embassy an excellent plan, and have been married fof an hour.” A thousand thoughts raced each other through the ambassador's head as he stood staring first at the pale, smiling girl, the two priests, the regis- trar and the hole in the wall by which ey and Christopher had entered. Ho thought of his daughter, and was forced to hope—in the circumstances —that she was the younger brother's wife by this time. He thought of his own chances of advancement {n Dal- vania under a new king. He thought of Turkey's probable attitude towards a struggle in which Valda's husband would be engaged as well as his brother; and he thought of nine hun- dred and ninety-seven other things, all in the space of one long moment. Then he bowed and said slowly: “Graciously allow your host to be the first who offers your royal highness and his bride all possible good wishes.” Allies’ Aeroplanes Kill Many Belgian Civilians (Correspondence of The Assoclated Press.) 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