The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 10, 1901, Page 14

‘THE SUNDAY CALL. Synopsis. hile traveling on the Denver Express nterest suddenly awakened In a re- ¥ attractive young woman who is with position, has his i and aunt. He is puz his braia for a way to make her acquain when the opportunity «ffers itself by the train acciden- aving them both in a small town of untain district. Lorry wires ahead and ng a team manages., after a romantic h the train at the next station. o become quite dis- hir is rather lovely a k t more of them n and he fears that he He finds them again. bow how them around the Capitol re. and then to say x6od-by ¥ nvitation to visit Edelweiss W = that his fairy princess has - of his life for zood h = that he decides t art A rovince of Graustark in the [ A ehum, Harry AR £ s and after some'minor iey reach Graustark CHAPTER VI—Continued. GRAUSTARK shooting off the a An- v gocs Or to dinner.” substituted Lorry e hey returned to the Regengetz. The was spaclous and beautiful, a m ¢ the Oriental and medieval e dickens can these people be ok well pered h ared their understand his Eng t neighbors ish ley are unquestionably of the class which we must expect to find the Gug- ckers fore the meal was over the two str rs saw that they were atfracting B t deal of attention from t other ests he house. The women, as well s e eyimg th and com- men te freely, it was casy to see. Th wo handsome, smooth- 3 were as men fro tterly unlike their ¢ average five ome a little ittle shorter. The two s we r six feet tall, broad- . and a ey looked like < : rk men the? look as crap,” observed ously throwing out his ats, Tll wager. The k) 'ect, though Have you rter set of women, Har- Never, never! A paradise of pre‘ty women I believe I'll take out naturali- ey were consclous that he place was upon them. They d mzelves to thelr full height and strode w the tables toward the d fecl- t as they were on exhibition they r to the best advantage r the evening they heard frequent Americans,” but could t was said. The hotel m were more than n the mil- v men and citizen ngly al: the women wh rolled on r in the great garden back of were discreetly curious em to be the whole show here. id Anguish as they sat down at he in the garden guess cans are rare fellow who can speak ch, and not one except £ an talk English. That rk an fairly well. I never janguage as these other peo- ple use. Say, old man, we'd better make ry about our friends to-night. That erk probably won't be on duty to-mor- = We'll ask him before we g0 to bed. sgreed Lorry, and upon leaving tne bril- antly lighted garden they sought mine st and asked him if he could tell them where Caspar Guggenslocker lived. He ked politely increc nd thought- and then. nd regret, as- with profo: a sured them that he b wever heard the name. He said he h ed in Edelwelss sll his life and knew e ody of conse- must be some people cried almost appealingly. disheartened and cheated. An- He guish was biting his lips. felt Oh among the were you, sir, I should call on Captain Dangioss, ne Chief of Police. He knows every soul in Edelweiss. I am positive I have never heard the pame. You will find the aptain at the tower to-morrow morning.” The two Americans went to bed, one so dismayed by his disappointment that he could not sleep for hours. possibly classes. If I poorer VII-THE LADY IN THE CARRIAGE. They elept rather late in the morning, first because they were very much fa- tigued after their long journey, second for the reason that they had been unable to woo slumber until long past midnight. An- guish stretched himself lazily in bed when be heard Lorry’s voice from the adjoining room. 1 suppose we are to consult the police in order to get a clew to your charmer,” yawned. *Nige friends you pick up on raliway journeys. I'd be ashamed.” Well, Harry, I'll confess I'm disgusted. This has been the most idiotic thing I've er done, and if you say the word we'll icre in the first train—freight or ger. The Guggenslockers—pigs—"" ¥ was savage. ~ a bit of it, my boy, not a bit of | make a house-to-house canvas: Cheer up, cheer up! to thunder!” n! Don't talk like that, or I'll back on you in a minute. I'm here be- hoose to be, and I've more heart n the chase at this minute than you have, J've not Jost hope. We'll find the Guggen- slockers if we have to hire detectives to trace ‘em from the United States to their very doorstep. We're going to see the police after bremkfast After breakfust they did go to see the Baron Dangloss. After some inquiry they found the gloomy, foreboding prison, and Mr. Anguish boldly pounded on the huge tes. A little shutter flew open, and a man’s e appeared. Evidently he asked what was wanted, but he might as well have demanded their lives, so far were they from understanding his query. Baron Dangloss?’ asked Anguish, promptly. The man asked something else, but as the Americans shook their heads deprecatingly, he withdrew his face and presently swung open the gates. They en- tered and he closed the doors behind them, locking them in. Then he directed them ross the court to an open door in the aged mass of gray stone. As they strode eway from the guard Lorry created con- sternation by demanding: iow are we to talk to the chief if he he You go doesn’t understand us or we him? We should have brought an interpreter.” “I forgot about the confounded lan- guage. But if he's real he can talk Irish.” Lorry told bim he wasn't funny. “is this his excellency, Baron Dan- gloss?" asked Anguish, stepping into & small room and stopping suddenly in the presence of the short, fierce man they had seen the day before. The American spoke in French. “It is, gentlemen. Of what service can I be to Messieurs Lorry and Anguish?" responded the grim little chief, politely rising from beside his desk. The visitors looked at one another in surprise. “If he knows our names on such short notice. he'll certainly know the Guggen- . said Anguish to his friefd, in h. vou are looking for some one named Guggenslocker?’ asked the chief, smiling broadly and speaking excellent English. “You must not be surprised, gen- tlemen. 1 speak many languages. I heard la: night that you were inquiring about one Caspar Guggenslocker, and I have racked my brain, searched my books, questioned my officers. and I am sorry to inform you that there is no such person in Edelweiss.” “I was so well assured of it, Baron Dan- &l Lorry said “The name is totally unknown to me, sir. May 1 ask why vou are searchipg for him? Certain 1 met Mr. Guggenslocker, his wife and his niece last spring In the Uuited States. They invited me to come and see them if 1 ever happened to be In this part of the world. As my friend and 1 were near here 1 undertook to avall myself of ‘their invitation.” i they said they lived in Edelwelss, r ark 2" They did, and I'll humbly confess I did not know much of the principality of Graustark. That is certainly complimentary, but, then, we are a little out of the beaten path, so you are pardonable. 1 was at first under the impression that you were American detectives with extradition papers for criminals bearing the name u_mention.” Oh!” gasped Anguish “We couldn’t ated find ourselves if we shouid be s captain.” The grizzly bearded . captain laughed with them, and then asked Lorry 1d object to giving him the fuil ship . h merican pr 4 knew about them, om tting certain t 15, of ¢ As we proceeded &rew more and more interested, at last Lorry came to the st ge trio, he tart, exposed a queer littie cond or so and then was as as tefore. The ever vigilant h observed the Involuntary start smile, quick as the Chief had been t triumph however, the old omcer caimly shook his recover himself, ahd f To his anger and a thrill of fmpatience, bhead at the end of the narrative and nounced that he was as much in the dark ever. Well, we'il search awhile for our- declared” Anguish, stubboraly, not at all satistied. “Yo will b the Crief, m We've plenty other. After g few moments fhey departed on Dangloss accompanying them to selves asting your time,” sdid ingly to waste,” retorted the the gate and assuring them that he and his men always wouid be at thelr com- mand. His nation admired the American peopie, he warmly declared. *“That old codger knows our people, and I'll bet a thousand onm it,” sald Harry, angrily, when they had gone some little distance down the street. Then he told of the queer exposure Dangloss had unwit- tingly made. Lorry, more excited than he cared to show, agreed that there waus something very suspielous about this new discovery They walked an hour or two, the people and bout the quaint town for xamining the buildings, the soldiery with deep interest From the head of the main sireet, Castle Avenue, they could plainiy see the royal palace, nearly a mile away. Its towers and turrets, gray and gaunt, ran up among the green treetops and were outlined plainly against the yeliow hills. Countless houses studded the steep mountain slope, and many people were discerned walking and riding along the rarrow, ledgelike streets which wound toward the summit, far up in the clouds. Clearly and distinctly could be seen the grim monastery, perched at the very nacle of the mountain, several miles Up there it looked bleak and cold and uninviting, in great contrast to the loveliness and warmth of the valley. Lown below the grass was moist and soft, trees were approaching the stage whers yellow and red tints mingled with the rich green, flowers were blooming, the land was redolent of the sweet fragrance of autumn, the atmosphere warm, clear and invigorating. It was paradise sur- mounted by desolation, drear and deaden- ing. ‘Wherever the tzll, distinguished Ameri- cans walked they formed the center of observation and were the cause of com- ment that bore unmistakable signs of admiration. They bowed pleasantly to many of those who passed them and re- cetved in return gracious and profound recogrition. Military men saluted courte- ously; the women stared modestly and prettily—perhaps covetously; the mer- chants and citizens in general bowed and smiled & welcome that could not have been heartier. The strangers remarked the absence of vehicles on the main streees. There were pack mules and horses, human carriers—both male and female—but during the entire morning they saw not more than #x or elght car- riages. Vehicles were used solely by the quality and as a means of transportation for their persons only. Everybody, with the few exceptions mentioned, walked or rode horseback. The two friends were delighted with the place, and Anguish advocated a sojourn of several weeks, even though they did not find the Gug- genslockers, his object belng to secure photographs and, sketches of the pictur- esque people and the strange scenery, and to idle away some hours upon the glit- tering boulevards. Grenfall, since he was in the project so deeply, was so nearly reconclled as to be exhilarated by the plan. They decided to visit the royal grounds In the afternoon, providing there was no prohibition, reserving a ride up the steep for the next day. A policeman #vho spoke German fairly well told them that they could enter the palace park if they obtained a signed order from the chief steward, who might be found at any time in his home near the gates. They were strolling leisurely toward the hotel, for the moment forgetting thelr quest in this strange, sunny land, when they cspied a carriage, the most conspicu- ous of any they had seen. The white horses were gayly caparisoned, the driver and the footman beside him wore rich uniforms, the vehicle itself gleamed and glistened with gold and silver trimmings. A short distance behind rode two young soldiers, swords to their shoulders, scab- bards clanking againet thelr stirrups. Each was attired in the tight red trousers, shiny boots, close-fitting black coat with gllt trimmings, and the red cap which the Americans had noted before because of its brilliancy. People along the street were bowing deeply to the occupants, two ladies. “Harry! Look!” exclalmed Lorry, clutching his friend’s arm like a vise. “There in the carriage—on this side!” His voice w hoarse and trembling. ““Miss Gug—Guggenslocker?” cried An- guigh, Yes!” They had “Yes! Lorry was grasping a one hand. stopped and rden wall with “Then it's funny nobody knows the name here. She seems.to be some one of consequence. Good heaven. T don't blame you! She's the most Teautiful—"* By this time the carriage was almost opposite and within forty feet of where they stood. The ladles, Miss Guggenslock- er’'s companion as young and almost as beautiful as herself. had not observed the agitated two, but Lorry’s face was beam- ing, his hat was off, and he was ready to spring to the carriage side at a moment's warning. Then the young girl at the side of the woman whose beauty had drawn a man half around the world saw the tall strangers and called her companion’s at- tention to them. Once more Grenfall Lorry and Miss Guggenslocker were look- ing into each other's eyes. “The lady started violently. her eves grew wide, her lij arted, and her body was bent forward cagerly. a little gloved hand grasping the side of the open car- rlage. Her "ideal American” was bo ing low. as was the tall fellow at his side. When he looked up again his eyes were- glowing, his handsome face was flushed, and he saw her smile, blush furiously and incline her head gravely. The carriage had swept past, but she turned her head, and he detected an appealing glance in her eyes, a perplexed wrinkle ‘across her brow, both of which were swept away an® instant later by the most bewitching of smiles. Again her head was inclined, this time a trifle more energetically, and then the maddening face was turned from him. The equipage rolled onward, and there was no effort on her part to check its progress. The men were left standing alone and disappointed on the streets of Edelwelss, the object of their search slip- ping away as soon as she had been found Her companion was amazed by the ilittle scene, it was evident, judging by the eager look on her face as she turned with a question In her eyes. “Turncd down!"” exclaimed the irrepros. sible Anguish, dolefully, *‘That's pretty shabby treatment, old man. But she's quite worth the journey." “I'll not go back to America without her. Do you hear that, Harry Anguish?" He was excited and trembling. *‘But why didn’t she stop?” he went on, dismally. “'Oh, you dear old fool!" sald Anguish, The two stood looking after the carrk until it turned into a side street, half way down the shady stretch toward the castle. They saw her companion glance back, but could not tell whether she did likewise, Lorry looked uneasily at Anguish, and the latter read his thought. y “You are wondering about the Guggen- slocker name, eh? I'll tell you what I've worked out during the past, two minutes. Her name s no more Guggépslocker than mine is. She and the uncle used that name as a blind. Mark my words, she's quality over here; that's all there is about it. Now, we must find out just who she really is, Here comes a smart-looking eoldler chap. Let's a:k him, providing we can make him understand.’ A young soldier approached, lelsurely twirling a cane, for he was without his side arms. Anguish accosted him in French and then in German. He under- stood the latter and was very polite. “Who was the young lady in the car- riage that just passed?’ asked Lorry, eagerly. The face of the soldier flushed and then grew pale with anger. “Hold on! I beg pardon, but wé are strangers and don't quite understand your Ways. 1 can’'t see anything improper in asking such a question,” sald Angulsh, at- tempting to detain him. The young man struck his hand from his arm and his eyes fairly blazed. “You must learn our ways. We never pass comment on a lady. If you do so In your land, I am sorry for your ladles. I refuse to be questioned by you. Stand aside, fellow!" Anguish stood aside in astonishment, and they watched the wrathful gallant strut down the street, his back as stiff as a board. ¢ “Damned touchy!” growled Anguish, “You remember what Sitzky sald about thelr respect for the weaker sex. I guess we'd better keep off that tack or we'll Imatch up a duel or two. They seem to be fire-caters. We must content ourselves with searching out her home and without assistance, too. I've cooled off & bit, Har- ry,‘and now that I've séen her I'm will- ipg to go slowly and deliberately, Let’s N / take our time and be perfectly eool. am beginning to agree with your dncog. proposition. It's all clearing up in my mind now. We'll go back' to the hotel and get ready for the visit to the palace grounds.” “Don’t you intend to hunt her up? ‘Gad, 1 wouldn't ‘miss a minute If I had a chance to be with a girl like that! And the otlier was no scarecrow. She is.rather a beauty. too. Greatest town for pretty women I ever struck. Vienna is out of it entirely.” They strolled on to the hotel, discussing the encounter in all its exhilarating de- tails, Scarcely had they seatéd them- selves on the plazza, after partaking of a light luncheon, when a man came gal- loping up to the walk in front of the hotel. Throwing his bridle reins to a guard he hastened to the pia: His at- tire was that of a groom and something about him reminded them of the footman who sat beside the driver of the carriage they had seen a short time before. He came straight to-where the Americans sat smoking, and bowing low, held before them an envelope. The address was “Mr. Grenfall Lorry, but the man was in doubt as'to which was he. Lorry grasped the envelope, tore it open, and drew forth a daintily written note. It read: * ..y Dear Mr. Lorry: “I was surpristd very much to see you this morning—I may add that I was de- lighted. If you will accompany this mes- senger when he calls for you at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon he will conduct you to my home, where I shall truly be charmed to see you agaln. Will you bring your friend? “Sophia Guggenslocker.” '+ Lorry could have embraced the messcn- ger# There was a suspiclon of breathless.- ness In his voice when he tried to say calm' to Harry: “Harry! Look!” exclaimed Lorry, clutching his friend’s arm like a vise. “There in the carriage—on this side'” His voice was hoarse and trembling. E3 e e “An invitation for to-morrow.” “I knew it would come®that way. “Also wantg you to come.” “Shan't I be In the way?” “Not at all, my boy. I'll accept for you. After this fellow goes, I'll let you read the note. I think I'll write an/answer.” Motioning for the man to remain, he hastencd to his room, pulled out some sta- tionery, and feverishly wrote: “My Dear Miss Guggenslocker: ““T ghall be delighted to accompany your messenger to-morrow, and my friend, Mr. Harry Anguish, will be with me. 1 have come half way across the continent to sce you, and I shall be repaid if I am with you but for a moment. You will pardon me if I say that your name has caused me despair, No one seems to have heard it here, and I was beginning to lose hope. You may expect me at 3, and 1 thank you for the pleasure you. bestow. Yours sin- cerely, GRENFALL LORRY." This note, part of which had been wr't- ten with misgiving, he gave to the mes- genger, who rode away quickly. . “Sheé didn’t walt long to write to you, I notice. Is it possible she Is suffering from the effects of those three days on the other side of the Atlantic? Come to think of it, she blushed when she saw you this morning,” said Angulsh. Lorry handod him her note, which he read, ahd then solemnly shook hands with the recipient. “Congratulations. 1 am a very far- sighted young man, having llved in Paris.” VII-THE - ABDUCTION OF A PRIN- ’ CESS. That afternoon they went to the palace grounds and inquired for the chief' stew- ard. After a few moments they were shown to his office, in a small dwelling- house just Inside the gates. The steward was a red-faced little man, pleasant and accommodatifig. He could speak German —in fact he was a German by birth—and “they had no difficulty in presenting their request. Mr. Fraasch—Jacob Fraasch— was at first Gublous, but thelr frank, eager faces soon gained for them his con- sent to see that part of the great park open to the public. Beyond certaln linos they were not to trespass. Anguish askel how they could be expected to distinguish these lines, being unacquainted, and the llewanlrlmly nformed them that the members of the royal guard would estab- lish the lines so plainly that it would be quite clear. . S He then wrote for them a pass to the grounds of the yoyal palace of Graustark, aMxing his seal. In giving this pass to them he found occasion to say that tha Princess had instructed him to extend ‘every courtesy possible. to an American citizen. It was then that Annlfiluhd it he might be perml to use cam- era. There was an ifistant and emphatlc refusal, and they were told that the pass would be rescinded 12 they did not leave 1° sown conclusions, the camera outside the gates. Reluctantly Anguish deposited his luckless box in the steward’s office, and they passed Into the broad avenue which led toward the pal- ace, ‘ A guard, who served also as a l\lldc. stepped to their side before they had taken ten paces. Where he came from they never- knew, so Instantaneous was his appearance. He remained with them during the two hours spent in the won- derful-park. The palace stood In the northwesterr part of the grounds, possibly a half-mile “Trom the base of the mountain. Its front faced the mountain side. The visitors ‘were not permitted to go closer than a quarter of a mile from the structure, but attalned a position from which it could be seen in all {t® massive, ancient splen- dor. Anguish, who had studied, churches and old structuies, painted the e?lfl on the Rhine and was something offa con- noisseur in architecture, was of the opin- fon‘ that it had been standing for more than five hundred years. It was a v edieval mass of stone, covered with mdss and ivy. with tower: turrets and battlements. There had been a moat in bygone days, but modern ideas bad transformed the waterway into solid, level ground. This they learned after- ward., Broad avenues approached in sev- eral directions, the castle standing at the far side of a wide circle or parade ground. Phe open space before the balconies was fully three hundreds yards square, and was paved. From each side stretched the lvety green with its fountains, its trees, its arbors, Its flowers, its grottos and its red-legged soldlers. The park was probably a mile square, and was surrounded by a.high wall, on the top of which were little guard-houses and several masked cannon. In all their travels the Americans had not seen a more delightful bit of artifice, and they 4 wandered about with « mérene content that would have appealed to any one but their volceless gulde. He led them about the place, allowing them to form their draw their own infer- ences and make their own calculations. His only acts were to salute the guards who passed and to present arms when he had conducted his charges to the edge of forbldden territory. Wh they had com- pleted thelr tour of inspection their guide rapidly led the way to the wall that en- circled the grounds, reaching it at a point not far from the castle itself.” Here was situated another large gate, through which they did not pass. Instead they ascended some steps and came out upon the high wall. The top of this wall was several feet wide, and walking was com- paratively safe. They soon understood tne gulde's deslgn. The object was to walk along this wall until they reached the main gate. Why this peculiar course wiag to be undertaken they could not imagine at first. Anguish’s fertile bratn came (o the rescue, He saw a number of women in a distant part of the grounds, and remembering their guide's haste in conducting them to the wall rightly conjectured that it was against custom for visitors to meet and gaze/ upon mem- hers of the royal household. The men ani Women, none of whom he could plainly distingulsh from the far-away wall, were undoubtedly a part of the castle’s family, and were not to be subjected to the curi- ous gaze of sightseers. Perhaps her royal highness, the Princess of Graustark, was lll\;(;\ng them. They reached the main gate and de- scended, Anguish securing his: camera, after which the§ thanked the steward and turned to fee the guide. But he had dis- ;ll:):‘rnred as If the ground had swallowed “Well. it's fair Vereaflles,” observed Angulsh, as they walked down the street, glancing back at the frowning wall. "It all goex to make me wonder why In the name of heaven we have never heard of this land of Graustar! sald Lorry, still thinking of the castle's grandeur. My boy, there are lots of things we don’t know. We're too busy. Don't you remember that one-half of the world does :o.t“!;m:: how the other half ltves? I'll ere are not twenty-five the United States who know mr:'fl" ::xé: -‘u;mdnn-yt Tu‘. :}r-unnrk "I don’ ifeve that a single soul o there has heard of the place,” vouehu::; ngl};. very ttr‘uhmfullr. accept the amendment,” sald An- guish. Then he proceeded to take a mn:- 0t of the castle from the middle of the He also secured a number of Views of the mountain side, of so: little dwelling houses and two or t;‘r:oote: gvmun‘ exposures of red-robed children. , from the children up, wore , some black, some in solid colors. Beneath these robes were baggy trousers and blouses among the ' men, short skirts among the women. All wore low bodts vas and a sort of tur| These costumes, ot course, we to the of! TR S A Sea tocrats was tly du nn"zhm ‘were gowned after the latest European patterns and the men, except those of the army, wore clothes almost as smart as those which covered the Americans. Miss Guggenslocker—or whatever her name might be—and her carriage compan- fon were as exquisitely gowned as any women to be seen on the boulevards or in Hyde Park of an afternoon. It was late In the afternoon when they teturned o the hotel. After dinner, dur- ing which they were again objects of in- terest, they strolled off toward the castle, smoking their clgars and enjoying the glorious air. Being a stranger in a strange land, Lorry acted on the romantic painter’s advice gnd also stuck a revolver in his pocket. He laughed at the sug- gestion that there might be use for the weapon in such a qulet, model, well-regu- lated town. but Anguish insisted: “I've seen a lot of these fellows around town who look like genuine brigands and cutthroats, and I think it just as well that we be prepared,” asserted he, posi- tively, and his friend gratified what he called a whim. At 10 o'clock the slender moon dropped behind the mountain, and the vailey, which had been touched with its tender light, gradually took on the somberness vnd stillness of a starlit night. The town slumbered at 11, and there were but’ few lights to be seen on the streets or in the houses. Here and there strolied the white uniformed police guards; ceca- sionally soldiers hurried barracks-ward; once In a while belated citizens moved through the dense shadows on the side- walks, but the Americans saw still life i its reality. Returning from their stroil beslde the castle walls, far to the west of where they had entered the grounds that afternocn, they paused in the mid- 6le of Castle avenue, near the main gate, and looked down the dark, deserted strcet. Far away could be seen the faint glare from their hotel; one or two street lamps burned in the business part of the city; aside from these evidences of life there was nothing but darkness, silence, peacefulness about them every- where. “Think of Paris or New York at 11 o'cleck,” said Lorry, a trifle awed by the solitude of the sleeping city. “It's as dead as a piece of pralirie land™ said his friend. *’Gad. it makes me sleepy to look down that street. It's a mile to the hotel, too, Lorry. We'd bet- ter move along.” “Let's lie down fear the hedge, smoke anotker cigar and walt till midnight. It is too glorious a night to be lost in sleep.” urged Lorry, whose heart was:light over the joys of the day to come. “I can dream just as well here, looking at that dark old castle with its one little tower iight, as I couM if I tried to sleep in a hard bed down at the hotel.” Anguish, who was more or less of a dreamer himself, consented, and, after Lighting fresh cigars, they threw them- selves on the soft, dry’ grass near the tall hedge that fenced the avenue as it neared the castle grounds. For half an hour they talked by fits and starts: long silences were common, broken only by brief phrascs which seemed so to disturb the one to whom they were addressed that he answered gruffly and not at all politely. Thelr cigars, burnt to mere stubs, were thrown away, and still the waking dreamers stretched themselves in the almost impenetrable shade of the hedge, ore thinking of the face he had seen, the other picturing in his artist eye the painting he had vowed to create from the moonlit castle of an hour ago. “Some one coming,” murmured the painter, half rising to his elbow atten- tively. “Soldlers,” said the *“They'll not disturb us. “They'll not even see us, I should say. It s dark as Egyvpt under this hedge. They'll pase if we keep quiet.” The figures of two men could be seen aprroaching from the city, dim and ghastly in the semi-blackness of the night, Like two thieves, the Americans walted for them to pass. To their ex- ceeding discomfiture, however, the pedes- trians halted directly in front of their resting place and seated themselves leis- urely upon a broad, flat stone at the road- side. It was too dark to see whether they were soldiers, notwithstanding the fact that they were less than fifteen feet aw;ly‘ “He should be here at 12" sald one of the newcomers In a low voice and In fair- 1y good English. The other merely grunt- ed. There was silence of some duration, broken by the first speaker. “If this job fails and you are caught it will mean years of servitude.” “But In that case we are to have ten thousand gavvos apiece for each year we lie in prison. It's fair pay—not only for our failure, but for our silence,” said the other, whoso English was more difficult to understand. Anguish's fingers gripped Lorry’s leg, but there was no sound from either of the thoroughly aroused dreamers. “A plot, as 1 live,” thought each, with a thrill. ““We must be careful to speak only In English. There are not twenty people in Edelweiss who understand it, but the night has ears. It is the only safe tongue. Geddos speaks it well. He should be here.”” It was the first speaker who ut- tered these words, little knowing that he had listeners other than the man to whom he spoke. A dark figure shot across the roadway and, almost before the Americans were aware of it, the party numbered three. “*Ah, Géddos, you are punctual “I have found It ever a virtu sponded the newcomer. “Have you secured your men?”’ *I have, your—" “8h! Call me Michael, on your life! They are ready and willing to undertake the venture?” - “Yes, but they do not understand the true conditions. I have told them that we are to rob the castle and carry the booty to Ganlook before morning." o “They do no: know the real object of the rald, then. That is as I desired. Are they trusty ana experienced men?” “The best—or the worst—that I could find in Vienna. Not one understands our language, and they are so ignorant of our town that they are entirely dependent on me. They know nothing whatever of the Princess, Mighael, and will do only as they are told, realizing that if caugkt they will be gulllotined. I have told them it is the royal palace we are to rifie. Os- trom, here, and I are the orly ones, ex- cept yourself and the men who will ald us inside the castle, who know the truth, sl 4 other briefly. “It cannot fail unless those inside prove false or unworthy,” sald the hoarse- voiced Ostrom. Anguish’s fingers were gripping Lorry's leg so flercely, that the blood was ready to burst out, but he did not feel the pain. Here, then, was some gigantic plot In which the person of the Princess herselt was to be considered. Was It an assas- sination? “You have five of these Viennese?"" “Yes. Two to stand beneath the win- dow to recelve the booty as we lower It to the ground, one to stand guard at the west gate and two to attend the carriage and horses in the ravine beyond the cas- tle. ‘When did these men arrive?* ° “This morning. I kept them in my sis- ter's home until an hour ago. They are now In the ravine awaiting Ostrom and myself. Are you sure, Michael, that the have been made to understand ¢ will mean ruin.”” “They are to be trusted fully. Their pay Is to be high enough to make it an object to be infallible. The guard. Du shan, will leave the gate unwatched, and you will chloroform him—with his cor- sent, of course. You will enter, as I have explained before, erawl along in the dark shadow of the wall until you rsach the arbor that leads to the kitchen and seul lery. Here another guard, Rabbo—known to Ostrom as a comrade in her Majesty’s service not more than a year ago—will be encountered. He will be bound andl gagged without the least noise or strug- gle. Just as the clock strikes 2 .the cook will walk past the scullery window, in the basement, thrice, carrying a lighc- ed candle. You will see this light through the window, and will know that all is well inside the castle. Ostrom, you will then lead the two Viennese to a pla: directly beneath the third window in thefl Princess’ sleeping apartment. There are several clumps of shrubbery there, and under these they will hide, protected from the gaze of any watchman who is not with us. You and Geddos will be admitted to the scullery by the cook, who will con~ duct you to the hall leading to her high- ness’ bedroom. The man who guards her door is called Damnox. He will not be at kis post, but will accompany you when you leave the castle. You will understand how carefully you must enter her room and how deeply she nrust be chloroformed. In the adjoining room her lady-in-waiting, the Countess Dagmar, sleeps. If Her door is ajar, you are %o creep in and chloroform her, leaving her undisturbed. Then the Princess is to be wrapped In the cloth you take with you and lcwered from the window to the men below. They are to remain in hiding until you have left the castle and have reached their side. It will not be difficult, if caution is observed, for you to get outside of the wall and to the carriage in the ravine. I have given vou this plan of action often, I know, but I desire to impress it firmly upon your minds. There must not be the slightest deviation. The precision of clock work is necessary.” The man named Mjchael hissed the fore- going into the ears of his companions, the palsied Americans hearing every word distinetly. They scarcely breathed, so mendous was the restraint imposed upon their nerves. A crime so huge, so daring as the abduction of a Princess, the ac- tual invasion of a castle to commit the theft of a human being just as an ordi- mary burglar would steal in and make way with the contents of a silver closet was beyond their power of comprehen- sion. “We understand fully how it is to be done and we shall get her to Ganlook on time,” <aid Geddos, confidently. cautioned the arch conspirator. four days I shall meet you at Ganlook. You will keep her in close confinement until you hear from me. Have you the gnard’s uniforms that you are to wear to- right?” ““They are with the carriage In the ra- vine; Ostrom and I will don them before going to the castle. In case we are seen they will throw observers off the track long enough for us to secure a good start in our flight.” “Remember, there is to be no failure. This may mean death to you: certainly a long prison term if you are apprehended. I know it is a daring deed, but it is just of the kind that succeeds. Who would dream that mortal man could find the courage to steal a princess of the realm from her bed and spirit her away from under the very noses of her vaunted guardsmen? It is the bold, the impossi- ble plan that wins.™ “We cannot fail if your men on the in- side do their work weil,” sald Geddos, repeating what Ostrom had sald. “All depends on their faithfulness.” “They will not be-foand wanting. Your cut-throats must be sent on to Calas with the empty carriage after you have reached Ganlook iIn safety. You will need them no more. Ostrom will pay them, and they are to leave thie country as quickly as possible. At Calas they will be able to join a packtrain that will carry them to the Great Northern Railroad. Fram there they will have no trouble in reaching Vienna. You will explain to them, Geddos. All we need them for, as you know, is to prove by their mere pres- ence in case of capture that the attempt was no more than a case of burglary con- celved by a band of Viennese robbers. There will be no danger of capture if you once get her outside the walls. You can be half way to Ganlook before she is missed from the castle. Nor can she be found at Ganlook if you f the structions I gave last night. It nearly 1 o’clock, and in half an night will be as dark as men; you have no more time this must be accomplished fully, deliberately. There m haste until you are ready for Ganlook. Go, but for God's sake, harm her! And do not fall™ ‘Failure means more to us than ¥ Michael,” half whispered the hoarse Os- trom. “Fallure means everything to me! I must have her!” Already the two hirelings were moving off toward the road that ran west of the castle grounds. Michael watched them for a moment and then started swiftly in the direction of the city. The watchers il 7858y J -« i -4 852 g g H with its quaint, jetky English. “What shall we do?" whispered An- guish when, the men were out of hearing. “God knows!” answered Lorry. “Thi is the most damnable thing I ever heard of. Are we dreaming? Did we really see and hear those men?” He had risen to his feet, his companion sitting weakly before him. “There’s no question about it! It's a case of abduction, and we have it in our power to spoil the whole job. By Gad. but this is luck, Gren!” Anguish was quivering with excitement as he rose to his feet. “Shall we notify old Dangloss or alarm the steward? There's no time to be lost if we want to trap these fel- lows. The chiet devil Is bound to escape, for we can't get him and the others, too, and they won’t peach on him. Come, wa must be lively! What are you standing there for? Damn it, the trap must be set!"™ “Walt. Why not do the whole job our- selves " “How—what do you mean?" “Why should we alarm anybody? We know the plans as well as these scoun- drels themselves. Why not follow them right into the castle, capture them red- handed, and then do the alarming? I'm in for saving the Princess of Graustark with our own hands and right under the noses of her vaunted guardsmen, as Michael says.” Larry was thrilled by the spirit of adventure. His hand gripped his friend's arm and his face was close to his ear. “It is the :nndmomnu-ny two human beings ever to distinguish themseives!™ “Great heaven, man! We can’t do such a thing!" gasped Anguish. “It is the easiest thing in the world. Besides, it we fall we have nothing to lose. 1f we succeed, see what we've done! Don’t hesitate, old man! Come on! Come on! We'll take 'em ourselves, as sure as K