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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 15, 1923)
The Princess Dehra BY JOHN REED SCOTT. Copyright, 1*08, by John Rood Scott L--_-- J I To her quick eye and natural talent had been added years of careful training under expert maitres; for, to Frederick, she was both son and daughter, and he had encouraged her in every thing that went to strengthen body or mind. Yet she was so very modest about it, that only very lately had even Armand known of her proficiency; and now, he regularly put on the mask and plastron with her, and had her present when Moore and lie were practicing, w J'^And for morg than a little while,nr the archduke replied; “and if you do have to draw, try to forget you’re fencing with pointed weapons, and bear in mind only that you must not be touched.” She leaned closer to him. “Goodness Armand, you make me afraid,” she said, with a little shiver; “I don’t want to fight any one.” “Please God you won’t have to, dear, but if you do, remember that the surest way to save your life is to take the other fellow’s.” She shivered again. “I shouldn’t want to be a man.” lie slipped his arm around her and bent down. “Let me send you back to the palace, sweetheart,” he whis pered—“for my sake go back.” “It is for you sake I’m going on,” she answered, “and—I’ll kill the other fellow if I have to | •—but I don’t want to.” The carriage drew in to the curb and stopped. It was on a side street near the rear gate of the Ferida, and as the archduke got out, two officers in quiet uni forms and capes, who were walk ing slowly along halted, and, af ter a glance, came up and sa luted. They were De Coursey and Marsov. “I thank you for your at tendance,” said the archduke; and leaving it for Moore to ac quaint them with as much of the business in hand as was neces sary, he linked arms with the re gent and they went leisurely on; there was ample time, and they reached the entrance as the Cathedral bell rang the hour. The great gate was closed and locked, but in it was a small one, so cleverly hidden among the frets and ornaments that the archduke had trouble in locating it, and still more in finding the catch, which Mrs. Spencer had engaged would not be fastened. Across the street a number of men were loitering, and two came hastily over; but recognizing Colonel Moore, who had stepped out .to meet them, they made a quick salute and were returning, when he called them back. “It will be for you to see that we are not locked in,” he said, and following the others, who had already entered, he closed the gate behind him. The drive ran between great oaks straight toward the house, but, a little way in, a narrow walk branched from it on either (side and wound through trees and between hedges to the side gates, ami thence on to the front. Mi;s. Spencer’s apartments were in the wing on the right, and her instructions were to proceed by the path on that side until oppo Bite the rear of her suite; then by anoter path tat. bisected the first, and which, crossing the driveway between the rear and side gates, led to the house and close under her windows; there, at the first amall door, they were to knock. ► Eleven ojeiack was a very ear ly Lour at Ferida palace, and the archduke looked dubiously at the lighted windows and the flitting figures inside, with the music of "the orchestra, in the main hall, throbbing out irregu larly in bursts of rhythmic melo dy. It seemed rather absurd for five people to attempt a surrepti tious entrance into such a place; and again he urged the princess to return at least to the carriage, and await him there ; but without success; and in deep misgiving he went on. They gained the small door un seen, and with a cjuiet word of warning, he'knocked. From within came an answer ing knock, to which he responded with two quick tups, twice re peated ; the door opened a little way and Mrs. Spencer’s maid peered out; then, assured, she swung it back and curtsied them inside. “Suire* de pres, messieurs,” she whispered, finger on lips, and hurried down a narrow but rath er brightly lighted passage, and op a stairway, and into a room T3 <ui the second floor, where she prayed that they wait until she could announce them to madame. “And say to jrour mistress,” the archduke ordered, “that it is our pleasure not to intrude upon her until everything is arranged als intended.” “Jf Spencer will respect the request, it will he much easier for you, dear,” he said to Dehra; “when we are watching Lotzeu, the boudoir will have to be in darkness, and I’ll take ctpre that we leave the moment you have seen«the book.” “Do you think she will recog nize met” the princess asked. “I don’t know; it’s hard even to think what she can do or will do.” “At least, it has been easy thus far,” she laughed; “almost so easy as to indicate a trap.” The same thought had natur ally been in his mind, and he had hoped it would not occur to her# “Everything has worked so smoothly it rather suggests the reverse,” he said confidently; “but whatever happen, you must keep with me or Moore—Gentle men, I neglected to say that you will retain your caps uatil I re move mine.—Lieutenant Marsov, will you oblige me by turning off all the side lights?” Presently, from somewhere down the corridor, came the rip ple of Madeline Spencer’s laugh, and the ring of her clear voice. “Good night, Monsieur le Comte 1 I thank you for the dance, and all the rest;”—then in quieter tones: “no, you may not come in; you have annoyed the duke quite too much tonight, as it is—tomorrow? well, may be —tout a l’heure!” and the laugh again, and the closing of a door. Tke ’ princess looked at Ar mand and gave a faint shudder, but made no comment. In a moment the maid re turned. “It is as you wish, Mon sieur le—Monsieur,” as the arch duke’s gesture stopped the title. “Madame awaits you at once. In the room adjoining the boudoir, the archduke left the others and went in alone. Mrs. Spencer curtsied. “Your highness honors me,” she said. “Pray, madame,” said he, re turning her greeting with the curtest of military salutes, “let us eliminate unnecessary cere mony—this is an official visit, made at your particular request; if we are ready to begin, I will call my witnesses.” one watcner nim smilingly, pressing down the roses that lay across her breast--red roses, on a black gown that ended far be •low the dead white neck and shoulders. “What a cold blooded brute you are, Armand,” she mocked. “Can it be, that the pretty, in nocent, little doll, out yonder in the palace, has found a drop that is warm even when fresh from the heart!” He looked at her in steady threat. “Madame, I have told you I am here for but one purpose; beyond that, even in conversa tion, I decline to go. I tried to make it clear to you at the inn, how I would come, and why. I do not remember your record, nor even know your name; if I did, it would be my duty to send you immediately out of Valeria, and under escort. H, however, you presume to use this occasion to become offensive, I shall be obliged to remember, and to know.” She laughed seoffingly, and taking a cigaret lighted it. “As a token of peace,” she said softy, and proffered it to him. . . . “No? — I thought Ferdinand said he had learned it from you und—but, of course, it does make a difference whose are the lips that kissed it.” The archduke turned abrupt ly and went toward the door; an other such word and he might forget she was a woman. She might be able to show him the book, but, even could she give it to him, he would not have it, if its pcice were the princess on her tongue. She saw she had gone too far, “Armand!” she cried, “Ar mand ! stay—I’ll be good—I’ll be good.”—She sprang forward and caught his arm—“Don’t go —think of what 1 can show you.” “Then show it, madame,” he answered, facing her and so dis placing her hand; “show it; and leave off personalities. ” Without replying, she went to a window, and drew ths shads aside a Tittle way. “Yes, he is there,” she said, “but Bigler is with him . .ah! he is going—now, we shan’t have long to wait.”—she motioned the archduke to her. “See—there shouldn’t be any doubt of the identification, if he give you a chance to see it.” He went over and looked. She was right; nor would they need the field glass to recognize it. Fifty yards away, in the opposite wing, were Lotzen’s apartments —his library windows raised, the shades high up, the curtains drawn back; and he, himself, at the big table under the chande lier, a twin drop-light focused on the writing pad. And even while the archduke looked, Lotzen arose and from the safe behind him took out a package wrappped in black. * ‘ That’s it! ” Madeline Spenser exclaimed, “that* it’!—Here is the glass-” ‘ He lingered for nother glance, before summoning the others— and Mrs. Spencer forestalled him. She ran to the door and flung it wide. “Come,” she said, “come his highness needs you.” The princess had been talking to Colonel Moore, her back to the door; as it opened, she threw up her head, and turned with an eager smile, thinking it was Ar mand—and so gave Mrs. Spencer a full view of her face. Then Moore stepped quickly between them and suavely bowed Mrs. Spencer into her boudoir; the next moment the archduke was there. “ With your permission, mad ame, we will extinguish the lights," he said, “and raise the shades." She smiled maliciously, delib erately moving near enough to see the (princess over Moore’s shoulder. Extinguish the lights?" she laughed, “certainly; darkness will be better for the business, and will conceal—everyone, ’ ’ and herself went over to the main switch at the corridor and pushed it open. The princess caught Armand’s hand. “She recognized me," she whispered. “Oh, no, dear; you’re only ner vous," he answered—though he was satisfied she was right. “Keep you hat well down, and don’t look at her; the momept i you have identified the book, we will leave; you go with Moore; I’ll engage the vixen until you’re out of range." He had led her to a window and raised the shade. The lights from the duke’s library leaped across the garden court at them, but he, himself, was not visible, though on the table lay the pack age, still wrapped in black as when taken from the safe. Some one came behind them, and Ar mand glanced over bis shoulder —it was Mrs. Spencer, and she was looking at the princess; nor did she cease, though she knew his eyes were on her; instead, she smiled and shot him a quick glance, and resumed the looking. He felt Dehra begin to tremble —whether with anger or nerves, he could not tell—and Mrs. Spencer spoke. “Your highness’ companion is evidently untised to adventures, despite his uniform; he is actu ally twitching with excitement.’* “Or with the temptation of your proximity,” Armand re plied giving her his back. And Dehra laughed softly. Colonel Moore had been at an other window; now he came over, and, in the most casual way, found Mrs. Spencer’s hand and gave it a familiar squeeze. “You’re pretty enough to night to give even an old-stager like me a flutter,” he whispered in his most caressing tones, and, in the darkness, slipped his arm around her waist. She pushed it away, though i not very vigorously it seemed to him. “You are impertinent, sir,” she said. “1 meant to be; it’s the only way to get on with you,” and he deliberately put his arm around her again, and rather more tight ly. “Come along to my win dow,” he urged. She knew very well that his purpose was to divert her from the princess, but she went—nor appeared to bother that his arm remained. Here, was a new sort of man. with a new sort of meth od, and she was, if the truth be ; told, very willing for them both, j Besides, her time would come presently. Moore is a wonder,” Armand commented—and broke off, as the duke came into view and sat down at his table. But Lotzen was in no haste to unwrap the package; he drew it over and slowly loosed the cords, then suddenly laid it aside, ana coming over to the window, seemed on the point of drawing the shade, but he changed his mind, and after staring into the garden and toward Mrs. Spen cer’s apartments, he returned to the table. Without more ado he removed the black cloth, but pushed it in a heap, so that it hid the book— that it was a book, they could distinguish, but nothing else— and went to examining some pa pers he took from it. The princess stirred restlessly; her nerves were not attuned to such tension; and the archduke reassured her by a touch and a word. Over at their window, Mrs. Spencer and Colonel Moore were whispering, and laughing softly, the latter, however, with a wary eye across the courtyard. The swinging cadence of a Strauss wait* came, brokenly, from the orchestra still playing in the great hall, with, now and then, a burst of men’s voices in noisy hilarity from the card rooms or the main guard. Presently the duke put down the papers, and, pushing aside the black cloth, disclosed the back of the book—black, with heavy brass hinge-bands across it. “Look,” the princess ex claimed, “look! it’s very like it —why doesn’t he lift the cover .... there!—see. the nas*es. too!—it must be!—it is!—it—” “Run away, girl!” came Count Bigler’s voice from, the corridor, “run away, I say— you’re pretty enough, but I want your mistress now.” There was a moment’s scuffle, and the door swung back-‘ ‘ Dark ! well, ‘ let there be light!” and he snapped the switch. It all was done so quickly and unexpectedly that Mrs. Spencer was caught half way to the door, as she sprang to lock it; Armand had time only to push the prin cess away from the window and step in front of her; while Colo nel Moore, with De Coursey and Marsov, tried to get across to cover the archduke. But they failed. Bigler saw him instantly. “The American!” he shouted, “the American!” and wrenching back the door, he disappeared down the corridor. “The fool!” Madeline Spen cer exclaimed; “he has spoiled everything—quick, you must get away; I don’t want another De Saure house here,” with a look at Armand—“the way you came will still be open.”—She hurried ahead of them through the rooms to the stairway. . . . “I’ve been honest and I want to prove it, but,” she laughed aneeringly after them, “the next time her highness plays the man, let her wear a mask and a larger shoa.” The noise of men rim mng came from below. Hur ry!” the cried, “they are try ing to cut you off.” With the regent between them, and De Coursey and Marsov be hind, the archduke and Moore dashed Uown the lower passage to the small door and out into the garden. “Come along!” said Armand; “we don’t want a fight; make straight for the gate.” Holding Dehra’s arm, he ran across the drive and, avoiding the winding path, cut over the grass—to bring up, in a moment, at a fountain in a labyrinth of thick hedges and walks, none of which seemed to lead gateward. With a muttered imprecation, the archduke chose the one that pointed toward the winding path by which they had entered, only to discover that it curved back toward the house. “Take the hedge!” >he or dered ; and he and Moore tossed the princess over the seven foot obstruction, and were swung up, themselves, by De Coursey and Marsov, whom they then pulled across._ (To Be Continued Next Week.) A* They Sounded to Her. From the New York I.etter In the Pitts burgh Dispatch. “T have a new stenographer," said WlJJtt. “she's a wonder. She writes what she thinks she hears without re gard to what it means. And her hear ing does not seem to be particularly acute. For instance. I dictated a letter In which I told a man to look after hla ‘finite ego' and the letter advised him to keep an eye on hla ‘fine eyed dago.’ ” “It may have been good advice Just the same," said his listener. "Perhaps." was ths answer. “But an other of her efforts was not so good. That la It did not make much sense. I used the phrase, ‘co-labor wtth you.’ and ehe wrote It ‘coal labor review.’ I asked her what she thought it meant and she said it did not mean anything to her." “Going to keep her?” "Sure. She amuses me on a dull, drab day. It te always Interesting ;« read the letters she has turned out to see if ‘fly swatter' has become loo water," or if ‘cross 1 bar’ has become ‘cross-eyed bear.’ She writes things as she hears thsm." A drastic anti-ctgaret Is In the Wash ington state legislature It prehiMta sale and manufacture of cJgarets, wrappers and papers, and pro Vidas for confiscation wherever found. CASTORIA For Infants and Children. Mothers Know That Genuine Castoria Alwi Bears Signature Thirty Years , CASTORIA THB OCHTAUR OOMMNT, HCW YORK 01 TV. They Spring Up Fait. August Belmont said at a dinner party in Tuxedo: "Nev York is a hustling city, and it is astonishing how fast we can pro duce aristocrats here. “I dined the other evenihg in the new granite palace in Fifth avenue of a war profiteer. It was a magnificent feast, and I said to my hostess after it was over: “ ‘But I haven’t been introduced to your husband yet. lie’s here, of course?’ “ ‘Well—er—no, he isn’t,’ said my hostess. “Then she shrugged her white shoul ders and added: “‘You’ve got to draw the line some where. you know.’ ”—I’ittsburgh Chron icle-Telegraph. Put and Take. Eleanor, at three, was very fond of her chewing gum, yet promptly obeyed when one day her mother told her to put it in the coal scuttle because din ner was ready. However, she was soon chewing again, so mother ex claimed: “Why, Eleanor, 1 thought your gum was in the coal seuttle!” And baby sweetly lisped, “It wath, but now itli over here where me Is!” Red Tape at Its Highest. Circumlocution in the civil service ii not always the result of the system. A few weeks ago an official in oh« department made an inquiry about s certain case to a subordinate official in another section who allowed tin matter to slide. Last week the first official addressed a complaint to the subordinate’s su perior and the superior passed on tht minute to the subordinate with tht query, “Has nothing been done?” The minute was returned marked “Yes” and was sent back to the sub ordinate with a laconic “What?” “Nothing,” was the subordinate’s comment on the minute. Maybe Flying Too High. 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