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.
Desiring a position as kindergarten
teacher, a pretty young miss went to a
member of the school board in her city
and told him of her modest ambition.
He listened to the request in a father
ly way and no doubt considered that it
was-up to him to put a few general
questions. So he asked: “What are
your views on transcendentalism?”
The girl hesitated for a while and
then faltered: “Maybe I hadn’t better
try as high as kindergarten work.”
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