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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1899)
THE OKAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , AUGUST 13 , 1890. t fl modern mercenary. Jtt tS SX9 > SXSxS > * L & II. HERON. ( Copyright , 1899 , Doublcd-iy & JtcClure Co. ] Sriiniinln of I'reccdltiK Ctinptrrn. Maanau , a little duchy In Europe , whlct lias maintained Its Independence because ol the Jealousies of tlio largo surrounding countries , seems about to bo Bwallowed up Qormany Is represented at Rovonde , th ( oapltol , by the shrewd statesman , Barer von Klmur. Englnnd'a Influence Is etronf nnrt Mnjor Counsellor's presence means much. Franco and Ilussta arc also playlnp the diplomatic game. At the tlmo the storj opens John Hollywood , a young English' man , who has served seven years In th MaoBiu frontier cavalry. 18 about to rcslgr liln oammtaslon , when Belpdorf. the chancellor - collor nnd "man ot the liour1 sends foi lilm and makcn him n. Gentleman of the Guard. Rallywood moots Valnrle Brlpdorf , the chancellor's daughter. The Gontlemcr of the Guard object to the appointment ol the Englishman , Unzlar , a leader ana a mittor for Valerie's hand , arranges for the nffalr of honor Involved , mlnsca his snot and. with his companions la overcome uy the manly bearing of Rallywopd. The Kuesto at the palace hall overwhelm tin young Englishman with congratulations , Countess Sagan takes a great Interwt in Hallywood and Invite * him to Castle Sagan with a party. Von Elmur plots with Solo- dorf In behalf of Germany to disband UK Guard. At the castle Valerie offends the duks. Sagan , fearing that the women will npoll the plot , wishes to cause the death of VaJerlo and his wife. Von Elmur will not consent because he wishes to mam Valeric , and still believes he can carry out Ills plan with Belpdorf. Meantime , the GimrdH. Unzlar. Colondorp and RaJlywooa , must bo disposed of. Von Elmur. unzlat and Rallywood woo Valerie. Countess Bagnn foresees the dancer of the jounj ; 3Sn ll9hmnn and warns him. Colendorp re- fuscn to bo traitor to he duke and It munlerea by Hasan In the presence of Voji Elmur. The followers ot SaRan attack the Guard In the castle. Hallywood and Un- zlar are overpowered , but Major Counsellor In disguise as > ttie duke appears nnd the whole affair la hushed up. Satran doe ? not dare to carry out his present plot , since Ocrmnny , Russia and England would know the ifacts. CHAPTER XXI. ( As Tlallywood rode on the weather grow rapidly -worse , and It soon became Impossi ble to see * more than a few yards ahead. The night was settling down thick with fall ing snow , so that ho could only pull up nnd listen when a ffllnt nolso. that might have been a woman's ecream , came to him through the storm. He shouted In return , Tjut there was no answer. Then out of the flray curtnln a ulelgh "with two maddened horses dashed across Ms path and was as suddenly lost to sight. Rallywood had only tlmo to oe a woman clinging to the driver's empty seat and clutching desperately at the dangling reins. They passed like a vision , noiseless , swift nnd dim , and , although Rallywood followed quickly , ho could not find them. The gloom and the snow bad obliterated all trace ol the sleigh , nnd at last Rallywood himself , well as ho knew the country , became be wildered , Tiut luckily the horse he rode was Q charger ho had had with him on the frontier. Ho left it to choose Its own di rection , yet It was long before a blur ol light , which ho know to be > the open door way of the blockhouse , grew out on the shifting darkness. Within the men of the patrol were standIng - Ing in a group , talking eagerly. Flinging himself from his horse Rallywood entered the house Just ns a young cavalry officer came from the Inner room , and , recogniz ing Rallywood , advanced hurriedly to meet him. him."I say , who do you think wo have Jn there ? " ho said excitedly. "Toll mo afterward , " Interrupted Rally- wood ; "I mot a runaway elelgh " "Thoy were the horses ifrom the castle , " interrupted the young man with a nervous laugh. "Mile. Selpdorfmanaged to gel ihold of the reins after a bit , other wise " he snapped hie fingers significantly , "Then she the lady Is safe ? " "Two of them , my dear friend ! One Is the handsomest girl In Maasau , and the other Is Mmo. do Sagan herself ! And , by Jove , she's no Infernally pretty woman , too. We're In luck , Rallywood ! Have you come to look for them ? " Rnllywood hesitated before ho replied. "No. thanks. I must get back to Revondc liy the first train , so I will ride on wltli the next patrol to the station. Are they hurt ? " he nodded toward the Inner room. "No , but how they escaped the deuce only knows ! Mmo. do Sagan was Insensi ble when -wo found them. " Ho dropped Ills voice. "Uy the way , she hns 'been eay- ihg some queer things ! She declares the driver Inshed up the horses and purposely threw himself off the sleigh when they were on the elope of the pine wood Just above the Ingonm precipice. She swears ho meant to kill them ! " "She was frightened. That's all. " "It wns about n certainty they'd bo dashed to pieces. And look here " the young follow looked oddly at Rallywood , "she hinted that the count " "Nonsense ! " Rnllywood forced a laugh. "She wns badly frightened , I tell you. " "I'll tnko my oath there's something in It , though ! She refuses to lot us take her back to the castle tonight. " "What hnvo you given them tea or any thing ? " / "Faith. no ! I made them each take a nip of blzuttc far bettor , too. But we'll have oonto tea made now If you think they .would . like it. " "Of course. It will give them something to do. Uy the way , you might ns well ns ! ' them If they would see mo , " On eecond thoughts nnd In view of tht counters' refusal to go back to Sagan , be felt ha niucit offer his assistance. "yes , ask them if tboy will see mo now , ' ho continued , looking at Ills watch ; "I havi not much time to Rpare. " The next 'moment ' Isolde's high , swee ! voice could bo heard distinctly through tht open door. "Cnptnln Rnllywood ! Pray tell him w ( should llko to see him. " Mmc. do Sagan was lying on i narrow camp < bcd supported by wraps am pillows , a brilliant red spot on each check and her eyes darker than ordinary undei the Influence ot the alternate fright am stimulation ot the last two hours. Shi waited till the door was shut , then ehe pu out 'both ' hands to Rallywood. "Thank heaven , we are safe nnd togethei again , Jack ! Come here I I want to know that you are alive anil this Is not all t Kodol Dyspepsia Cure Digests what you eat. Itartlliclally digests the food and aids Nature In strengthening and recon structing the exhausted digestive or gans. It Is the latoKt discovered dlpest- unt ana tonic. IMu other preparation can approach it in cttlciency , It in stantly relieves and permanently cure ? Dyspepsia , Indigestion , Hearthuru , Flatulence , Sour Stomach , Nausea/ SlckHeadichcGastralgiaCrampsanu : , allotherrosultsof Imperfectdlpestlon , . C. OeWItt &Co. Cblcaao. dream , " she bfean tmpulitlvely , yet behind the impulse lay a calculated design. She owed her life to Valerie's courage , but that welched ax nothing In comparison with the knowledge that in some Indefinite manner the clrl stood between Rallywood and her self , that Itallrwood for eome reason held Valerie In special regard. Hollywood bowed , still irtnndlne by the door. "Thank heaven , you are safe , madamc , " he said , "I saw you somewhere this Ride ol the pine woods , but loat you in the mist. " "O , I did not sec you I I saw nothlnc after that murderer leaped off. I had n horrible Instant , during which I Imagined myself swinging 'between ' the gorge and the sky after that I knew no more ! " exclaimed Isolde , a sort of complacency mixing with her agitation. "They tell une that Valeric was very brave and that she saved our lives , but for tne these heroisms are Impossible. " She glanced at Rallywood , secure In hie approval , but ho had turned to Valerie , who waa Bitting In a low < irooden chair by the store frith her back to the room. "It was magnificent , mademoiselle ! " h exclaimed. Valerie shivered. "There was nothing at all magnificent about It. " she said coldly. "Self-preserva tion drives one to do what one can ; It Is only iby chance that one happens to do the right thine. " Isolde shrugged her shoulders and made a little grimace at Rallywood. "Do not heed her. Jack , People are al ways very pleased with themselves for doing what other people call magnificent. Valerie Is cross. Take this chair by me. I have a very serious Quarrel with you. " All the terror and nerll of that dreadful drive had passed from Mme. de Sagan's facile mind. The little rivalries nnd coquet ries of everyday life occupied her as fully as If her lot contained no troublous outlook. In this conjunction vanity will often do for a woman what work does for a man. As for Isolde , the email promptings of a wounded vanity at once absorbed her. Very unwillingly Rallywood obeyed. Be tween those narrow walls one -was within hand-reach of everything In the room , so that , although he was beside the countess , he was not a yard from Mile. Selpdorf. "So you would not come to me last night ? " began Isolde , abruptly. "You cannot toe made to understand that we Mansauns hold human life of very little account. It li stupid of you , Jack , 'but ' you will be forced to 'believe It now. Do you know that the driver of the alelgli " The attempt at assassination was horrl- 1)1 o enough In itself , but from her lips , wearing that atrange , Innocent smile , he ifelt he could not endure the story. "I have heard of It , " he Interposed , has tily. "Tho lieutenant told me. But " Isolde leaned upon her elbow to look Into his face. "WhatI You don't foeUere even now that Simon Is trying to rid himself of me ? Valerie , speak ! You , too , refused to believe mo last night. What do you say now ? " "It may have been an accident , " said Valerie , with a tired movement. "Absurd ! But whatever you choose to eay I will not go .back . to the castle. Re- vonde la perhaps safe " "My father Is there , and you will be eafe , " eald'Valerle , In a tone of quiet certainty. Isolde laughed scornfully. "I don't know that ; for , after all , Sagan is the most pow erful man in the state ! " she cried , with that perverse pride In her Jiusiband that his daring personality seamed to develop In all his dependents. As Valerie made no reply , she harked back to her former subject. "I was In dan ger last night , Jack , yet you 'would not como to my help. What excuse can a man offer for such a thing ? " Her voice nnd lips had grown tender In addressing him. "Tho duke , madame. " "That for the old duke ! " with a charmIng - Ing gesture of emptying tooth her little hands. "What Is he In comparison to me ? Jack , you arc but a poor lover after all ! " Rallywood began to see that some motive underlay Isolde's wild talk. The kind eyes with which ho had been watching her changed. "It Is very true , " he eald , "Jack , Jack , how am I to forgive- you ? " she swept on. "Yet you rerae.mber , when I was a firefly at the palace 'ball , I told you that like a firefly my life would be short and merry. My prophecy Is coming true. " An almost Imperceptible alteration In the pose of the quiet figure by the open stove was not lost upon Mine , de Sagan. The sweet treble voice resumed : "You took a firefly from my fan and told me that one always wanted the beauti ful things to live forever. Jack , you prom ised to lo my friend that night. You have not forgotten. " "I have not forgotten. " "And the firefly ? Have you kept that as carelessly as you have kept your promise ? Where Is your clgarotte case ? Ah ! " a pause , then a cry of pleasure. "Valerie , come here ! He dropped It Into his cigarette case and It is here still ! If you had only re minded him of that " Valerie stood up , cord and proud and ex ceedingly pale. "I forgot. " "It does not matter now , " Isolde , replied , taking the glittering atom from Its hiding place and holding It up on her slender finger to catch the light , "since wo have met after all , You meant to fall , Valerie ! Were you not ashamed to deceive roe last night even last night when you saw I was desperate , nnd .0 , eo horribly afraid ? " Rajlywood , albsorbed In other thoughts , gathered very little of what wns being said. After avoiding Isolde ot Sagun with more or less success on the frontier , he had , since hla stay In Revonde , yielded in an odd ro- swvcd way to her Infatuation for him , partly out ot a desire to secure meetings with Mile , Sclpdorf , onrtly from u man's stupid help- lessnesa under such circumstances. The more chivalrous the man the more helpless very often. But nil this was entirely and forever unexplalnable to Mile. Selpdorf. He drew a deep breath. There was nothing for U but to accept the situation. "We both owe a debt to Mile. Sclpdorf for carrying the message , " he said. "You are mistaken , " said Valerie , and he winced under the contempt of her voice. "I should never have stooped to carry it bad I not had a far different object In view , " Isolde laughed to a shrill echo. Valerie Selpdorf'a haughty spirit was about to be humbled. She dimly felt why Rallywoo i held the girl to be far above the level of ordinary womanhood a cold and unattain able etar. But she should be dragged down from the heights 'before his eyes , "I woo not so blind as you supposed , " Isolde said aloud , pointing an accusing fluger at Valerie , "I knew why you went. Shall I toll you , Jack ? " Rallyiwood looked Up quickly. Colendorp naturally recurred to bis mind. "You could not have known , " Valerie on- ewcred , "Hut I did , though ! " Isolde went on. "Listen to me , Jack. Do you know why she undertook my message and why she forgot its moat important polntT My life has come tonight to . crisis ; Iwill not par those who have txxm cruel to m l" Isolde was trembling with oxottoment , ns she irancd forward , one hand holding by the table , that stood between her and Vfllerle , the other clenched In the soft fur of the rug on her kncce. "Why ? 0 , men are so simple ! They believe A woman to bo pure and true , If she but knows how to temper her coquetries with a pretense of reserve. Jack , Valerie baa foecn false to me and to you , because oho is jealous of mo , and because she her self loves you ! " Rally wood rose slowly. 'Hush , madnme ! " Vnlorlo stood for one Instant scarlet from neck to brow , then the blood ebbed and left her of a curious deadly paler , like one who has a mortal wound , but eho still faced them , "Walt , Jack , you shall hear the end now that wo have gene so far. " Isolde laughed ngaln , She was so euro of her lover. "It Is well for the truth to como out sometimes , you know. Yes , Valeric Selpdorf , the proud , unapproachable Valeric , loves a cap tain of the guard , who " Rnllywood strode across in front of her. After such .wordu . of outrage , his very near- new to Mile. Solpdorf scorned In itself an insult. With his back to the door he stopped and took Up the lost unfinished sentence. "You have made a strange mistake , madame , " ho said , In a low voice , but very clearly. "On the contrary , It Is the captain ot the guard who hns loved Mile. Selpdorf , and oven dared to tell her eo , although she had shown him that she regarded him with scorn and dislike. I hope I may be forgiven for acknowledging this now , mademoiselle. And let mo say one thing more , that , though I have no hope , though I am ono of love' "HUSH , MADAME ! " beggars , the greatest honor ot my life will bo that I have loved ouch a. woman ! " The door closed behind him. Isolde sat stupefied at the ro'stilt of her stratagem , the stratagem by which she had intended to humble Valerie in the most cruel way a woman can ibc humbled * Valerie , sinking down Into her chair , burst Into an uncontrollable flood of tears. The secret of her heart , which she hafl dented to herself , sprang up at Isolde's words and con fronted her , filling her world's horizon. " .Well , " said Isolde , after a long pause. " We love but while we may. I wish you Joy ot his constancy. He loved me yester day. " Valerie raised her head with the old haughty gesture. "As for him , Isolde , you compelled him to say it ! But ho does not love me ! " Her voice gathered strength. "As for me , you shall know the whole truth ; you are right I love him , for ho Is a most noble Gentle man ! " CHAPTER XXII. 'In ' T < eve vrlth Honor. Rovondo was drenched in a sudden and depressing thaw. From her crowned ridges down to the swollen river rushlnc at her feet , she stood shivering In a robe of cling ing inlst : yet the day was warm -with the raw , deceptive closeness that chills to the bone and awakens the latent germs of death. Prom the iHotel du Chancellor the winter view over the bright , beautiful city , glitter ing only yesterday In Its winter bedlzen- ment of frost and snow , was changed. Streams of dirty water poured from the roofs and In the streets the miry snow sluiced slowly down hill or stuck on passing boot- heels In treacherous pads , The chancellor usually 'breakfasted ' alone with his daughter , She was at once spirited and adaptable adaptable enough to fall in with a man's moods and spirited enough to hold Independent opinions , an Ideal combina tion In a comrade , Servants were rigorously excluded from the room during the meal , that father and daughter might talk freely together. "I have hardly seen you since you came back , Valerie. I have missed you , " Selpdorf said as be turned away from the table and lit a cigarette. "I am hurried today , yet I must speak to you on a subject that cannot be put off. One incident of'your ' stay at the castle has been constantly In my mind , " "Yes , father. " The unconcern In her voice struck Selp dorf. Things were either about to go unex pectedly well or else very badly. "Baron von Glmur tells me you yielded to my advice nnd his wishes. In fact , you con sented to an engagement. " " 0 , yes , for the time being. " "My dear girl , " he returned gravely , "It has been publicly announced. It was an nounced the same evening , I understand , " Valerie looked At him wlth-a vague alarm in her eyes. "Only by an unlucky accident,1' she re plied. "It was never Intended to be an nounced. Baron von Elmur assured we ot that. " "I am sure Von Blmur's intentions were most generous , but the , fact remains that it WCB made public. Valerie , you must be aware of his feelings toward you ? " Valerie came round the table and sat down brelde her father , slipping her hand caressingly through bis arm. Selpdorf smiled down at her. "Valerie , I roust ask you to consider not only your own share In this question , but Von Blmur's. It compr'railsps Elmur no leea than It compromises you. " "I cannot carry out the engagement , " eald the girl quietly. iM. Selflerf tbr.w jrft 'leMf surprise and disappointment into his countenance. "I did not know you -were to greatly prejudiced against him. But , Valerie , we are honorable people , you and I , nnd wo cannot allow Baron von Elmur to Buffer be cause wo unluckily misunderstood one an other. " Valerie grew very still , her Cogcrs pressed upon her father's arm. "Nothing succecda llko success , and up to the present tlmo Von Elmur has suc ceeded , ' . ' he went on. "But a failure in a love affair places a man In an absurd posi tion , and to bo laughed at means loss of prestige. Wherever ho Is known the story will follow him. He has a brilliant future before him , a future that It might bo the pride of any woman 'to share. I think , therefore , you will hesitate before you Injure - juro him * by giving way to a. glrllnh and perhaps passing dislike. " "Father , I cannot ! " "What are your reasons ? " he asked , after a pause. "I do not like Baron von Elmur. " "That Is unfortunate , but your dislike may bo overcome when you know him bet ter. " "O , no ! never ! " "Why not ? " "Is It possible to explain a. dislike ? " nskcd Valerie rather petulantly. "No , perhaps not for a woman , " said Sclpdorf reflectively , " .but since there IB no other" ho waited , then putting his fore finger under her chin , ho raised her face and looked into It , "Unless Indeed you prefer same one " Her eyes , which met his with the clear direct glance they had not Inherited from himself , and her pale gravity dismayed him. "Spoak , my dear child. This as a matter very .near my heart , " he said quietly. A tremulous smllo came to Valerie's lips. "And near mine or 1 should not oppose you , father. " Selpdorf pushed her away from him with a gentle hand. "You don't know what you are doing , " he said shortly , and gazed out with undis guised chagrin Into the mists that overhung Revonde , Presently he stood up. "Well , well ; It only goes to provo that the human element is a variable quantity , " he remarked. "Am I only a human element In your plans ? Am I no more then that to you ? " She put her hands upon bis shoulder. M. Selpdorf drew her nearer and kissed her forehead. "You know what you are to me , Valerie. I had hoped to join our Interests in all things , but " he turned to the door. "Father ! " the girl cried , "don't leav rae like this. You don't understand. I only knew by chance. He is too noble to " "An ! " Selpdorf recollected 'Elmur's ' phrase. "There is always the picturesque captain of the guard. " Ho paused before speaking. "Then this noble Individual does not propose to take my daughter from mo altogether- only to entangle her in a sentimental em barrassment ? " "Ho made no claim upon me. He wns compelled to to speak for my sake ! " "I will not ask for further confidences today , Valerie. But think over the whole of our conversation. I can trust you to be just , even to Baron von Elmur. 'M. Sefpclorf knew that the longer an Idea Is brooded over the harder It becomes to part company with It. Therefore , the fore noon was yet young when Von Elmur drove up to the Hotel du Chancellor In reply to a summonn. The German plot was not yet at an end. By judicious manipulation Selp dorf had gleaned a dim knowledge of Coun sellor's errand from the duke , who was as wax in his supple hands. Counsellor's re turn had nlready become ono day overdue and Selpdorf took advantage of the delay to Infuse doubts and troubled surmises into the duke's wavering mind. "I have had a 111110 tafk with my daugh ter , " Selpdorf began. "Am I then to have the pleasure of an interview with mademoiselle today ? " ho Inquired. "I hope she exonerates me from any blame In connection with tbo announce ment made at Sagan ? " "Entirely. But she U inclined to insist that her consent was conditional no more. " "I only desire the opportunity of assuring her of my entire devotion , " said Elmur. "I do not fancy that she wrongs you , my dear -baron , by doubting that. " "There Is then a difficulty on the part of mademoiselle ? It Is unfortunate. " "U can be overcome. She Is still very young and her imagination has been touched. Tbo Englishman , Captain Rally- wood , has , as you once remarked , the knack of making hlmserf picturesque , which ap peals In fact to the Imagination. I am my self sensible of something of the kind when dealing with him. Valerie Imagines him to be Quixotic. " "Has " Elmur mademoiselle eald this ? wns stiffening at every sentence. Circum stances and not liking had put these two men on the same sldo and Selpdorf repaid Elmur' * eneersat the belplessneii of Maasau with sympathy for Elmur's position as a lover. No man likes to be pitied In his love affairs. "No , no , my good friend , no name was mentioned. It may bo more convenient that I should never know It. " "Then you think she may 'be persuaded to alter her decision with regard to me ? " "I am certain of it , " "And whnt do you suggest shall be dons with my rival ? " asked the German with a sinister Inflection ot the voice. "We must break him. " "Will It not bo possible to work in this mall nffalr with Counsellor's detention ? Send Captain Rallywood to Kofn Ford to undertake the custody ot Major Counsellor Of course , it will not bo necessary for you to mention the name of the person about ! whom your stupid frontier officials are to make so convenient a mistake. When Rallywood discovers the Identity ot his prisoner I fancy his honor will find the weight of temptation put upon It too great He also la In the English plot , remember and ho will oo-opcrato with his country man. Ho will allow Counsellor to escape But by that tlmo the duke must have closed with another ally. " Solpdort comprehended that the German was playing bU own game In a double sense Ho was , In fact , serving his own private Interests , nnd nlso hustling Sclpdorf along toward the German goal. "Then wo shall have a court-martial , " eald the chancellor. "Disgrace will be more effectual than death itself in this cas . " "Disgrace ? Ah , yes ! But I know what would happen to Captain Rallywood In my country. " Elmur's eyes had a gleam In them. "I am not so well Informed. Our state Is moro elastic In its laws than yours. I cannot foresee what will happen to him In mine ! " replied Sclpdorf , smiling. "Thero Is but one thing that could happen to him under military law 1n any country. Ho will be fihott" said Elmur , pleasantly , then added , with a sudden uncontrolled Irri tation , "And that , too , Is picturesque. " The chancellor spread out his hands. "What will you , my dear baron ? It Is also conclusive. Besides , wo shall have gained our point. Valerie will bo dis illusioned ; for recollect , I pray you , that Valerie Is in love with ionor. " CHAPTER XXIII. ' How Ilnllyirood Hncl 111 * Orders. Unzlar had already departed to the fron tier on a secret errand when Rallywood started for the chancellcrle through the slush and fog. It was yet early In the afternoon , and an hour when the duke sometimes drove out. As Rallywood trotted along the embankment by tbo river he saw the outriders of the duke's carriage coming toward him. Gustavo of .Maasau happened to bo alone and , to indulge the humor of the moment , ho beckoned the young man to the side ot the carriage and spoke a few words to him. Ho took a pleasure in the Englishman's frank readiness. "I have to thank you for your energy in the matter of Colendorp , " he began. "Wo have , however , decided to leave the whole matter in abeyance for the present. So M. Selpdorf hns sent for you ? What for ? " he added with the curiosity ot an idle man. "I do not know , sire. " "Now , I remember , ho did mention some thing about well , well , we have worse ene mies in the state than the chancellor , " he wandered on , for be had had an interview during the morning with Solpdorf , and was moro than half persuaded to place hlmscrt once moro unreservedly under that able di rection. For Selpdorf had almost succeeded In lulling his suspicions and In lurking him back to the old comfortable habit ot be lieving In a false peace. Ho half regretted the doubts ho had lately entertained of his prime minister nnd was weakly willing to disabuse the Englishman's mind of prejudice. Ho did not know that Raflywod was quite unaware of Selpdorf's connection with the Sagan plot , "Tho excellent Belpdorf is un sparing of his agents , " went on the duke in vague connection , "but be Is also unspar ing of himself. Therefore see that you obey him loyally. For me , ho docs what he wills with me. " He laughed and raised his band by way of dismissal , Raltywod went on wondering what the duke mennt to convoy by this praise of his great minister , nnd , In fact , set many con structions on the empty words , Selpdorf received him with an air of gravity , almost of restraint , entirely unlike the debonnalr Interest he had shown In him on the occasion of their last Interview. "I have sent for you , Captain Rallywood , " ho said after a moment's consideration , "to entrust to you a very delicate mission. " He ceased and waited for some re sponse. He was standing opposite to Rallywood on a white fur rug. The up standing corners of bis mustache , his up right carriage and the Ineffaceable mark left upon him by his short term of military service for conscription obtains in Maasau had their effect upon Rallywood. Ho picked out the soldier from the chancellor and saluted in Hllence. Solpdorf smiled. Yet ( ho wished the man hud spoken ! t > o much may be deduced from a tone of voice. Did bo guebs how much Selpdorf knew of his relations with Valerie ? But there was nothing to be gathered from the rigid front. "Before I give you any Information I roust ask you first to nay whether you will serve hU lilghness or not ? " "I have taken the oath , your excellency , " "Yes , " the chancellor eald. dubiously , "and an oath goes a long .way , but some , times not all the way. Has not norno writer W that U Is the man th t m k * the oath believed , not the oath the man ? " "I have taken .the soldier's oath , " repeate Rallywood. But ho had no protestation ot fidelity t offer. It rested with Selpdorf to chocwo th right man for his mission. Selpdorf contcmpJatcd Ilallywood kindly us If prepared to bo Interested In hid answer Ho was trying to draw nomothlng from th man , but Rallywood only stood etrnlghtcr an hugged his wooden silence closer. Any re ply ho could make would give the advnntng to Selpdorf. For the present ho hlmtcl held it. It is often so. The man wh speaks ten words him n pull over the man who speaks a hundred , "I thank your excellency , " ho replied. " "Thero Is , " Selpdorf began again , modlta lively , ns if permitting himself the luxury of a little frankness before trusted ad herent , "nn end to everything nnd a begin nlng. The line drawn between the new nnd old la never defined ; the two overlap Wo may regret the old , but since the now Is irresistible , the wlso man makes the best o it. " Ho looked up with nn alert interest. "In your own case , Captain Rallynood , yea wore not long ago at the dividing line your self. How has the now life "treated you ? "Well ! " said Rallywood , as if flinging back a challenge , The chancellor's round eyes mot his. "Ah , I thought it would be BO ! You were half Inclined that night to let fortune go by you. You must mount her , man. not lead her by the bridle. " "I doubt , your excellency , If she will carry mo where I want to go , in eplto of hard riding. " ho said. "That will depend upon yourself , I Im agine. Good day , captain. " " * ' CHAPTER XXIV. [ ] ! , . 'IS On the Frontier. The evening train was almost due. Upon the rise of a. bare and windy ridge Rallywood Bat on horseback waiting. Man and ; horse seemed to bo the only living tilings batwccn the horizons. From his point of vantage ho lookca out over the dim , limitless marshes , north , south and west , nnd , although the growing darkness ren dered the few features of'tho ilandscapo even less distinguishable than usual , his practiced eye passed from point to point readily , for the flat man before him had been etched In upon his memory by the slow-graying stylus ot use. Turning his horse's head duo wc t , ho redo slowly beside the track , where the metals had begun to gleam under the otars ind the wind drove behind him as It driving Mm out into the waste. Ho rode on for Ivo minutes. Then ho pulled up and lis tened. Through the whistling of the tsa ind the dull roar of the river ho fancied ho lad detected some other sound. Puzzled , he turned nnd rode back at a iard gallop in the teeth of the wind. As 10 rode the noise became moro distinct and presently out of the night something black and bulky came jolting painfully down the slope on the railway track. As Rallywood drew rein alongside he saw t was n single carriage , unllghted and soli tary , rolling aimlessly on toward the level ground : through the gloom. Gradually the pace slackened and at lost , with a rheumatic Jerk backward and for ward , it came to a ( standstill. By this tlmo also Rallywood htid perceived that it occupied the further Bet of rails , on which the outgoing trains from , Revonde traveled. And already the night mall could not be far away. Ho dropped from his saddle , and In a Bec- end was feollng for his matches , whtto the horse fell to sniffing half-heartedly at the meager herbage. Ilallywood mounted the steps of the car- iage , for the platforms In Maasau are vary ilgh , and turned the handle. Then , bcnd- ng forward , ho peered into the interior , but through the dusk the scats seemed empty. Rallywood stepped insldo it and lit a match. It sputtered In the frosty air , and flickered for a eecond from the route maps under the musty racks to the cushioned seats , and so downward to a figure heaped un on the floor rug toy the opposite door. This wandering carriage had , then , one oc cupant. Also he gave signs of life , for he grunted feebly in the dark as the match went out Rallywood felt for the lamp above hla head , for In Maasau the trains are lighted by oil ranterns let In over the doors. Finding It , he broke the glass with the butt of his re volver and lit the wick. Then he turned foi a closer examination of the man who had come to him In so strange a manner. But .ho manner pointed to the fact that this must ie the prisoner he was to hold at Kofn Ford until tomorrow. Politics are apt to work out to curious Issues in continental railways. Such things have happened many times , though they are not always noised abroad. The man lay with one arm thrown ncross the seat and his face burled in it. He was a big man , and a fringe of white hair showed under the back of his traveling cap above a crease of fleshy neck. "Counsellor ! " Counsellor , grunting and swearing , got himself up on his elbow and stared at the young man with vacant eyes. "Wh ro the deuce have I got to ? IB that you , John ? By heaven , I remember ! " His fingers went groping weakly to his breast , then with a groan ho struggled to his feet. "The ruffians have rohbed r.io ! " But the effort exhausted him ; he etank back , putting his hands to bin head. "I don't understand this. What has hap pened , John ? Where am I ? " Rallywood explained hurriedly. "Wo're on the up line , maor. | Have an other pull at my flask and sco If you can got to the Ford blockhouse. The night mail will /be / on us directly. Ah , tbero are the nen , " as a stolid sergeant thrust his weather beaten face In at the door. Rallywood gave the necessary orders rap idly , then turned 'back ' to the major. "Are you badly hurt ? Do you think you can rldo a horse ? " said be. "Ride ! Of course I can ride. How far Is It to Revondo ? " Olallywood put his arm around him and' ' helped him very tenderly from the carrlago. Counsellor stood up In the howling wind and looked about him Into the wild night , "I've had a nasty knock on tbo head , and : suppose they looked to the night mall to Inlsh the 'business. ' Make haste , John ! Where's your horse ? Treachery's afoot to night. I'vo lost my dispatches they have robbed me of them ! But I'll 'beat ' them nil ct ! Give me your flask. How far IB It to levonde ? " The troopers had dispersed , some to warn ho coming train , others to arrange for the removal of the carriage from the track. Counsellor had his foot In the stirrup , and with difficulty Rallywood got him up Into he saddle , "Thirty mllea , but you cannot ride there onlght , " answered Rallywood. "With your help I'll boat them yet , John ! Thirty miles ? I'll bo there before daylight ! can go by the stars , once I find the road. " He stuck his heels Into tbo homo's side , but Rallywood ettll held the bridle. A wild gust tore round thorn , and In the ucceedlng lull Rnllywood laid his band on he other man's knee , ' 'Major Counsellor , you are ray prisoner , " IB said , "How'a this , John ? " the question came hln , pitiful and weak. A new doubt , the old affection and a strange holplessne mingled n the words , and they cut deep Into Rally- wood's cars. "That was a bad knock en the bead , " rout- ered the major , apologetically , and sank onward on the horse's neck again uucon- clous. ( To Be Continued. ) Try It. Once used It takes the precedence of all others Cook's Imperlar Extra Dry Champagne. It has a most delicious bouquet. DEPRESSED ? TRY. ( MARIANI WINE ) WOKLD'S FAMOUS TONIO 'Marian ! Wine Is a tonic prepared up on truly Bclentltlo princliilps.lt U safe and beneficial , ns well ns agreeable. 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