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NINTH PAGE
kvptr PREVIOUS CHAP-
» YNC TERS.
enri D’Aubant, a French
,! n Dresden with Barbara
adventuress, whom, he
■Tlifevered, has a long trail of
md fortunes to her credit,
disclosure of her cruei
"^ fr -'"ied of her infidelities, he
_‘ s he escorts her to meet a
(eff foment they encounter the
•'tte, of Brunswick, whom
tho Russian Tsarevitch
harry, and her aunt, Fred-
hant is summoned to meet
jr von Goertz, of Sweden,
W y is Interested politically in
marriage. The chancellor
~ D Aubant, who is a noto-
*7 and Don Juan
rtv"
proc.eed to
d hy making the princess
in love with him circum-
vii, ;sian maB'h. Out of a pure
th ,nct D’Aubant accepts the
He arrives at Wolfenbut-
.die on a morning's ride
" encounters the Princess
for the same purpose,
tf- ,>t meets Kuno von Sorr,
•V !-n '' > >a ^" Sweden, and who
P" t to introduce him at court.
Kt...js his final instructions from
Sweden's envoy at Wolf-
* 1 but ' v *’ om he is ordered to re-
' ‘thor evening. He is intro-
1, ce fl" Princess Oliarlotte and
i ale•’ :| l°dly favorable impression
vj other court attaches. She
F “.it ing sense of having seen
_ jm j hut cannot place him be-
1 : changed appearance. He
idst of his first court re-
r 1 - n * aIn «nd more than a
^e n t ° ,h '' r nian 1,1 cunning. But
the )ther had the pistols.
”To be frank.- D’Aubant ypoke again.
T imagined that your Excellency nad
some Idea of detaining me in this house.
I crave your Excellency's forgiveness
but 1 also Imagine there, are a number
of men at this moment outside that
doorT The Swede raised his hand In
protest.
Xow. merely to humor my freak. I
desire you to calT your man, Gustav
call him through this door—” From the
resident's expression D'Aubant felt sure
of his ground. “Tell him you have
changed your mind, and order him to take
the men away.”
“I have no men there, and it is child
ish to do as you say—” in srite of Von
Tdndnu s protests, the Frenchman's two
lopg-barreled arguments "-ave him much
the better of the discussion.
“Speak out—call Gustav.”
“Gustav."
‘'Bouder.”
"‘Gustav!’*
“Here, your Excellency,” same the
prompt answer through the door.
"Tell him," whispered D’Aubant, laugh
ing at the old man's comical expression,
“that you have no need for the men, and
to send them away.”
j The resident repeated the order, and
j immediately the steady tramp of proba-
! bly half a dozen men passed through the
“Tausend Sacrament! I'm bitten, I’m
bitten; he's tearing my leg.” The fel
low kicked and fought, then writhed on
the damp stone's like a wounded ser
pent, grappling with the dog. DAubant
felt the fierce scuffle going -on at his
side.
Then he heard a second yell of agony
and another man let go his arm. The-
two men screamed and tumbled and
I fought in the blackness and the terror
i of the night—fought with bristling fiends
that uttered not the slightest sound,
t They bit and tore and darted out of
mirror dropped and shattered at her feet.
Then she steadied herself.
“Oh, it is nothing— nothing—it is noth
ing.” Charlotte unconsciously repeated
the words over and over. "It startled me
—this is terrible—tell me.” She clutched
Aunt Frederica's hand. "Tell me of it.
Aunt Frederica.”
"Very little is known; it seems he has
been in the habit of taking long walks at
night with his dogs. I.ast night he went
out as usttal and did not return. About
daylight his servant heard a wliinning at
tlio door. He went down, and there lay
! reach; their eyes blazed, their breath lone of the dogs on the doorstep with a
came hot, their hair stood on end, but (terrible out across file head, and his fangs
they made no noise. covered with blood. Terry went out jm-
! Two ivf the miscreants who had pin- mediately to search for his master. The
1 ioned D’Aubant's arms had already let 'dog led him to a place where there were
him go, and rolled to the middle of the (signs of a terrible struggle, and he found
without the slightest warning he sprang
full upon him. Wilhelm—for it was the
man whose hand Stuart had mangled
the night before—yelled and kicked off
the dog; then he ran diagonally across
the street toward a dingy old house
whose windows were tightly closed.
Half-way up the step Stuart caught
him. Wilhelm whirled round, dropped
his flagon of beer, shook off the dog
again, and fell up the steps. He took
out a key and fumbled at the lock.
Stuart came bounding up the steps; the
man planted a foot squarely on his breast
aud hurled him back, but it gained him
little time; again and again the dog
sprang at him. Wilhelm kicked des
perately and flung the dog down the
steps a dozen times. In his fright he
dropped the key, and Stuart gave him
I alley, desperately bent on defending I the other dog lj'ing d
(their own throats. | knife. Monsieur D'Aubant's hat
“God’s blood, 'it's a very devil from [there, hut he cannot be found."
killed by a ! no chance to pick it up. With a furious
hell.”
“Go kill the dogs, Carl,” Otto com
manded the fell'ow that was helping him
to hold D'Aubant; "I can take care of
the man.” This left' only Otto, lying
fiat on thc'ground with his arms around
was 1 persistence the dog charged and charged
[and charged; the man fought frantical
ly—hands and feet at once—to keep the
maddened beast at bay.' Terry came
running.
"Here, call off your Infernal brute,”
the man shouted, to Terry.
‘‘Stuart! Stuart! Here!” Terry
commanded, but Stuart paid no atten
tion. Ills eyes flamed with fury, and
lie snapped at Terry when he sought
to catch him. Time after time he went
springing and snapping up the steps,
cowering out of reach of the fellow’s
\ubant. Von Sorr and the hal1 * down the stair, and out into the
itte and Buise go out for | street. D’Aubant ran to the window and
during which Charlotte i saw five men leaving the house. Then
jconer"hant and asks his sincere
L njn i,,Alexis, tiie czarevitch whom
S.'ip is
urged to marry. D'Aubant
Itrcesur! attempts a familiarity, for
sharply rebuked. I Alter,
imwevi’rlotte shows returning favor
1 ] M ->'cretly, in his pocket, a pair
*, her 1 - which he had lost on a
I wager. s| ™« party visits a moun-
r tain f,-t'-Iler, who prophesies that
J? (-'•!,ir! be torn between two loves,
S y- : • ■ er life will be compassed by
« • the c the grave, the wilderness.”
9 She alft speaking of the ancient sil-
■ vrr t'oi-h Charlotte won from D’Au-
!Fan; daughter has changed the
M iK-atiiefer from her girdle to her
he turned with a smile to the resident.
“What a curious thing is the imagi
nation, your Excellency! Do you know
that just at that moment I imagined 1
heard steps outside?”
“The Chevalier D’Aubant has keen
ea rs."
“Very useful at times.” D'Aubant un
locked the door and pered out cautious
ly. There was no one in the hall.
"Now, your Excellency, wiTl you be so
kind as to accompany nie to the street
door? It may become necessary to give
Gustav further orders.”
At the door he took the caps from the
Aunt Frederica told it all without a
pause for breath.
"Is that all you know?”
“Yes, dear; the officers are searching
everywhere; Beo says lie saw’ D'Aubant
late last night walking slowly down the
the Frenchman—and he in mortal ter- (other side of this street, under this win-
ror of the dogs. D'Aubant might easily | dow. That is the last time he W’as seen
have escaped but for tiie cloak that was [alive.”
so tightly wound about him. “Over there?” Charlotte asked mechan-
"Be quiet, Carl,” Ott'o cautioned the jjcally. going to <>er window and point-
man as he got up. i ng to the narrow way beneath the wall.
“Shoot, 'fhoot, do anything,” the other j gj ie leaned her head confusedly against I , ,° ,, untd *-e found a chance to jump at
frantic rnan shouted. "To hell with or- jthe window frame. "Great God! Why
ders. I’m being eaten alive.” will they not go away and leave me to
Carl let go of D'Aubant's legs and itnvself?”
groped his way along the alley, holding “Perhaps they have found bloc ny this
time,” she said aloud. “We shall ride
to his lodgings and inquire."
The others talked and talked. Char
lotte heard only a bewildering confusion
of words.
“Bouisa,” she interrupted, "we shall
ride at once. Semi for Von balkcnreid
arid—some other man—hurry.
Bouisa hastily left the room. Charlotte
stole after her and locked the door. Aunt ; a whirlwind, and almost immediately
Frederica looked up in wonderment when j canle rus hing back with the entire mob
the girl turned to her. Her lips trom- | at her he ols.
bled, s'ho dropped on her knees, buried I
her face in the older woman’s lap and I
a knife in front of him. He saw black
j shadows whirling on the ground, and
j went cautiously toward them. Then he
1 stumbled blindly over another man, and
j another dog. This man, Wilhelm, had
! no time to shout, for Stuart crunched
j hts left hand while he clutched the ani
mal’s throat trying to choke him. Carl
bent down and managed to seize the
[ dog's leg.
i "Bet go, Wilhelm, let go. I can pull
j him off.” The man on the ground
I’-fcrleked piercingly. Carl jerked the dog
! loose by main force, and the sharp teeth
l tore through Wilhelm's hand. Carl
j stood upright, swung the dog round hi
his throat. Once he succeeded In catch
ing so firm a hold of the man's cloak
as to tear it from his shoulders. The
man’s left hand was wrapped In a
bloody bandage.
“Stuart knows him!
him!" Terry shouted,
the men! See, my Bady
hand.”
“Yes—hold him here; 1 will fetch the
officers.” Charlotte wheeled her horse,
and was gone before any one could
stop her—Von Falkenried in full pur
suit. Up the narrow street she flew like
Stuart knows
“It is one of
see the bloody
gave way.
Until that moment even her aunt had
The people gathered close as they dared
r about the door, but left a wide space
for the dog. The terrified man on the
head and dashed him violently against! 1 nt “ willed girl shed a j doorPte P and kicked. The dog
the wall. Stuart fell in a huddle and p,n ' or the fielf - willed g,rl S ” Pd a ’ did not snarl and bark, he sprang and
. » .. ... tpar • -i . . . ...
lay perfectly still.
“That’s one."
This could not have taken a minute.
August, a few paces on, begged con
stantly for help.
Wilhelm, the man who had been res
cued from Stuart, sprang up gripping his
significance of the remark (pistols and returned" them.
•J'i i,,.: Aubant. who has been dis
m ,...ir.ig' Charlotte’s careless deolara-
J5 u>n th? "lost” his coin. On the re-
18 him t,castle, D’Aubant saves Char-
JpAstte’. om her runaway horse, and
91 while trl lies unconscious, he picks
m itp a lowhich has dropped from her
•ip r ck a which he finds his silver
fc •!-; whad been placed next to her
' irt. ; int proceeds to tiie place cJ
! I and laying In ambush, ex-
sston of love from Charlotte,
"Good morning, your Excellency.* Coine,
Stuart.”
tf ' ar ' ’ , , . (sprang, and sprang again, always strlk-
“I—loved him, aunty—I loved him. ^ J ing at the throat.
“You—loved the—Chevalier D'Aubant?" ; “There he is, officers—take him, take
“Yes, yes, yes. Is it so very strange j him,” the princess commanded flinging
that I loved him, loved him, loved him.’ j herself impetuously from the saddle and
Do you understand? No. you must not pushing through the crowd,
pity me. I will not have it. Charlotte j The crowd gave a "great shout and
wrist. Heedless of Carl’s protest he [sprang up clenching her hands "I can J pressed forward; Stuart seemed to com-
ran away, leaving a spatter of blood suffer ' 1 can hate Dean lov e -alone;no I prehend Terry succeeded In dragging
behind him. one shall pity me. She ran to the door the animal back so that the officers
Carl turned instantly to the other rav- ! and unlocked it. “Go! go!” she almost .could bring their man safely down the
ing brute. Kenneth fought furiously, screamed. "Hurry-oh, why do you not .steps. Now for the first time, Stuart
wholly intent upon tearing the man's S° ? ” Slia shoved tne ° th f r by ™f‘ n j g ^’. e vent to one Ion *B excited howl.
force into the hall, and slammed the Ihen, from somewhere about the
door behind her. Then she flung herself J house, apparently from a window In
across ffie Bed. j the garret, there came a whistle, one
When a half hour had expired. Celeste, (sharp, shrill peal. Stuart broke loo«e
the maid, tapped gently on the door. j from Terry, barked and ran around,
"Breakfast, your Highness” jumping up with the most frantic &c-
Charlotte walked t'o the breakfast room tivity.
dressed 4>r thA saddle. Aunt Frederica j “Monsieur D'Aubant is there! Mon-
glanced up qifle.uy, then dropped her ■ sleur D’Aubant Is there!” Terry shout-
You have reported to me many times his .prey farther down the alley, away l p >' e3 to the Jlate .‘ gain. j e ' Rn , P 101 ” 6 exened than the dog.
from his master. Carl stooped and felt “Bouisa.” Charlotte asked composedly, | Break down the door! Break it
about ip the dark with the point of hiS " are tlle gentlemen coming?” fdown,” he appealed to the captain of
"They are already waiting; come. Char- I watch,
lotte, lot us hurry—I am so anxious.” I ‘ f ca n not break into a citizen’s
The gentlemen below were discussing j house without a warrant.”
the meager details of D’Aubant’s disap- j But he may be killed.”
pearanee. I ^ e ffiust get our authority; that is ! foreigners.
“What la the latest news. Von Falken- j th ® law - ’ The prince’s carriage had stopped be-
“None.” .gray shape to the shadow. During that jreid?” Gharlotte inquired, betraying noth- j "You will break it down if 1 com- [ fore a public house while a Cossack
Swede's sharp eyes spark- j j e t it be done tonight, convey him j awful moment the man's blood curdled as ! ing more Gian a woman's natural interest jnand,” Charlotte interposed. went in to order a bottle of tokay.
led excitedly 'beneath his ^ house in Ritterstrasse and keep he faced quickly this way and that, ex- I in a mystery. _ j I fear not, your Highness—you would ^ Auhant took his position in the rear,
heavy brows. The resi- pj m sa fe. Report to me instantly when peeling the huge dog to leap upon him. j ‘'Nothing iSefinHe, your Highness.” Then ' hot have us violaflF the law—” The ^ or he did not wish to risk recogni-
dent halted, perfectly rigid, | it la done.” i no, the animal paused, looked up. 'both the men repeated what she had al- (Captain's tone was too respectful to de- tlon by the uncle of Barbara Klikoff.
holding his glass away j £ few words about the price, and j at)t l a, swift streak flashed i>ast both the ready heard, adding only the wildest conk j serve such a deluge of wrath as Char- j landlord came himself to serve the
from his lips as If testing Schwartz was gone. I men to wtiere his master lay. (jectures of their own. | lotte poured upon him. i prince, and stood there rubbing his hands
the flavor of the wine, yet [ D’Aubant left the house of Sweden in I The thoroughly maddened beast, with 1 Charlotte. Von Falkenreid, Bouise and j T1,e gray girl pushed her way to the I his apron. Alexis leaned out, cursed
blood and froth dripping from his jowls, | Count Helmuth clattered down the street. | front and started up the steps,
hurled himself like a panther upon Ot- toward the bourgomaster’s. Before they ! Will my people break down this door
to’s back. And Otto''s terrified shriek rekehed D'Aubant’s quarters Charlotte [ f°r me?
CHAPTER XI.
The Dogs of Scotland.
D'Aubant had scarcely reached the cor
ner when Von Bindau pounded on the
bell, and sent for Otto Schwartz again.
Within half an hour Sdhwartz reappear-
r of the coin. Next D'Aubant before the scowling Swede and w.is lip- , an j w )jjch the dog
visits thvedish resident and notifies (braided roundily. Then they came to ; “Shoot, fool, shoot—for God’s sade, do
Mm tha will no longer participate in business. i something.” Kenneth steadily dragged
UroAnwhile. Von landau notifies ( i - -
»v*iee su.-reptitiously to come i ou n
Aubant. since Sweden's en- that this fellow D'Aubant walks through
e has deserted to the Rus- i the town every night?”
"Every night.”
“That Ihe always takes precisely the
same route?”
“I could follow him blindfold.”
•iftn'Aubant hears suspicious sounds
door and begins to smell the
rot.
APTER X CONCLUDED.
Aubant glanced from Stuart
to the resident; the
throat. He did not hear the man be
hind him at all.
Carl stood helplessly over the writhing
man and the g eat gray dog. They tum
bled and twisted so bewilderingly that
he could not see which was the man
his knife; he touched something hairy
and attempted to cut, but the knife
only scratched.
It disttracted Kenneth’s attention from
“Then you would have no difficulty in j Ms prostrate enemy to the upright one—
[capturing him?” ; and for a moment Carl lost sight of the
‘Well, Chevalier, I am delighted that
it is no worse. Y'ou will come very soon
and tell us of your adventure?” Char
lotte invited him with a calm gracious-
Thcn she touched her horse, j
“Come, gentlemen, we will continue our
ride.”
When Charlotte had gone, the town-
folk, who stood greatly in awe of the
impetuous princess, thronged about D'Au
bant full of kindly questions. Each
man strove to tell what had happened.
Out of it all D’Aubant could make lit
tle.
“But the princess was with the peo
ple,” asserted a loud voice. “Right
amongst us; I stood side by side witn
her going in the door.”
This fellow's boast caught D'Aubant’s
ear at once.
“Yes, it is true, true, my Bord; you
can ask Otto here and Heinrich. They
all saw me right beside her, and she
spoke to me, and took my hand
when she begged me to break down the
door; this is the hac my Bord—it shall
never be washed again.”
D’Aubant's manifest interest encour
aged Franz the Mighty to tell him
more.
“lou see, my Bord, when the captain
ef the watch wanted to wait for a war
rant to break the door, the Princess
Charlotte called upon the people—ach
Gott, but the people are her friends—
and she put her own shoulder to the
work like any man—yes, true ,my Bord
and she would only give way for me,"
boasted the brawny smith.
The Frenchman asked him a delicate
question or two, until he got the truih,
and then he changed the subject most
effectually.
“Come, good people; well take our
ale together.”
They crowded after him and filled the
public house with thirsty throats and
good humor. The people had had an
experience, they had touched elbows
with the great ones of the earth, and
rushed shoulder to shoulder beside a
princess. With deep mouths and shal
low brains they sped the story on its
way, adding adornment, fripperies and
tinsel, until its brilliant garniture com
pletely hid the frame on which they
hung it.
It was not until D'Aubant reached his
own door that his bosom comrade and
heart's brother, Franz the Mighty, ceased
to escort him. And behind them stream
ed a long procession, drinking ale and
loudly proclaiming themselves the life
long friends of this noble stranger.
They bade him goodby on his threshold
with Terry and Stuart, and the whole
rabble surged back to the first public
house to spend the noble stranger's
coin.
A bath, some fresh linen, and several
hours’ rest in his room did wondexs for
D’Aubant. Refreshed and revigorated,
he sat at his window, thinking of ail
that had happened.
'What is that crowd at the corner,
Terry?” he asked of his man who came
in from the street.
"The Russians are coming."
“No, Terry, you must be mistaken,
that can not be the prince; he sent
( word he would not be here for two
; days yet.”
| Terry shrugged his shoulders,
j “You know Monsieur le Prince.”
| D’Aubant snatched a hat, ran out into
( the street and joined the throng that
! hurried to witness the arrival of the
D’Aubant could see tnat ;lhigh good humor. He walked along care-
the man
he was listening. Both
men stood absolutely si
lent for a single instant,
when the door cllc&ed au-
| Gib!) ;] began to open. Something fell
to tbs:,or in the hallway, and D'Aubant
:ffled curse; the door closed.
Stuar growled. The resident frowned
f viijo.,y : t the dog, and with an effort
' comped himself to his wine again.
I V
( bear
lessly, musing on what had occurred; but
all roads lead to Rome, and every line
of thought brought him finally to Char- for Carl reverberated through the alley. [Stopped suddenly.
"Aye, that we will, your Highness,” ! ffirl *
lotte. insensibly his feet carried him Then D’Aubant. utterly surprised, found "Here is an officer of the watch; let us j they answered, with a mighty
to where he might hope to see her on the himself unguarded.
promenade.
It was not t'he hour when fashion went
(abroad, yet D'Aubant watched the flutter _ do -
of every skirt, first with a glimmer of
[ expectation, then with the keenest dis
appointment. He trifled away the entire
| afternoon without being conscious of it.
But <ven the cunning old Swede could j or become that unreasoning kind
„ _.. ._ _ of fool which men are so ashamed to be
I Bps as be extended his glass. before the world, and so proud to be be-
* '—fore t'he woman.
Keeping his head turned behind him half
the time, he straggled home and went
l J5Aubaut's“observation disconcerted him. through the form of eating supper. Then
mm.' those cf a man who he tormented his violin a while, stared
into tlhe tire for an hour or so, called his
dogs and started out to walk.
Otto Schwartz had told Von Bindau the
truth; on these walks D’Aubant always
swung round in precisely the same orbit.
With head bent down he pursued his ac
customed path along the promenade of
glaring shops, and drew a distinct breath
.’er and over, round and round, Otto officer, who stood bareheaded.
I inquire about —.” She rode up to the j s ° many rushed up the stair
tell; but
against
vilely for his sour wine, and
hurled the bottle at him. The host
dodged, and the missile struck a little
waif of the streets, knocking
her senseless Into the ditch. None of the
Ov
and the dog wrestled in the dark, first : "No, your Highness,” h
then the man on top, and Carl question, “we know nothing as yet, hut
circling about them, straining his eyes to we shall swrch It all out in good time;
find a place to strike. D’Aubant rose we have a trail.” The man looked wise
to his feet striving to unwind the muffler, land secretive. “This affair occurred a
Ch.ld. for ( lady
"You wrote him to come here this eve-
ning?”
Charlotte nodded.
“What do you want with him?”
"Oh, aunty, i do not know, only—only—
I want to see him, that is all. When a
woman is wretched and helpless, and
•everything is wrong, does it not seem
•natural that—”
“Yes, dear, but a woman cannot do
what is natural—least of all a royal prin
cess."
'Charlotte's anger always lay near the
surface. She sprang erect.
“I can act the royal princess when I
wish; now I mean to do as any other
woman would.”
“And what do you think any other
woman would do?”
The girl had no experience to guide her,
only the pure, if contradictory, instincts
of her heart. She hesitated.
“I mean to—I mean to—”
"Where did ynu ask the chevalier to
come?" Aunt Frfdrica. inquired.
' “Here to this room, at eight. You must
be here, will you? Will you? Oh, I never
dreamed I could do such a thing, but it's
done now. and I could not help it. To
morrow, the terrible Russian, and God
knows what after that.”
“You shall never marry the Russian,”
Aunt Frderica burst out suddenly. “Your
life shall never be sacrificed as mine
was. This man’s father, the great tsar
they prate of, has imprisoned his young
wife in a convent, to deck an unspeak
able follower of the camps In the royal
robes of Russia. And th e so n is worse,
for he has more than his father's vices,
and none of'his rugged virtues.”
Charlotte did not interrupt, so rarely did
Aunt Fredrica speak her mind 'upon mat
ters of state.
“Wait until you see this man, and if
you are very sure you do not want to
marry him, tell the duke flatly that you
will not consent. He has no power to
force you, and cannot do worse than cut
you off. Thank, God I’ve plenty for us
both.”
“Bless you, bless you, aunty.” The
girl almost smothered the older woman
with caresses. "Then you will stay here
and let m.e see him this evening—only a
little while?”
“Y'es, Charlotte, but it is indiscreet and
dangerous for a young girl—”
Charlotte was so afraid her permission
might retracted that she sprang up
and ran away to dress.
Precisely at eight—not a minute later—
D’Aubant followed the impassive foot
man up the narrow stair to where Char
lotte waited. Whence he came a.nd how,
only he and the footman knew. Celete.
the vixenish little maid, closed the door
behind D'Aubant. and immediately dis
appeared, according to orders.
Charlotte had dressed herself in white,
with pale blue ribbons at her waist and
throat; she looked as if she were an un-
grown girl, but^ for the mature serious
ness of 'her eyes.
There was nothing o-f the princess in her
simple greeting. Her breath came quick,
and her cheek flushed when . D'Aubant
entered. Then she stepped forward and
extended her hand.
“You are punctual—aunty and I are
perishing to hear your adventures."
D'Aubant glanced around him. A little
table set for three, with whitest napery*
and fragile tea service, stood all ready.
The kettle simmered over a tiny lamp,
and t'he most delicate aroma filled the
room. The womanliness of it all remind
ed him. with a shock, of Barbara. For
Barbara at first had found a perfectly
childish delight in the novelty of play
ing Housfrau. He shook off the recol
lection in the happy little smile which
Charlotte gave as she held out her hand
for 'him to kiss.
Beyond a portiere. Aunt Frederica sat
with her knitting, placid, as if such a
visit were of daily occurrence. D'Aubant
passed through to speak with the kind old
the door that It felt the strength of [ the d »aded Russian leaned out of his
5 tf ot nstrain a nervous twitching at his
ip? as he extended his glass.
'I firink to your very good health,
Chevalier.”
Something in the steadiness of
Aubant.- observation disconcerted him.
's fvords seemed those cf a man who
■ought to divert a child.
D'Aubant looked him so squarely in
the eye, s n d with such searching inquiry
that the resident began to show' un
easiness His glance wavered from
D'Aubant to the'dopr. the dog, and then
the mantel shelf. D’Aubant’s eyes
"ollowed his, and rested on a pair of
“agniScc-nt pistols. Again D'Au.bant
looked at the resident, who still tried to
?m;>. D’Aubant made a movement, and
He dropped
without
But It was only an instant. Carl clos
ed in, and ripped the dog wide open
Blood gushed like a deluge over Otto’s
breast and Kenneth died
groan.
“God’s pity, but I’m torn to pieces.”
Otto nose and gave Kenneth a savage
kick. “Damnation to the beast. Come,
we must get out of this. AYe’Il ha
the town about our ears.”
The two men between them
D’Aubant
iave
hu rried
replied to her J none. One gigantic fellow, called Franz carila ge and laughed. D’Aubant shoul-
th*> Mighty, forced his way to Charlotte’s derocl his way through the crowd
el ■itt. .gathered her in his arms, bearing
stand aside?” ! lnt ° the house,
loot- r? n f h ? (] throuRh 'he door be
looked behind hf~
and
her
ff through deserted alleys to j hats
prisoner rested^T-1 '' hPre ° ito and 'he i y llp to the hopes. There lay tho body
11 "hi st Ca.rl fetched their of Kenneth, stark and terrible In death.
[ “Here is where they must have hidden.
few paces round the corner, there; would
you care to see the place?"
“Y'es, L will go.”
“Oh, no, Charlotte—it is too horrible.”
protested Bouise. Charlotte merely or
dered the officer to lead the way.
A barrier of ropes inclosed a small
area, of the street, and officers kept the
morbidly curious from destroying traces
of the fight. The throng of people part
ed most respectfully and doffed their
harlotte forced her horse direct- j door crashed inwar
it into the hallway
“YVlll your Highness
He squared his massive shoulders and
tided the door. "It breaks if you give
the word.”
"Go on—break it down. What, are
you waiting for?’’
I The police vainly endeavored to re-
j strain the people. Franz leaned over
[ their heads and called for
| est men among them,
i “Come here, Heinrich—you Carl, .Hans,
| Friedrich—”
I The five men attacked together, the
and thev fell across
Ijo-i,. h . ^ ■ and there in the dim
light he saw Charlotte
back. looking at
of thf
him
alone, on horse-
over the heads
crowd. The girl’s eves blazed
th ’"Ration f„ r she bad witnessed
s,.ano , "'”"ality. Sh e turned
heard the hoof-beats
and immediately he
the strong- of a single horse flvi
j street.
down the side
| carriage
The Frenchman carried to'o icool
head to exhaust himself
a
in fruitless re-
ta « resMf, n t took alarm,
tis glass to the floor, stepped hurriedly
! the mantel, and had his hand on one
<■ the shining weapons when D’Aubant another narrow little street along which
Bddenly Sprang upon him. The young- he knew every stone by night and every
F - r mar/v[ reached the pistol away, and door by day. * ’ * *~
of relief when he turned into his favorite j » ! -stance. When the carriage came he
side street with closebuilt houses of the j entered it without protest,
ancient days. j He could not be certain whither they
The man walkec on slowly, listening ' went, but it seemed somewhat in the di-
to the monotonous echoes of his tread. A [ rection of th,. road by which he had en-
few paces farther and he would come to j tered Wolfenbuttel.
A dismal and uncertain
irp him down into a chair.
Sit h ere ” he whispered, then stood
* '» ; r-. With a pistol In each hand.
The rcM- ent furtively glanced toward
tl« doo; D’Aubant. noiseless as a pan
ther, ho '
once taking
cavern, yet D’Aubant ihad grown so fa
miliar with the way that to him it held
out a peculiar restfulness.
Stuart and Kenneth crept along close
behind him without molesting the se
eded across the floor, and with- : aucive cats on the doorsteps
■'•'taking his eyes from the Swede D’Aubant passed the corne
corner and piling
CHAPTER XII.
The Breaking of a Door.-
It had Ik on a long sweet night to Char
lotte. a night to lie awak e and brood, a
night perhaps to dream a little, to re
call every word and look of D’Aubant’s—
a long sweet night of new-born wonder-
1 her© comes but one such night to
istened intently to what went on in tne j e d into a chasm of darkness which seem- ( any woman, and ’tis not a night to waste
1
ed to shut in upon him. Kenneth an 1 I in sleep.
but heYeT’ouite sure he could hear, or (Stuart sprang ahead and growied, as i with her recovered wt,ef
«!1. the presence of men outside Stuart their master thought at some vagrant her breast, she laughed and pouted by
sTod aierr and ready, watching the era.' k cur. turns at th c impudence of her lover So
beneath the door. D’Aubant turned the ■ -Quiet, quiet ’ he spoke mechanically ; passed the hours of darkness until day
k«y in fhc lock and became convinced, to the dogs who stopped, alert and bris- j ca me filtering through her curtains She
*>r immediately there was a hurried con- tJJng , at something in the shadows. D'Au- loved thc night and hated the day ‘for
ftrence, some one tried the door, then i pam fe it in no humor for play, so he the night was D’AnbaiU'e-da” would
knocked on it.
D’Anhant glanced at his pistols; they
l^vcre lo:,r] e d, and in perfect order.
"What does this mean, your Excellen-
’ He came over and stood above
resident. The Swede crouched in
Jis chair and kept n;s eyes on the two
|istol s n).[ch D’Aubant handled so :eck-
The whole thing came about
swiftly that D’Aubant had to ask
||aln. “What does this mean, your Ex-
ilen.-j-?"
[ What is the matter. Chevalier? Upon
al, you -have frightened me.”
['What was that noise at the door?”
[Wou ] in ow as much as I—I will in-
ind the resident moved in the
[•'Ton of the door, but he was too
petit,
P’Aubant stood in his way. "What
thriKp men doing at the door 1
[ T <Jo not know—are there men at the
pr ?•■
[J fancied I heard several.”
w Ul see.”
[fio not touch that door.” The two
faced each other, .both perfectly
F* 1 . both perfectly calm. The resident
brushed past them, bearing involuntarily
toward the far side of the alley where
there stretched a streak of lighter gray.
A hand touched his shoulder; he shook
it off; then Schwartz and his men closed
in on him silently as the tentacles of a
bring the Russian.
Charlotte arose shimmering in white
and purity; she walked to the window,
parted the curtains, and looked out. She
thought of everything that had happened,
and many things which might happen.
in the doorway,” the officer pointed.
‘Monsieur d’Aubant probably came from
this direction—his two dogs were with
him—one of fhem lies yonder, fearful
beast.”
The stones were spotted and tracked
with blood. Bouisa sickened at the sight
and turned her back. Charlotte listened
steadily to thc officer.
“See how his claws have scratched the
stones. And here is where one of the
men fell, his hands all bloody; see the
print of a left hand—he might almost be
identified by that. Here is a hunch of
dog’s hair smeared with blood. Some one
must have grappled the dog and torn off
his hair.”
CHAPTER XIII.
^ First Indiscretion.
A. rush of people 1 bant in front'of'''t Ii" Sly from , D ^ Au -
swarmed over the fallen men, Charlotte , had been imprisoned* but Tmon the'ea^r
prom.se to herself that she should' see
him before many hours passed.
Night now had come, and as there was
for torn Way ’ She t0 ° k that—and sent
then she sat and brooded at her win
dow. What must D’Aubant think of her
for seeking him? Would he think her
unmaidenly? YVhat would come of it?
She shook her head vigorously; she
wanted him, and so the thing was done
an,d she shut her eyes defiantly to where
this first unconsidered step might lead-
Yet after a while the girl walked In
slowly to Aunt Fredrica, and sat on a
among the first. She had lost her hat
and whip in the melee, and her face was
covered with flying dust.
“Search the house—every room.” she
called, making herself heard above the
tumult.
The house seemed utterly deserted.
There was a back door leading through
a garden; it stood broadly open showing
in which direction the occupants had
fled.
Clear and distinct above all the con
fusion came D'Aubant's voice from the
garret:
"This way, friends; this way.”
Stuart shot up the stair like a hairy i low stool, leaning against her knee, for
rocket. A dozen men bounded up beh'no some minutes. Then with her eyes turn-
him; another door crashed in. and | ed steadily away she began.
Charlotte had seen enough of blood; she i D'Aubant's fetters were unbound. Char- , ‘Aunty, I am in trouble, and you must
pulled her horse away and rode slowly j lotte had climbed breathlessly as far help me. I did not mean to tell you of
down the street, dazed and dumb. Bouisa j as the second floor; she saw him at the lit this morning—the truth slipped out be-
followed. The gentlemen remained be- head of the garret stair, and knew he 1 for. e I thought; I had tried so hard to
' ~’ — wa.s unhurt. A sudden revulsion uvei- (conceal it from myself—and from him.
came her and her limbs grow weak; ,'But I do love the Chevalier D'Aubant,
then she slipped down the stairs hold- 1 and r have written him to come here this
ing to the balustrade. Von Falkenried evening at eight. He is to come in
for tiie first time was able to gain through the garden, and no one will see
him.” She finished the sentence desper
ately, and dared not lift her face.
devil fish. Strong arms seized him from | Bouisa burst noisily into th e room,
every 'side; a muffler was thrown about
his head. D'Aubant wrenched his right
arm violently loose and tore the muffler
off. In that 's'hort breathing space he
hear a questioning yelp from one of his
dogs.
“Kenneth, Stuart! At them; at—” he
shouted before the men could smother
his voice aguin.
Then all went down together, five men
and two dogs in a struggling heap
■'O'h, Charlotte, aren't you nervous? I
should be wild with curiositj' if my fu
ture husband were coming in a few
hours.”
“Now. Bouisia, let us not talk of that;
you know it is not a subject for jest.”
Oh, well, if i nail tvnowu were
taking it so like a porcupine, 1 should
'have Held my tongue.”
Charlotte stood with her back to the
other, arranging her hair, whetl Aunt
hind, talking with the officers. __
••Charlotte, let us go ’home,
begged. “I ,,
Charlotte shook her head; she could
not go to her room and hold her hands,
waiting for news; she must stay out in (her side.
the open air. I “Come, your Highness, it is very hot
Thev had ridden some distance when and dirty in hero; there is no further
the gentlemen overtook them. Charlotte j danger now. Y’ou have let your sym-
kept her eyes ahead. Now she quick- ; pathies overcome you.”
ened her horse and remarked: “Here ' The two gentlemen forced a way for
is Monsieur D'Aubant’s servant; 1 shall j her to the open air. Von Falkenried
ask him if he knows anything futther.” ; raised her to the saddle again before
Terry was about 50 paces away, hur- j the crowd that surrounded D'Aubant ,
rying in their direction. Stuart slip- ' permitted him to reach the street,
ped along behind him with ears laid D'Aubant emerged into the open street ;
back and” tail drooping to the ground. ; surrounded by his new friends. Half!
“And there is one of Monsieur D'Au- i way down the steps ho halted, aslound-
bant's dogs,” added Von Falkenried. “I ed to see Charlotte on horseback among
“It is very good of you to come and
visit two lonely souls; we are both eager
to hear of your lat.e adventure."
She said this so earnestly that Char
lotte smiled, and D'Aubant thought ha
must be very careful lest she suspect
something. For wise as the wisest man
may be, he is always a greater fool than
the most foolish woman—provided that
woman be not in love.
“Yes, M'onsier D'Aubant. aunty and 1
feared that you had been killed. Now sit
down and tell us all about it. for we
cannot wait another minute. Then we
Fhall have our tea.”
The g'rl sat on a low settee, her hands
clasped about her knees, absorbing every
syllable he*uttered. He watched her part
ed lips and steady eyes, the tightening
of her muscles, and be did not wonder
that h©f sturdy race had maintained it
self upon a throne for near a thousand
years. Yet it was not her strength that
drew him closest to her—'tivas the droop
ing of a lid, and a tiny tear when he told
of Kenneth’s death.
As he narrated his adventure, swiftly,
graphically, tersely, he kept wondering
ihow he was to arrange a tete-a-tete. For
the experienced D'Aubant sometimes for
got the silliest woman is a beter mana
ger of such affairs than a city full of
sages.
D'Aubant trod on delicate ground; for
he had no Idea how much Charlotte had
told as to her own connection with his
rescue. The girl made no allusion to fhis,
neitlnr diu he. Then she glanced toward
the tea table.
“It's an exciting story, and we are sin
cerely delighted over your deliverance.
But our tea is drawn—do you think it
quite ready, aunty?”
“Yes, dear; you can bring m ? a cup in
here. I hate to move.”
“What a dear old lady!” thought D’Au
bant fo himself.
“Come. Monsieur D’Aubant, we shall
CONTINUED ON BAST PAGE.
the stones—D’Aubant. at the bottom, the |Frederica hurried through the door. The
dogs on top. old lady's tongue trembled with anxiety
They rolled him close against the , to tell something. (
■house; a heavy knee pressed against his i "Charlotte, ijouise, I have news that
( chest and two hands gripped his rieck.
| “Quick, the gag and cords,” he heard
i the man above him whisper. Then the
| fellow screamed, his fingers dug into
I D’Aubant’s throat and suddenly relaxed.
I
will distress you; our friend, the Cheva
lier d’Aubant, disappeared last night, and
his seryant fears that he has been mur
dered. It is a—. Charlotte! Charlotte!”
The girl tottered like a broken reed; her
wonder if that is the one—”
Charlotte reined In her horse at the
corner of Ritterstrasse waiting for Ter
ry to come up. Three doors away hung
the weather-stained sign of a public
house.
Almost as Von Falkenried called atten
tion to the dog, they all saw him (
dart from behind Terry, and sniff at the
heels of a thin-visaged fellow who came
out of the public house. This man wore
a short cloak over his left shoulder,
and carried a flagon in his hand. Stuart
made sure; and his hair bristled, and]round and gaped.
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"We chanced this way in time to wit
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hand. “Are you hurt?”
“No, only hungry and thirsty, and in
need of a hat.”
He looked at her hard, trying to un
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much agitated—the people gathered
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