BARON SAM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5, 7 January 1895, Page 3

BARON SAM.

By ST. GEORGE MATH BONE, Author of * Doctor Jack,' ' Doctor Jack's Wife,' Captain Tom,' etc

BOOK ONE.

HOW THEY MET ON MONT BLANC.

CHAPTER VII,

A. NIGHT IN THE PRINCE'S CASTLE,

Sam's excitement is short-lived, indeed. Hia nerves have been well drilled, and he replaces bhe cigar bebween his teeth with a hand thab is as steady as a-rock.

'If what you say is true, my boy, it begins to look aa though we might be in a trap,' he says, watching the two Italians with a new show of interest.

•I really believe it to be so—that the jaws of the trap have opened, and we have walked squarely into them. The question is to find oub whebher ib is strong enough to hold us.'

• Under the circumstances, I can understand tho colonel's hasty departure from the inn.'

' Yes, he came to prepare for us. They had learned our plans, and knew we should be on this train.' .

•Then you feel certain that bhe ac cidenb——'

* Was a part of their plan.' . 'Jove! these rascals would hesitate ab nothing, in order to further their plans.' ' Fra Diavolo has been known as a daring man, and I give him credib if this is a specimen of his work. Those retainers of the prince are really bandits of the man who has long snapped his fingers at the government forces.'

11 can well believe you there, Dud; for a more badly favoured crew ib has seldom been my bad luck bo seb eyes on anywhere. Well, if we take ib for granbed bhab your suspicions are brue, and tbab our kind host, Prince Rubini, is in reality Fra Diavolo, whab shall our plan of action be ?' 'We must wabch and wait. These men hate you; but that is nob the only object bhab senb bhem bo such exbremes. There is another, in whom one of bhem feels a deep interest.'.

• 'You mean Aileen V quickly. 'I mean Miss Winchester. The counb is infabuabed with the California beauty. He has failed to win ber by fair means, and I suppose now intends to try something eke. Whether it is his object to hold her here until, she promiaea to marry him, or for a ranßpm, I cannob say. Ib is enough thab our lady friend is in danger, and musb look bo us for probecbion.'

' And she shall have ib, even if I am compelled bo cub down bhe number of bhe prince's crew by a round dozen. She is an American girl, . travelling in a foreign country, and as such we are bound bo peril our lives, if need be, to protect her againsb such rogues as this selecb company appears bo be.'

Sam speaks quiebly, bub earnestly ; heis nob bhe man to boasb, bub there is thab in his voice to proclaim his intention. He means to do exactly whab he says, and the bwo conspirabors will have to look oub for squalls.

' Then our motto ia to watch and waib, allowing nobhing bo» hoodwink us. The game will soon be played far enough for us bo catch on. Meanwhile, don'b leb bhem suspecb bhab we know.'

They join the others, and appear to be quite at home, and entirely unsuspicious. The prince addresses bhem, and bhey ask many questions concerning the train, his lonely life in bhis isolated castle, and such things as would naturally come up. Altogether thoy seem a sociable parby, though if one watched carefully, he would boo a number of libtle things thab indicate, a' peculiar state—straws that show which way the current flows ; and these small mabbers give indications of the unnatural state of affairs beneath the surface of the stream.

The counb never addresses a remark to Baron Sam, bhough speaidng to bhe Canadian abhlete. Moro bhan once, while Sam is speaking, his eyes fall upon bhe American, and to see bhe black frown bhat marks the count's physiognomy, one would nob have much difficulty in guessing thab the Italian haa nob forgobten.

How could he when with even bhe slighbesb movement of the arm he feels a bwinge of pain bhab almosb forces a groan from bebween his seb teeth, and thus suffering acute anguish, hears the hated voice of the man who had caused him to assume the role of a wounded warrior.

Ibalianshave good memories—bhey forgeb nob either a good deed or a grievance, and are celebrabed for being remarkable haters, equal to the Spaniards or Corsicans.

Thus time passes, and as bhe hour grows later bhe ladies show evidences of some fatigue, so thab ab any momenb they may be expected to express a wish to retire.

Sam Buxton has made up his mind bo bake Aileen into the secret. With an ordinary girl he would have much doubb as to tbe propriety of such a thing, for bhe chances are she would become nervous and betray him, bub Aileen ie much differenb from bhe general run of girls—her early, life in bhe mines wibh her father developed sterling traits of independent characber, thab can be relied upon bo carry her bhrough a crisis.

So Sam bouches her arm and says

• Would you mind walking with me for a few minubes, Miss Aileen—l have something I desire to say bo you—of bhe gravesb imporbance.'

The .wo Italians chance bo be engaged for bhe momonb wibh Miss Dorothy, who is endeavouring bo prove bhab her ancestors musb have come over with Columbus. So Aileen, seizing the opportunity, turns and walks with the American down the hall— she even accepts his arm, in order the bebter to insure them againsb interrapbion while they converse.

Sam's firsb move ia bo warn her against bebraying emotion, and having thus steeled hor nerves, he gradually leads to the subject, telling her of the startling discovery they have made, and whab bhe consequences may be unless bhey combine bo outwit the foe.

She takes it even bebter than be expected and by no sign betrays emotion. Even when ahe speaks, her voice iB calm. Sam admires her more than ever—truly, Bhe is a girl among a thousand.

'Ib is a strange question to ask. Miss Aileen,' he says, finally, when all has been told, 'but of.considerable importance—are you armed?'

She ?;ivea a gurgling libtle laugh, that sounds like water bubbling over the rocks in a shady mounbain dell—ib pleases him to hear it, and he believes he could ait and listen to that sound for ages. ' Perhaps the answer may be still more strange, bub. remember my youth, and bhe peculiar manner in which I was broughb up. Yes, I have always been in the habib of carrying a small revolver aboub my person.' ■ ,

1 And I warrant you can use it, too.'

* My father was my teacher, and he was the best shot in the mines. I can do justice bo his lessons, I believe,' she replies, modeatly. ' Sam glows with pleasure. Here is a girl after bis own heart. He has little. esteem for those woakly creatures who. faint at the eight of a spider. He adores independence and a capacity for taking care of one's self, and the scarcity of theee qualities among the other aex has kepb bim a bachelor so long- ... „. ~ . .* '.- - 1 t,7 -': ' • He gives her directions how to manage under certain conditions, and she repeats _BB_.' \

hist.ords'in .calm way that shows she understands.

The -fmencan is satisfied with his work, and feels that there is a good chance while all of them pull together. Ib cheers him bo know that Aileen believe, in him, and trusts him.

Unconsciously this California girl i* growing very dear to Sam Buxton. Pe_haps he may yeb be another moth fluttering around the candle, to have his wingg singed; yet this man is usually ia the habit of winning when he takes a hand in a game; and the same kind fortune which senb him to save Aileen Winchester in the blizzard on Mont Blanc, may design tha , bhat he shall draw the prize in the lottery, He has kepb her away from the others long enough, andean ccc the Italian look". ing toward him with dark frowns. Nob because Ec fears their ill-humour, bub from poiicy, Sam Buxbon now cracks jokes, and has Aileen laughing. Then bhey stroll in bhe direction of the others and rejoin them.' Ib has reached the hour when ibis natural that they should think of retiring. This is the critical time, since the gentlemen must be separated from the ladies, and it is then bhab the evil plans of the Italian will be pub into execution. Sam has endeavoured to provide for this in hia talk with Aileen. '■'*■.. The young girl will protest againsb being led to any remote parb of bhe casble — her sleeping room muse be near tbab of the counbrymen whom she looks upon in the lighb of probecbors. In his courtly way bha counb finally declares that the others must be tired, and bhab his friend bhe prince will be glad ta show the ladies to the best room the caßtle affords, a chamber in which kings hay€ slept.

This'tickles Miss Dorothy, ib touches her hearb, bo sleep, in a bed bhab royalty has occupied, even if ib be a wreck, will givo her exquisite pleasure.' She opens her mouth bo exclaim in rapture how eagerly she accepts, then elevates her hands in holy horror upon hearing Aileen respecbfully bub firmly decline bhe honour. ' You will pardon us, prince, for appearing rude, but we are in a strange place, and do nob wish to be far separated from our counbrymen. If you have ever travelled in the States, you will appreciate the feeling one has for those of her, nativeland. We cannob be separated from out? protectors.'

' But,' ejaculates the nettled prince, wha seems to understand English, and speak ii fairly well, you are under my roof—th* home of an Italian nobleman will be t guarantee for your safety, signorina.' •Over in our counbry, prince, we car* nothing for bitles—ib is bhe man we look ab You are very kind, and I thank you, but I. am determined nob to be separated from our fellow-countrymen. She says it in such a firm way thab the owner of bhe castle is.dismayed. Plainly, he ie nob used to having a girl twist hinj around her finger. He turns toward the count. That worthy speaks some words in a low tone, as though mastering the difficulty, being keener of mind than the prince. The labter finally smiles again, and turns to Aileeri, aesuring her that he has no wish to separate the ladies from their protectors-^----that there is a room opening into the hall which they can use,,if they wish, but.it is nob to be compared to the "state room where royalty has been enbertained. A? for the gentlemen, cots will be spread fo. them in bhe great hall. Will this arrrange< ; ment suit? Ib is the besb he can devise.

Aileen glances toward Sam, as though ■""""* asking whether this arrangemenb meets hit approval, and upon receiving a nod in the affirmative, thanks the prince cordially, ac*'' -y cepting the situation.

The bwo Ibalians are quite-pub oubyantbheir faces. Bhow bhe fact.; Some neably. contrived plan has been entirely disarranged, and they must scheme anew. The game is still young, however, and there is plenty of time.

As for Aunt Dorothy, she is secretly indignant at the seemingly cruel .treatment of the nobleman, bub. is accustomed to tha queer ways of her independent niece, so bhab she holds herpeace, only rolling1 ber eyes wibh despair, and shrugging her shoulders in a way that would be a credit to a French madam. She wants the dear prince and the Apollo of a count to understand thab bbis is none of her doing — that she does not hol_ herself responsible for the vagaries of the independent young woman who has a fortune buck of her amounting to millions. If ib were lefb with Miss Dorothy, they would see how eagerly she would accept the honour Aileen so coolly declines. Ib is evident that tho Puritan spinster has been greatly taken by the prince—she may even be indulging in some sweot, maidenly thoughts on the subject of a princess—who knows?

The pew situation renders necessary a rearrangement of bhe Italians' plans. They withdraw to consult. The prince orders his retainers about like dogs. Some of bhem run bhis way, obhers that, until the scene is laughable in its confusion. ~ Evidently, the apartment now offered^o^|J3^ bbc ladies is bho prihce's own, and-i£ & %L^ '"'' desirous of changing a careless oIC bkc&isv**' :v lor's room to ono fib for the presence of ladies. j Our friends smile ab tho confusion, all' ' but Mies-Dorothy, who endeavours to sympathise with the' prince,, and looks another f way as the different traps are carried put of bhe bachelor den. ' -J'--

The prince apologises, and laughs with1 , \ the rest to hide his confusion. By degrees order is restored out of chaos. A couple of. .■■'■ cobs are made up in the great dining-ball of "■^gft the casble, which will serve Sam and his |f ' friend fairly well. " :

This looks like business, bub bhe gentlemen aro not ab all deceived —bbey know bhab mischief is intended, and are nob likely to be caught napping. ■ 'All is ready, signorina,' saye the prince, bowing to Miss Dorothy. • You will pardon me if things are nob what they should be.! The lack of womanly hands aboub our casble is painfully ovident ab times.'

• Thab is brue, prince. No house can be well kepb wibhoub a mistress. A princess here would transform this place to a delightful residence;' with which sly remark Miss Dorothy follows Aileen, who has Baid good-nighb bo the gentlemen, abd entered tbe apartment.

(To be Continued.)