THE EARNEST PRINCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20480, 4 February 1930, Page 18

THE EARNEST PRINCE.

BY ERIC LEACROFT.

CHAPTER XX.—(Continued.) " We have no money," Betty repeated. You should havo saved tho seal," she added maliciously. " They could havo hung it in tho bar parlour." "Forgive me, madam, but I have a better plan. Listen. I cannot go to my father's house, for that would reveal our whereabouts to our enemies. At, home I am too well known. But there is an old friend of my family io who I believe that we can safely go. He is' Dr. Marcus, and he lives in the midlands, in a lonely old house whero wo may possibly stay until we get, in touch with our friends. I shall havo to tell him everything. It is a risk, but he is the dearest old gentleman I havo ever met and there is nono whom I would soonoi trust with our secret." " But our friends will never find us there," tho princess objected. "I thought of that. I didn't dare speak of it, for I have no right to drag him into our affairs, even for your sake. But beforo wo loft the Milan I felt a sudden fear that wo might bo separated from tho Count and I left a sign for our friends. Perhaps they will not be able to read it, but I dared not write a name or a place." " I do not like riddles," said the princess coldly. " But 1 will do what you ■wish." Thoy walked on. A sleepy mechanic blinked at them from tho inner door of the garage, but awoke to speculative in lerest at tho news that a rar had broken down. ' " I'll take the van along and give it a tow," ho promised. " I'm afraid that's no use," said Betty. "You seo tho car is a total wreck." The man stared. " Anybody hurt?" he enquired. " Not a scratch," said Betty cheerfully. " You see, wo had left tho car nt the side of tho road for a moment—and another car ran into it and smashed it, up." "•But what about the other bloke? persisted tho garage hand. " Oh, ho wasn't hurt cither. Not in the least. I'll show you how it happened. We left- our car at tho'edgo of the road where there's a steep drop down an embankment. Well, another car camo along and touched our car, and it rolled towards the edgo and went over. It fell about thirty feet and was smashed to atom's. It isn't really worth picking up again." "Where was this?" asked the man. "I haven't the faintest idea what the place is called. What does it matter?" " Only that I don't know of a placo like ,that round here, and I've been driving in these parts ever since I was demobbed." Tho princess broke in haughtily. " You do not believe my friend ?" she asked. " Well miss, since you ask me, I don't " You are a—scoundrel," said the princess calmly._ "Hush!" said Betty. "Of course he doesn't believe me. Why should he, sinco there isn't a word of truth in it." The garage man grinned. " That's the style, miss. I knew you ■wore kidding me." " Of course I was, but I see you're too smart for inc. The fact is my friend and I are—are rather anxious not to let anybody, know'why we happen to be out at this time of night." She blushed; and since the blush was genuine it curried conviction. " Why didn't you say at first," said the man with a leer. " I'm not one to spoil sport,, Mind you. I don't say I approve of ail the goings on of the smart set, if that's what you are—" " That's just it," said Betty humbly. *' We're members of the smart set. Need I say more ?" The garage man looked at them with leering admiration. "Well, what d'you want mo to do?" She told him. "Coo! ain't you a long way from home? That's a good thirty miles from hero. It'll cost, you three quid, miss." " You needn't worry about that," said Betty. An hour later they turned in between two lodge gales, crossed a gleaming expanse of water and drew up in the courtyard of a house in which a lighted window challenged the moonlight,. Somebody was awake, for thoy heard the notes of a 'cello, strangely moving in the moonlit silence. The. princess held up her finger, commanding silence. " Whoever your friend is," sho said f he plays like an angel." " He's a beautiful old gentleman," murmured Betty. " I hope he won't mind lending us three pounds." " It will be more than that," said (he princess wisely. " You have forgotten the tip." CHAPTER XXI. " Safe at last," said Betty Quilliarn. The driver of tho car had been paid and dismissed, not without a tip. Tho two girls were sitting over a breakfast which, at two o'clock in the morning, amounted to a miracle of hospitality. There was coffee such as they had tasted only in Vienna. There were rolls that might have been fresh from a German bakery. There was /an omelette of a kind that- can bo obtained in Paris by'those who know where to look for it. And there were grilled trout. To the Princess, after the scanty faro of the great, forlorn palace at Valina, it seemed a banquet. Sho ate Tvilh an abandon that is permitted Lo Near Eastern princesses, but might have been reproved in an English nursery. The etiquette of Estrania, though strict enough in many ways, docs not demand the pretence .that one is never hungry. " Your friend is a—a, brick," sho brought out triumphantly with her mouth full. " 1 rather love him," Betty admitted, " though I really don't know much about him except that he's something rather big in the world of science. 1 remember my father tolling mo that he'd ,wico been offered a peerage and refused it." "Surely that was not polite," said tho princess doubtfully. "Oh it can be done in England—if you're big enough. Dr. Marcus is awfully big, in bis own line, and frightfully rich." " 1 do not like his eyes," said the frank daughter of King .Julius V. Well, I'm glad you like his coffee," said I.letty. " ll looks lome as if we shall have to stay here until wo can get in touch with our friends again, and that, isn't going to be easy." The princess reflected. Our friends!" she repeated with ft note of bitterness. " Oh, they are loyal, Jictty, and brave, but what can tho.v do"' Already tlicy have failed us. When Iho Count found us at the hotel w ,id most encouragingly and etnphal ieallv I batthere were those who were wo.kinj; for inv family and for tlin overthrow of its enemies. They promised that I should return soon to Estrania at the head of a band of friends, I hat the army would rally to me and that I should march into Aaliua at the head of my regiment,. What Jiappens I leave Valina because I have discovered that Malikoff is plotting niv death. I find that mv life is in greater danger bete. ] have u, seek the protection ol a sir'cigcr; v.te u f es.-ape T am followed, and WfMijn an hour I am abandoned." " lhat.i-; said Hetty. But it )-•; U;«, truth," said Armid. " 1 have been d</,*;ved in hoping that by coming to England I could restore the fortunes tuy hour-e: T SC e now that our friends here arc weak. In England . as in EMntnia they are outplayed by'my enemies. I have staked and lost. Tomorrow I go back to whatever awaits me Sn Valina. Doubtless your friend will provide mo with tho necessary money."

A ROMANCE OF LOVE, CRIME AND MYSTERY.

(COPYRIGHT.)

Betty privately resolved thai her friend should do nothing of the sort, and hurried the princess olf to Lied Lo sleep oil her despondency. . " If you say another word," said Betty, " I shall begin to think that you're right. And that would bo tho end of everything. Good-night, Princess." " Good-night, niv only friend. And, Betty." " Madam." " When I talk as I have been talking to anybody but you, you may begin to think that I am no better than my brother. Cannot I grumble when I wish . "Of course you can," said Betty, if it makes you feel better. Only I novor heard you do it before." _ " 1 have never been quito so tired before," said the princess and promptly fell asleep. , In another room their host was sitting on tho bottom of a bed in the dark and talking to its occupant. His voice was low and musical. To the man in the bed it seemed a continuation of tho melody of a 'cello that had mingled with his dreams. " This shows us, Malikoff," he said, " that tho most, unimportant people are worth cultivating. Who could seem less important in the scheme of things than little Betty Quilliarn, tho daughter of my old friend tho archdeacon? And yefc when I heard by chance that this child had gone to Estrania I took tho trouble to writo to her from time to time and to assure her of my interest and of the welcomo that I would give her whenever sho returned to England. And see what happens. It is as prompt as the response to a saint's prayer. The bird looking for flics straight into the net." " Tho stars are fighting with us, said the man in tho bed. " On tho contrary, my dear Malikoff, it is I that am fighting with you You will not forget that, lam sure. I do nut want your gratitude to go astray. " Rely upon me," replied the other. ** I propose to do so—but not without safeguards on my side. However, that is all understood. Tho point is that you may now return to Estrania with an easy mind and continue the work that I have mapped out for you. The Pnncess has decided to mako a. prolonged stay in this country. She will find English lifo as much to her taste as her brother has found the life of Paris and Biarritz. Are you satisfied?" " Except for one thing," said Malikoff. " You must remember that Armid is not Adrian. I have watched the girl from the nursery. She is a true daughter of Julius V." . " You Estranians arc all aliko. There is king worship in your bones. Listen, little Malikoff. I am an old man, but 1 have never met a woman that I could not bend to my will. I can play on them as I play on my 'cello. See how the child Betty has flown to mo for help. By the time you are back in Valina the princess will look on mo as her dearest friend and the most valorous of her protectors. I have said enough. It is for you to act, Lot it be known in Valina that the princess has left her country, never to return, and the last obstacle is removed." " And tho king?" " Tho king is dying. There is no reason why tho process should be prolonged. Apply your talents where you can be of service." "My talents?" enquired tho other sulkily. " For eliminating royal obstacles. Do you think that I was not aware of your plans to kill the princess? Fools! You would have set back the cause for years. Our enemies are wiser. See how the more pretence of an attempt on Adrian's life has set the Estranians muttering. I toll you, you are all king-worshippers. But that is only an episode and its effect will not last. The stage is set; I look to vou to carry the play through. In a week the king will be dead and the people of Estrania will be crying, not " Long live the King," but " Long live Malikoff," and " Long live the Estranian Republic." And our cause will have captured its last, stronghold in eastern Europe." " I will do niv best," said Malikoff. " Very well. But your host will not be enough if it falls short of what T have said. Remember that, and your reward will be great. Forget it, and—but I have really no excuse for keeping you awake any longer. I trust that my playing did not disturb you?" " I dreamed I was in heaven," said Malikoff. The old man chuckled. " Heaven ? You Estranians are incorrigible. Sleep while you can, I resident Malikoff. You must be leaving very early—in a few hours. Everything is arranged. It. is very desirable that my new gnosis should not see you. He stole from the room. The last lisrht was put out; and the old house itself seemed to dream within its encircling moat. But Betty Quilliarn could not sleep. She was thinking of Count Julian as she had last seen him, standing pistol in hand behind the protecting blaze of a car's headlights, preparing to cover with his own life, if need lie, the flight of his princess. . She had found herself wishing, with a strange intensity, that he had spoken to her at that moment, had said a word of good-bye. It would have been something if he had only pressed her hand. I'or she told herself with a sudden surprising ache at her heart that the Count was dead. It is well for those whom they love that women's intuitions, still more women's fears, arc not always justified. When his opponent fell the Count crawled to the side of the road and lay in the shadow of a bush. He too believed that he was dying. And he realised before many minutes had passed that his fight had been doomed to failure. lie had hardly taken coyer when another car drew near, coming from Iho. direction of London. He called for help as it drew up a. few yards away, but fortunately his voice was too weak to be heard, for he realised in a moment that . the car had carried reinforcements for the men in the taxi. Clearly the princess had been followed by two cars; but tho second had lacked the speed of the first and had fallen behind in' the chase. The light of the burning cars had died down, but the moon was still bright enough to show him that, the second car, like Hie first,, carried three armed men. Ihey advanced cautiously along the road, revolvers iri hand. The Count clenched his teeth and groped for his weapon. But ho could not find it, and when he tried to move his body he was overcome with dizziness. After a moment the pursuers satisfied themselves that they were in no danger of ambush. Ojic, by one they lifted the bodies of their friends and hauled lliom to the car. Then it was Carl's turn. Tho Estranian lad lay motionless in the moonlight, one leg doubled beneath him. Tho men approached him more cautiously and leaned over him. " Dead as mutton," said one of the men, and laughed. Tho Count ground his l.eelh again and longed for a weapon, hut he had to watch them lift his comrade's body roughly and drag it to the car. Then the three men talked to get her fur a moment in low tones. Probably Ihey were .speculating on his own whereabouts. Would they search for him? Hi- could not doubt that they would, and .lie knew that il would be only a matter of minutes before they found him behind his scanty cover. But at' that moment, when they began 'o spread out. for the search, the sound of another motor-car's engine reached hiin. and instantly tho three, men hurried back to their own car and drove, on. He could sen all three of thoin packed into tho front seat. Evidently the company of those who occupied Illf - mar was not, ||, P j r (~1 H(o. Willi a, M'pre'ne effort, the Count crawled to the iho f 0 rond. Bui. lip, did uof son • tie approaching car draw up with squealm,<l 1,1,r, ' y (To bo continued dally.)