The George Barr McCutcheon MEGAPACK ®. George Barr McCutcheon
He was thinking of the abyss he had reached and could not cross.
“What time is it?” he asked at last, turning his eyes toward his friend.
“It’s just seven o’clock. You have been unconscious or under the influence of ether for over four hours. That guard hit you a fearful crack.”
“I heard a shot—a lot of them. Was any one killed? Did those fellows escape?”
“Killed! There have been eight executions besides the one I attended to. Lord, they don’t wait long here before handing out justice.”
“Tell me all that happened. Was she hurt?”
“I should say not! Say, Gren, I have killed a man. Dannox got my bullet right in the head and he never knew what hit him. Ghastly, isn’t it? I feel beastly queer. It was he who turned on the lights and went at you with a club. I heard you call, and was in the door just as he hit you. His finish came inside of a second. You and he spoiled the handsomest rug I ever saw.”
“Ruined it?”
“Not in her estimation. I’ll wager she has it framed, blood and all. The stains will always be there as a reminder of your bravery, and that’s what she says she’s bound to keep. She was very much excited and alarmed about you until the room filled with men and then she remembered how she was attired. I never saw anything so pretty as her embarrassment when the Countess and her aunt led her into the next room. These people are going out, so I’ll tell you what happened after you left me with the cook. He was a long time falling under the influence, and I had barely reached the top of the stairs when I saw Dannox rush down the hall. Then you called, and I knew the jig was on in full blast. The door was open, and I saw him strike you. I shot him, but she was at your side before I could get to you. The other fellows who were in the room succeeded in escaping while I was bending over you, but neither of them shot at me. They were too badly frightened. I had sense enough left to follow and shoot a couple of times as they tore down the stairs. One of them stumbled and rolled all the way to the bottom. He was unconscious and bleeding when I reached his side. The other fellow flew toward the dining-hall, where he was nabbed by two white uniformed men and throttled. Other men in white—they were regular police officers—pounced upon me, and I was a prisoner. By George, I was knocked off my feet the next minute to see old Dangloss himself come puffing and blowing into the hall, redder and fiercer than ever. ‘Now I know what you want in Edelweiss!’ he shrieked, and it took me three minutes to convince him of his error. Then he and some of the men went up to the Princess’ room, while I quickly led the way to the big gate and directed a half-dozen officers toward the ravine. By this, time the grounds were alive with guards. They came up finally with the two fellows who had been stationed beneath the window and who were unable to find the gate. When I got back to where you were the room was full of terrified men and women, half dressed. I was still dazed over the sudden appearance of the police, but managed to tell my story in full to Dangloss and Count Halfont—that’s Uncle Caspar—and then the chief told me how he and his men happened to be there. In the meantime, the castle physician was attending to you. Dannox had been carried away. I never talked to a more interested audience in my life! There was the Princess at my elbow and the Countess—pretty as a picture—back of her, all eyes, both of ’em; and there was the old gray-haired lady, the Countess Halfont, and a half-dozen shivering maids, with men galore, Dangloss and the Count and a lot of servants,—a great and increasing crowd. The captain of the guards, a young fellow named Quinnox, as I heard him called, came in, worried and humiliated. I fancy he was afraid he’d lose his job. You see, it was this way: Old Dangloss has had a man watching us all day. Think of it! Shadowing us like a couple of thieves. This fellow traced us to the castle gate and then ran back for reinforcements, confident that we were there to rob. In twenty minutes he had a squad of officers at the gate, the chief trailing along behind. They found the pile of tools we had left there, and later the other chap in the arbor. A couple of guards came charging up to learn the cause of the commotion, and the whole crew sailed into the castle, arriving just in time. Well, just as soon as I had told them the full story of the plot, old Caspar, the chief and the captain held a short consultation, the result of which I can tell in mighty few words. At six o’clock they took the whole gang of prisoners down in the ravine and shot them. The mounted guards are still looking for the two Viennese who were left with the carriage. They escaped. About an hour after you were hurt you were carried over here and laid on this couch. I want to tell you, Mr. Lorry, you are the most interesting object that ever found its way into a royal household. They have been hanging over you as if you were a new-born baby, and everybody’s charmed because you are a boy and are going to live. As an adventure this has been a record-breaker, my son! We are cocks of the walk!”
Lorry was smiling faintly over his enthusiasm.
“You are the real hero, Harry, You saved my life and probably hers. I’ll not allow you or anybody to give me the glory,” he said, pressing the other’s hand.
“Oh, that’s nonsense! Anybody could have rushed in as I did. I was only capping the climax you had prepared—merely a timely arrival, as the novels say. There is a little of the credit due me, of course, and I’ll take it gracefully, but I only come in as an accessory, a sort of bushwhacker who had only to do the shoot, slap-bang work and close the act. You did the hero’s work. But what do you think of the way they hand out justice over here? All but two of ’em dead!”
“Whose plan was it to kill those men?” cried Lorry, suddenly sitting upright.
“Everybody’s, I fancy. They didn’t consult me, though, come to think of it. Ah, here is Her Royal Highness!”
The Princess and Aunt Yvonne were at his side again, while Count Caspar was coming rapidly toward them.
“You must not sit up, Mr. Lorry,” began the Princess, but he was crying:
“Did they make a confession, Harry?”
“I don’t know. Did they, Unc—Count Halfont? Did they confess? Great heavens, I never thought of that before.”
“What was there to confess?” asked the Count, taking Lorry’s hand kindly. “They were caught in the act. My dear sir, they were not even tried.”
“I thought your police chief was such a shrewd man,” cried Lorry, angrily.
“What’s that?” asked a gruff voice, and Baron Dangloss was a member of the party, red and panting.
“Don’t you know you should not have killed those men?” demanded Lorry. They surveyed him in amazement, except Anguish, who had buried his face in his hands dejectedly.
“And, sir, I’d like to know why not?” blustered Dangloss.
“And, sir, I’d like to know, since you have shot the only beings on earth who knew the man that hired them, how in the name of your alleged justice you are going to apprehend him?” said Lorry, sinking back to his pillow, exhausted.
No reserve could hide the consternation, embarrassment and shame that overwhelmed a very worthy but very impetuous nobleman, Baron Jasto Dangloss, chief of police in Edelweiss. He could only sputter his excuses and withdraw, swearing to catch the arch-conspirator or to die in the attempt. Not a soul in the castle, not a being in all Graustark could offer the faintest clew to the identity of the man or explain his motive. No one knew a Michael, who might have been inadvertently addressed as “your” possible “Highness.” The greatest wonder reigned; vexation, uneasiness and perplexity existed everywhere.
Standing there with her head on her aunt’s shoulder, her face grave and troubled, the Princess asked:
“Why should they seek to abduct me? Was it to imprison or to kill me? Oh, Aunt Yvonne, have I not been good to my people? God knows I have done all that I can. I could have done no more. Is it a conspiracy to force me from the throne? Who can be so cruel?”
And no one could answer. They could simply offer words of comfort and promises of protection. Later in the day gruff Dangloss marched in and apologized to the Americans for his suspicions concerning them, imploring their assistance in running down the chief villain. And as the hours went by