The Dickinson press., 1896-08-01

saw.
his father, an officer in the old wars,
had used, and trained it on the road
and looked at them carefully for sew
eral minutes.
''They ride like men who have seen
military service. All, can tell such
of the spine. Try n dozen saddles If
necessary, but get one that is right in
this respect, and you will never regret
the extra bother you We're put TO in
fellows said he. 'They are not
dressed like soldiers, but the manner
in which they ride tells me that they
have been in the Kings service"
80 they have" eclaimed Karl. IA
ther, you must not be here when they
come"
But what will you do children?"
eve will stay and face them. They
will take you to Pctsdam and enroll
you in the Giant Guards if you re-
main"
"rhey shall not do this if we can
outwit them," was the quick reply,
and the landlord of the little inn en-
braced his boys and ran from tile
room.
The boys did not follow to see
whittier he had gone, for they guessed
that he had raised a door set ingen-
iOusly in the floor of the next room,
and had descended u number Of steps
to hidden chamber underground.
which he had prepared for an cmcr-
gency like the present one.
When they looked out again they
saw that the three men were dis
mounting in front of the house. and
presently one advanced and knocked
harshly.
Karl, with a glance at Otto, opened
the door and asked the man what he
wanted.
''Food for man and beast" was the
answer. "and tell your big father to
hurry up and set the best he has be-
fore u.s."
Father, sir, is not in the house; but
we will do the best we can"
The three men glanced at one an
other and then came inside, their
spurs clinking on the floor, and their
heavy boots making a sound which
must have reached Herr Grossman's
ears, hidden as he was.
'Where is your father, boys?" asked
one of the three.
He went away while ago."
will he be gone long?"
'"That we cannot say"
did he go to Paderborn?'
This was the name of the village
through which the men had come, and
If the landlord had gone thither they
would have seen him.
I'VE think not, SIR" said Karl, as he
began to set lunch for the men il
the long dining room, in one corner o1
4, which was the trap door which theil
father had used in his flight.
III.
1T was q cold lunch, for the men ex
pected nothing else at that hour, ant
when all was ready the three drew III
to the table and began to cat. But al
the time they cast sly looks at eacl
other and began to speak in suspicion
whispers. 1t was evident to the boy
who watched them that they were &c
ing to have trouble with the trio, an
1t came when the fellows rose frol
the table.
I'VE must see Herr Grossman," sal
the spokesman Of the party.
"But, sir, he is not in the house." n
piled Karl.
Every well. You will let us scare
1t, won't you? We are here on in
pOrtant business
Karl waved his hand and interrup
ed:
Search 1t, sir. You will not fin
father in the house, for he is gone" :"
iE Suiting action to the words ju
spoken, the three men, who now stoc
forth In their real selves as the recrui
Ing officers Of the Prussian king, ra
sacked the inn, all the time shown
that they had come to abduct the gial
innkeeper and take him to Potsda
for enlistment in the famous regimen
The boys were afraid that the
would discover the door in the no
and all at once Otto cried out that
had the toothache, and in his pr
.f tended pain lie threw himself down {
the boards and lay moaning on Il
trap itself.
Here, SIR cried one of them, II a
somewhat Of q tooth-draweri myse
and slways carry my instruments wi