The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-04-19
Continued from last week.
CHAPTER XIII.

asked.
-Four. All Oh horseback. There's
coach of some sort following on be-
hind. But everything is blurred, and
my hand trembles. The whisky here
Is terrible. Here, look for yourself"
handing the glasses to me. Tell me
what you see."
There's one with white cap-ah, it
is Count Won Walden! There are two
soldiers in the Hohenphallan uniform,
cavalry. l do not know who the fourth
fellow Is"
Describe him to me-" said Hillars,
trying TO roll cigarette with his trem-
bling fingers. Course it''-throwing
away the rice paper-"I've got so bad
that l can't roll cigarette! Well,
what's he look likeT
Hes in civilian dress; has a little
black mustache and an imperial"
Look anything like Napoleon HIP
you've hit 1t. Who is hep
"They say he's Prince Ernst of Wor-
tumborg," said Hillars, "but it is my
opinion that he's the devil on a fur
Tough"
"Then he is the nam began.
''He is. Your love affair is oil over
once he gets here, unless Dan look
ed at the sky as though he was unde-
cided about the weather.
Unless whatT' | asked.
ooh, just unless" said he. I'D give
70 for a glass of homemade whisky"
you've got plan OF some sort"
said l. Speak it out"
1T wasn't a plan; it was just an
idea. It's gone now. Maybe 1t will
come back later. Are you going to stay
here or come with me and tackle a bot
tie of the innkeepers Rhine wine? The
German vinegar used to make you hila-
rious'
whats the coach for? / asked.
"Are they going to carry us off like
couple of chckensT'
Il presume it is for her serene high
ness. l wonder how they found out
she was here? Probably the lieutenant
you were going to fight, but didn't, in
formed them. At any rate the coach
will not be for us. The prince will not
bother with you and me while the
princess Is here. | don't know what
they will do with us. Possibly moth
ing; possibly put us in jail Come
along; Pm thirsty"
1t was late in the afternoon Of the
day following. had not seen her Sc
rene highness the Princess Hildegarde
Gretchen. She had remained in her
room, and all efforts of mine to hold
communication with her had proved
futile. l had stood at her door and
duplicated. She had told me to go
away The innkeeper had scowled
when l suggested that he carry a note
to his mistress. He had refused.
''The princess receives no notes." he
had said. "Gretchen-it was a differ
ent matter"
And Hillars had slept till after noon.
1t had been a bad morning for me.
The wounded lieutenant had been car
ried away the night before, and there
had not been anything for me to do
but wander about-waiting.
''Win you help me With the Rhine
wine?" asked Hillars.
mo. My head is fuddled enough as
1t is"
"Then you must let me do all the
talking"
"And why your"
''I shall know better how to irritate
Them" with a laugh. "They will not
take any particular interest in you
when they set eyes on me. Homo sum!
l am the man they are looking for.
They will find plenty Of me. l shall
be a syndicate in myself. Where they
expect to find one man they will find
dozen, all alive and kicking 1t will be
good sport"
what the devil are you up to?" l
demanded.
"Wait and see; wait and see Come,
let us receive them in the hall. The
affair must be conducted on the line Of
court etiquette. First, we shall try to
avert hostilities by the aid of diplo-
macy. If that fails, the princess her
self will be made to vindicate us. And
why not?"
'You are not going to drag her in?'
exclaimed.
'My dear Jack, of course NOT The
prince and the count will do that for
us. You understand that she is con-
cerned IN all that Is to take place, DO
you not? Well, then, it will cost her
but little"
"But this fellow. the princep' l cried
'Let us get out while there is time"
Dan regarded me seriously.
"You aren't afraid of him. What do
you want to run away for? My son,
there will be some very good sport be-
fore this is done. You will miss IL by
running away"
"It's meeting the man who is to
marry her-the woman / love. That
is the reason"
"To marry her-the woman / lover
he repeated softly. eyes, 1t is hard.
But 1t isn't any worse for you than for
me-"
"Forgive me, DAM You know
eyes, yes; know" GROSSLY. "Hang
IT, can't I punch II into your head
<bof I nm fakinO all this trouble on