Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-21

They made hasty preparations for
the journey. Anguish, romantic and full
of adventure, advised the purchase of
a pair of pistols and a knife apiece,
maintaining that as they were going
into an unknown and mountainous re-
gion they should be prepared for brig
ands and other elements of danger.
Lorry poohpoohed the suggestion of
brigands, but INDUCED his mood by
buying some ugly looking revolvers and
inviting the prospect of something real
ly thrilling Ill the way Of an adventure.
With their traps they We're soon whirl-
ing through France, bound for GER
tain great city on the road to Edel-
weiss, one filled with excitement, eager
hess and boyish zeal. the other har-
assed by tb" somber fear that grave
disappointment was in store for him.
After all, who was Miss Guggenslocker
brewer, baker, gardener or sausage
maker?
Travelling Of course was pleasant at,
this time of the year, and the two
Americans saw much that interested
them along the way. Their French,
especially Anguish's, was of great val
ue to them, for they found occasion to
use it at all times and in all places.
Both spoke German fairly we'll and
took every opportunity to brush up in
that language, Lorry remembering that
the Guggenslockers used many express
sions that showed preference for the
| ha
dent and in high feather, was heart
and soul in the odd expedition of love
and talked necessarily of their recep-
ton by the faraway hostess, their i'm
pressions and the final result His
camera and sketching materials were
packed away with his traps. 1t was
his avowed intention to immortalize
the trip by means of plate, palette and
brush.
At the end Of two days they reached
a certain large city, the first change,
and then TOO miles to another. The dis
lance from this point to the capital of
Graustark was 200 miles or more, chief
ly through mountainous lands. Some
what elated by the cheerful Informal
1 ton there received, they resumed the
! journey to Edelweiss, the city of vale.
slope and park-summer, fall and win
ter. Changing cars at the end of the
second day out, they sat back in the
dusty seats Of their carriage and sighed
with relief.
! Unless we jump the track this train
will land us in the city we are looking
for" said Anguish, stretching out his
4 legs comfortably. "I'll admit it has
been a tiresome Journey, and I'll be
glad Wien we can step into a decent
hotel, have d rub and feel like white
men once more. am beginning to fee,
like these dirty Slavs and Kuns we
saw way back there"
There's one thing certain" said Lor-
ry, looking out of the window. "The
people and the habitations are different
and the whole world seems changed
since we left that station. Look at
4 those fellows on horseback over there"
What did l tell you about brfgands
and robbers" exclaimed Anguish. "If
those fellows are not bandits, I'll lose
faith in every novel l ever read.''
The train rolled slowly past three
mounted men whose steeds stood like
statues upon little knoll to the right Of
the track, men and beasts engaged in
silent contemplation of the cars. The
men, picturesquely attired and looking
fierce, carrying long rifles, certainly
bore an aspect that suggested the brig
and. When the guard entered the car
4 Y>ip pc-lvo ~, e..
some information concerning the rid
ers. 49, 49,
"Dey'rei frontier police guards" re.
sponded the man in English, smiling at
their astonishment. Both Americans
rose and shook hands with him.
"By George, it's good to hear man
talk white mans language" cried An
guish. ~
How do you come to be holding a
job on this road? An Englishman"
demanded Lorry. He looked anything
but English.
I'm not an Englishman," said the
guard, flushing slightly. MY names
Sticky, an I'm an American, sir
can American!" exclaimed Lorry.
Sticky grew loquacious.
"Sure! I used to be sailor on q
United States man-owar A couple of
years ago got into trouble down at
Constantinople. an had to get out of
| de service. After dat drifted up dis
way and went to railroadin'." He
hadn't exactly the manner of man-o'-
warsman.
How long have you been on this
road?" asked Grenfall
"'Bout year, should t'ink. Been
on dis branch only two months, dough-"
"Are you pretty well acquainted in
Edelweiss?"
sob, run in dere every other day.
in an out ag'in. It's fine place-pur-
| test you ever saw in your life. Tie
town runs right up the mountain to the
tiptop, where the monks are-clear up
in de clouds. Dey say it SHOWS up dere
almost all de time"
| Later OF from the loquacious guard
the two Americans learned quite a
good bit about the country and city to
which they were going. Els knowledge
was somewhat limited along certain