Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-06-23
,usty seats Of their carriage and sighed

l gnu when we can step into decent
hotel, have rub and feel like white
men once more. am beginning to feel
like these dirty Slays and Huns we
saw way back there"
There's one thing certain" said Lor-
~, looking out Of the window. 1.-THE
people and the habitations are different
and the whole world seems changed
| since we left that station. Look at
those fellows on horseback over there
what did tell you about brigands
| and robbers!" exclaimed Anguish. "If
! those fellows IRE not bandits, I'll lose
faith in every novel 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. picturcsquely attired and looking
fierce, carrying long rifles, certainly
bore an aspect that suggested the brig
and. When the guard entered the car
riage, Anguish asked in German for
some information concerning the rid
crs.
"Dey're 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.
Is How do you come to be holding q
Job on this road? An Englishman?"
i demanded Lorry. He looked ANYTHING
but English.
I'm not an Nnglishman," said the
guard, flushing slightly. "My names
Sticky. an I'm an American, sir"
AN Americana exclaimed Lorry,
Sticky grew loquacious.
"Sure! used to be a sailor on
United States man-o'-war. 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 a 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?'
"Oh, run In dere every other day
In an out ag'in. It's a fine place-pur-
test you ever saw In your life. The
town runs right up the mountain to the
tiptop, where the monks are-clear up.
In de clouds. Dey say 1t SHOWS up dere
almost all de time.''
Later on from the loquacious guard
the two Americans learned quite
good bit about the country and city to
which they were going. His knowledge
was somewhat limited along certain
lines, but quite clear as to others.
DIS Graustark, g fer rs know, is
eeder sort o. state or somethin' be-
longin' to de umpire, governed by its
own rulers. Edelweiss is de capital;
de big guns Of de land lives dere. I've
walked out an saw de castle where de
princess an de royalty hangs out. De
people speak n language of DER own,
and can't get next to ting dey say.
But once in awhile you find some guy
dat talks French or German. Dey've
Iousa1ld hucn3-.s.s f,a,- rny of two tree
uniforms you ever did see-red an
black an gold. don't see why de Unit
ed States can't get up somethin' foxy
fer her soldiers to wear. Had war
somethin' like ten or fifteen years ago.
Dere's another little country up north
Of Graustark, an dey got in a wrangle
bout somcthin', an dey tell me In
Edelweiss dat for bout year dey
fought like Sam Patch"
(Which was yictorious?' demanded
Lorry, deeply interested.
I'm not sure. To hear de Edelweiss
people talk you'd t'ink dey licked de
daylights out of dc other slobs, but
somehow I got next to de fact dat dem
other fellows captured de city am went
after slashin' big war indemnity.
don't know much bout it, an maybe
, I'm clear off. but t'ink de Graustari
i hrmy was t'rashed. Everything is pros
, porous now. dough, an you'd never
know dere'd been a war. It's de mos
/, peaceable town ever saw
i did you ever hear of the Guggen
sloclsnrs? 2" asked the irrepressible An
: guish, and Lorry feltlike kicking him
Il "In Edelweiss? Never did. Friends
{ II &c urs?"
Acquaintance" interposed LORI,
:, hastily, frowning at Anguish.
"You won't have any trouble findin
!. 'em If dere anybody at ALL" said Sitzk.
easily. de hotel people ought to b.
: able to tell you oil bout 'em."
= by the way, what is the best hote
! there?" asked Anguish.
!, 'sDere's de Burnowentz, one bloc
! north Of de depot" The travellers lool
= ed at one another and smiled, Stick
observing the action. "Oh," he sal
! pleasantly, .dere's q swell Joint VI
: town called de Regengetz. It's too stee
:. fer me, but maybe you gents can stan
. it. II you'll hang around de depot fl
q little while after we get in I'll stee
~ you up dere."
i well make it worth your Will
Sticky" said Lorry.
y. Never mind dat now. American
- ought to stick together, no matte
~ where dey are. Well have a drin
/, an ats all, just to show we're fello
I, countrymen."
- "We'll have several drinks, and we
~ eat and drink tonight at the 'swe
"a joint you talk about" said Anguish.
a. eve may drink dere, but I'll not e
- dere. Dey wouldn't let q railroad gual
- inside de feedin, pen. Why. nothi
4, -, but royal guys eat dere when dey'
% downtown shoppin' or exposin' del