Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-06-02

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itiveness, I'd like to ask why you are
making this wild goose chase hall
around the world-just to have another
look at her?'
You asked me II 1 thought Here
he stopped.
II take 1t for granted, then, that
you'd like to. Well, I'm glad that I've
got something definite on which to base
operations. The one object Of our en-
deavors from now on is to exchange
Guggenslocker for Lorry-certainly nc
robbery; charity, I should say. Good
night; see you In the morning."
The next morning the two friends
took a cab to several railway stations
and inquired about Graustark and
Edelweiss.
"She was stringing you, old man.
said Anguish after they had turned
away from the third station. He spoke
commiseratingly. as he really felt sor.
ry.
"No" exclaimed Lorry. "She told
me the truth. There Is q Graustark,
and she lives there. I'll stake my life
on those eyes Of hers"
"Are you sure she said It was in Eu.
rope" asked Harry, looking up and
down the street as II he would not
have been surprised to see her In
Paris. In his heart he believed that
she and her precious relatives had de.
ceived old Gren. Perhaps their home
was in Paris and nowhere else. But
for Lorry's positiveness he would have
laughed heartily at the others simple
credulity or branded him a dolt, the
victim Of some merry actress whim.
Still he was forced to admit he was
not in a position to see matters as
they appeared and was charitable
enough to bide his time and to humor
the faith that was leading them from
place to place in the effort to find a
land that they knew nothing about.
Lorry seemed SO sure. so positive, that
he was loath to see his dream dis
PEELED, his ideal shattered. There was
certainly no Graustark. Neither had
the Guggenslockers sailed on the VIII
helm, all apparent evidence to the con-
trary notwithstanding. Lorry had
been in a delirium and had imagined
he saw her on the ship. II there, why
was not her name In the list? But
that problem tortured the sanguine
searcher himself.
At last, in despair, after fruitless
search of two days Lorry was willing
to submit. With the perverseness COIL
mon to half hearted fighters Anguish
ut once protested, forgetting that he
had sought to dissuade his friend the
day before.
"We'll go to the library Of Paris and
take look through the books aud
maps" he said. "Or, better still, let
us 60 to the postoffice. There! Why
have we not thought Of that? What
there is of Graustark they'll know in
the postal service"
Together they visited the chief post
office, where, after being directed to
various deputies and clerks, they at
length found the department in which
the information was obtainable. In
side of five minutes they were in pos
session of facts that vindicated Miss
Guggenslocker, lifted Lorry to the sew.
enth heaven and put Mr.. Anguish into
an agony of impatience. Graustark
was a small principality away of to
the east, and Edelweiss was city Of
some $4,000 inhabitants. according to
the postal guidebook.
The Americans could learn no more
there. so they went to Baedeckers Of
fee. Here they found great map, and,
after a diligent and almost microscopic
search, succeeded In discovering the
principality Of Graustark. Then they
looked at each other In dismay.
"It's devil Of distance to that lit
tie red blot on the map" unused Lorry,
pulling his nose reflectively. what an
outlandish place for girl like her to
live in," he continued. "And that sweet
faced old lady and noble Uncle Cas-
par! Ye gods, one would think bar
barians existed there and not such peo-
pie as the Guggenslockers. refined, cul-
tivated, smart, rich! I'm more inter
ested than ever In the place"
$50 am I! I'm willing and ready to
make the trip. old man, If you are still
Of mind. It's lark, and, besides, she
may not be the only pretty and gra-
cious girl there. We've had hard work
to find it on the map, let's not stop till
we see Edelweiss on the earth ITSELF"
They made hasty preparations for
the journey. Anguish, romantic and full
Of adventure, advised the purchase Of
pair of pistols and 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 In the way Of an adventure
With their traps they were soon whirl.
ing through France, bound for Ger.
tain great city on the road to Edel.
weiss. one filled with excitement, eager
ness and boyish zeal. the other har-
assed by the somber fear that grave
disappointment was In store for him.
After all, who was Miss Gusgcnslocker
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 1t at all times and in all places.
81 II