The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-12-26
A CHAPARAL PRINCE
Confined from Fourth Page.)<
when the letter was done.
Eleven, said Fritz.


! when the letter was done.
Eleven, said Fritz
And where is she at?''
AT dose rock quarries-working. Ach,
mien Gott-little Lena. She speak of
drowning. i do not know if she viii do it,
but if she shall, l schwear / will dot Peter
Hidesmuller snoot nit gun, aretty'
You Butchers said Hondo Bill, his
voice swelling with a fine contempt.
make me plenty tired. Trim out your
kids to work when they ought to be play
in dolls in the sand. Your re a hell of a
sect of people. L reckon well fix your
clock for while just TO show what We
thing OF your old cheesy nation. Here,
boys"
Hondo Bill parleyed aside a while with
his band, and then they seized Fritz and
conveyed him Off the road to one side
Here they bound him fast to a tree with
a couple Of lariats. His team they tied
TO another tree near by.
We amt going TO hurt you bad" said
Hondo, reassuringly. Twont hurt you
to be tied up for a while We win now
pass the time of day with you. as it is
up TO us to depart. Ausespielt-nixcum-
rous. Dutcny. Don't get any more i'm
patience"
Fritz heard a great squeaking of sad
dies as the men mounted their horses
Then loud yell and a great clatter of
hoofs as they galloped pen-mell back
along the Fredericksburg road
For more than two hours Fritz sat
against his tree, tightly but not painful
Ixr
his exciting adventure he sank into slum-
ber How long he slept he knew not, but
he was at last awakened by a rough
shake. Hands were untying his ropes.
He was lifted to his feet. dazed, confused
In mind and weary of body. Rubbing
his eyes, he looked and saw that he was
avain in the midst of the same band of
terrible bandits. They showed him up to-
the seat of his wagon and placed the
lines in his hands.
Hit out for home. Dutch said Hondo
BilTs voice comma ndingly. You've given
us lots of trouble and were pleased to see
the back of your neck. Spiel! Zwei bier.
Vamoosen'
Hondo reached out and gave Bitten
smart cut with his quirt.
The little mules sprang ahead, glad to
be moving again. Fritz urged them along.
himself dizzy and muddled over his fear
full adventure
According to schedule time he should
have reached Fredericksburg At daylight.
AS it was he drove down the long street
of the town at II o'clock a. m. He had
to pass Peter Hidesmullers house on his
way to the post-ofice. He stopped his
team at the gate and called. But Frau
Hidesmuller was watching for him. Cls
rushed the whels family of Hidesmullers.
Frau Hidesmuller, fat and flushed, in
quired if he had letter from Lena. and
then Fritz raised his voice and told the
tale of his adventure He tcld the con-
tents Of the letter that the robser had
made him read and the Frau Hidesnuller
broke into weeping Her little Lena drown
herself. Why had they sent her from
home? What could be done? Perhaps
it would be too late by the time they
could send for her, now. Peter Hides
muller dropped his merschaum on the
walk ano it shivered to pieces
Woman he rosred at his wife, why
did you let that child go away? 1t is
your fault if she comes home to US no
more
Every one knew that it was Peter
Hidesmulers fault, so they paid no at
tention TO his words.
A moment afterwsrd a strange, faint
voice was heard TO call: Mammal" Frau
Hildesmuller at first thought il was Le
mas spirit calling, and then she rusheS
to the rear of FritZ's covered wagon
and. with a loud Shrek of joy, caught up
Lena herself, covering her pale little face
with kisses anc smothering her with
hugs Lena's eyes were heavy with the
deep slumber of exhaustion, but She
smiled and lay close to the one she had
longed to see. There among the mail
sacks, covered in a nest OF strange blan-
kets. and comforters, she had lain as
leep until wakened by the voices around
her.
Fritz stared at her with eyes that bulg
ed hebind his spectscles.
Colt in himmel," he souted. How did
you get in that wagon? Am I going crazy
as well as 10 be murdered and hanged by
robbers this nisht?"
You brought her to US, Fritz cried
Frau Hildesmuller How can we ever
thank you enough"
Tell mamma how came you in Fritz's
wagon" said Frau Endesmuller.
Il don't know" said Lena But I
know how I got away from the hotel.
The prince brought me-
by the Emperor's crown" shouted
Fritz we are all going crazy"
Il always knew he would come said
Lena, sitting down on her bundle OF bed
clothes on the sidewalk Last night
he came with his armed knights and
captured the orges castle. They broke
the dishes and kicked down the doors
They pitched Mr.. Msloney into a barrel
or rain water and threw -four all over
Mrs Maloney. The workmen in the hotel
jumped out the windows and ran into
the woods and when the knights began
firing their guns They wakened me up
ard I peeped down the stairs. and then
prince came up and wrapped me I'D in
the bedclothes and carried me- out. He
was so tall and strong and fine. His
face was . rough as Il scrubbinx brush.
and talked soft and kind and smelled
Of schnspps He took me on his horse
before him. and we rode away among
the KNIGHTS He held me close and
went TO sleep that way. and --dn't wake
up till 1 got home
Rubbish cried Fritz BergInann.
Fairy tales, How did you come from
the qrarries TO my wagon"
The prince brought me-" said Lena
confidently.
Andto this day the good people OF Fred
ericlsburg haven't been able to make her
give any other explanation.