The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-01-06

pressions and tho final result. His
camera and sketching materials were
packed away with his traps. 1t was
his ayowed intention to immortalize
tile 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 700 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 informa-
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.
"Uniess we jump the track this train
will land us in the city we are looking
for" said Anguish, stretching out his
legs comfortably. "IIl admit 1t has
been q tiresome journey, and I'll be
glad when we can step into u decent
hotel, have a rub and feel like white
men once more. 1 am beginning to feel
like these dirty Slavs and Huns we
saw way back there"
There's II 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 l tell you about brigands
and robbers!" exclaimed Anguish. "If
those fellows are not bandits, I'll lose
faith In every novel 1 ever read"
The train rolled slowly past three
mounted men whose steeds stood like
statues upon a 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
riage, Anguish asked in German for
some information concerning the rid
ers.
"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 q 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 Americana" exclaimed Lorry.
Sticky grew loquacious.
Sure! / used to be q sailor on n
United States man-o'war. A couple of
years ago 1 got into trouble down at
Constantinople an had to get out of
de service. After dat I drtfted up dis
way and went to railroadln'." He
hadn't exactly the manner of a man-o'-
warsman.
Glow long have you been on this
road?" asked Grenfall.
"'Bout n year, 1 should t'ink. Been
on dis branch only two months, dough-"
care you pretty we'll acquainted in
Edelweiss2"
"Oh, 1 run In derc 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 it SHOWS up dere
almost all de time"
Later On from tho %loquacious guard
the two Americans learned quite a
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, IS fer as I know, Is
eeder a sort o. state or somethin' be-
longin' to de umpire, governed by its
OWL 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 a language Of DER own,
and 1 can't get mex to q ting dey say.
But once in awhile you find some guy
dat talks French or German. Dey've
got a little standin' army Of two tree
fousand men, an dey've got de hottest
uniforms you ever did see-red an
black an gold. I don't see why do Unit.
ed States can't get up somethin' foxy
fer her soldiers to wear. Had q war
over here not long ago, I understand
somethin' like ten or fifteen years ago.
Dere's another little country up north
of Graustark, an dey got in n wrangle
bout somethin', an dey tell mo in
Edelweiss dat for bout a year dey
fought like Sam Patch"
which was yictorious" demanded
Lorry, deeply interested.
"I'm not sure To hear dc Edelwetss
people talk you'd t'ink dey licked de
daylights out of dc other slobs, but
somehow 1 got next to de fact dat dem
other fellows captured de city an went
after a slashin' big war indemnity. I
don't know much bout it, an maybe
I'm clear Oft, but I t'ink do Graustark
army was t'rashed. Everything Is pros
porous now, dough, an you'd never
know dere'd been n war. It's de most
peaceable town I ever saw"
did you ever hear of the Guggen.
slockersT' asked the irrepressible An
guish, and Lorry felt like kicking him.
I'm Edelweissi Never did. Friends
Of yours7"
"Acquaintances," lnterposed Lorry
hastily, frowning at Anguish.
You won't have any trouble 1ndln'
'em IL dere anybody at ALL" said Sticky
easily. de hotel people ought to be
able to tell you all bout EN-"
"By the way, what is the best hotel
thercf" asked Anguish.
"Dere's de Burnowentz, one block
north of de depot" The travellers look
OIL af ppa nnnthCr and up,iloI ctt,l,,,