Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-04-28
From the
AMBASSADOR
BOX BY A. N.
nAvnre OcnPM

~ AKNA - AhAA AZ
sound Of the trot Of horses feet as
they passed on the brond "Unter den
Linden" Ransome Prentice looked
about him with n sigh Of satisfaction.
II was good to he back IA Berlin. Then
he smiled ut the girl who was handing
him n cup Of tea.
$50 here I am Mt last" he said. And,
now, tell nc the news. You left Amer
lea 50 suddenly that I had no chance
TO come and bid you goodby. How do
you like your elevation to the rank Of
ambassadors daughter? And has any.
thing exciting happened thus far? You
see. I had to follow just to hear It ALL"
The girl hesitatcd. playing with the
spoons on the dainty tea table.
There Is not much to tell" she
swered slowly. "And yet there is one
thing" CHANGING across at him. Il
think you will be pleased. rs II IL
largely due to your fundamentally. I
should never h~nve-have known him so
quickly had 1t not been that. owing to
your old friendship. ! already felt as II
he were no stranger when we net. OF
course you can glIess whom l mean IL
IS not announced yet. but ! am going to
marry Max Won Witzleben."
The mans cup ciattered In its saucer.
"You-to marry Maxr' he repeated.
Then, do you-do you care for him 80
muchI'' he nsked-
For a moment Miss Freeman frown-
ed. But it was only Ransome. He
md she had always teased and Ques-
etrr.I ,-A ,nuPInT q, nuuH ,Nhar Wne
she paused over the answer.
I'll do not think that I ain the kind
TO care very deeply for any one" she
said soberly. II admire Max. You
have always told me how noble he was;
how brave. And l adore bravery. My
idea Of his character is really drawn
largely from your letters"
Prentlce's lips twisted into n smile.
II was an enthusiastic chap in those
days" he commented dryly. II hope
you have some hotter foundation for
your affection than letters written by
a boy I'm the university. But / nm
forgetting what was partly my errand
this afternoon. Buffalo Bilr' Is to open
in Berlin tomorrow afternoon. and l
thought perhaps you would like to go.
1t is only patriotic for the Americans
to turn put. Should you care Miss
Freeman nodded.
II suppose II would be the proper
thing to do she agreed. II have not
seen Buffalo BIZ since / was n child.
They sent father n box. but he does
not care to 20. and l had not thought
about 1t. Suppose you come with US.
/ will ask Max, and we can take Frau
leln."
A few minutes later Prentice rose to
TAKE his leave, and 1t was not until
after his departure that Miss Freeman
remembered that he had forgotten to
congratulate her. For the rest of the
day the girl was decidedly absent
minded.
But the next afternoon. seated in the
box OF honor I'm the big open air arena
Miss Freeman appeared to have quite
regalned her normal spirits, chattering
gayly with both men. Won WitZleben.
precise. neat, with parted hair and
pointed mustache. sat on her right. and
the girl glanced critically from his
somewhat impressive face to that Of the
American, with its keen dark eyes
and steady. clean cut mouth. The
study OF the two men was more absorb
ing than the show. Her attention had
wandered from the ring and the -four
fish OF trumpets which heralded the
DeadwoOd coach caused her to start.
The next moment n man pushed his
way to their box and bowed.
Colonel Cody would be hOnOred II
any OF the American ambassadors
guests would wish 10 ride I'm the Dead
wood coach" the man suggested our
teOusly. Miss Freeman, In sudden mis-
chief. looked at her fiance.
"what do you say to itT' she qucried
demurely. The German gazed back In
Mortified dlsapprOval.
''You go around In that coach and
make a spectacle OF yourself" he
gasped, before all these people! Aber.
what a shocking idea! l could not al
low IT,"
Into the girls eyes there came a sud
den CLEAN. She had not e 10 do
this thing. But ever since her spoiled
babyhOOd a dare had been TO her spirit
like fire 10 %gunpOwder. She lifted her
head.
THINK you. We shall be glad TO ac-
eept," she said to the man, who stlll
stood, hat In hand, awaiting her decl-
sion. IF you are afraid. pray remain
here" she added dehantly to Won Wit
zleben. "Win you come. RansOmeT'
But began he. One glance at her
set mouth showed the futlllty OF re-
m~Onstrnnce. And wherever she called
he would follow. be the consequences
what they might. In silence he let her
precede him down the steps. Won Wit
Eleben bringing up a sullen rear. The
frauleln left behind wept In unheeded
protest.
IL was not until the coach had fairly
started that Miss Freeman realized all
that she had brought upon herself.
From her childhood SHE had always
detested firearms. And these pursuing
Indiansl But. without iinching. she
bore Il all-the crack Of rifles. the
smoke which chOkcd eyes and mouth.
the hendish yells. Then all NJ once she
became conscious that the coach Was
swaying and humping strangely. A
man sitting opposite her suppressed an
Oasa.
a. eta min - .-a,.t.. st... to-... %