The Washington times., 1906-05-20

I heard the cracIlle OF parchment.
The ceruhcate was being unfolded Ut
occurred 10 me that while she was
about Il the princess might Just al
well have forged the rascaPs name and
wholly dispensed with his services
The whole affair struck me as being
ineffective; nothing would come OF IL
II she tried 20 make the duke believe
that she had married Steinbock. mar
uncle would probe the matter 10 the
bottom. and in the end cover her with
ridicule. But you cannot tell a young
woman anything. when she IS a prin-
cess and in the habit OF having her
own way. II is remarkable how stupid
clever women can be az times. The
Honorable Betty understood. but her
highness would not be convinced Thus
she suffered this needless afront- Par
don this parenthesis, but when one
talks from behind a curtain the par
enthesis is the only available thing-)
There was silence I saw SueinbOcl'
poIse the pen, then seribble On ths
parchment II was done. I stirred
restlessly-
There cried Steinbock His voics
did not lack a certain triumph. And
now for the dupliCater'
Her highness stuffed the document
into the bosom OF her dress. There
viii be no duplicate" The frigidsty OF
her tones would have CONCEALED the
blood Of an Ordinary rascal But Stein
book was not ordinary.
But suppose the duke comes TO me
for verification?'' he reasoned
You win be on the other side Of the
frontier. Here are your thousand
crowns"
The barb Of her contempt penetrated
even his thick epidermis- His smile
hardened.
II was once a gentleman; I did not
always accept money for aiding in
shady transactions"
Neither your sentiments nor your
opinions are required Now. observe
me carefully continued her highness.
Il shall give you Jwenty-four hours 10
cross the frontier in any direction you
choose II after that time you are
found in Barscheit. I promise 20 hand
you over to the police
at has been a great day. said the
rascal. with a laugh a thousand
crownsr'
separated the portieres an inch. He
stood at the side Of the piano. upon
which he leaned an elbow. He was
certainly handsome. much sought ar
er by women OF a low class. The prin-
cess stood at Steinbock's left and the
Honorable Betty at his right. erect,
their faces expressing nothing, so
forced was the repose.
7 never expected so great an honor.
To wed a princess. when that princess
is your highness- Faith. it is ine-"
You may go at once" Interrupted
her highness, her voice rising a key.
Remember. you have only twenty
four hours between you and prison.
You waste valuable time"
What you wish 70 be rid Of me so
soon2 Why. this is the bridal night.
One does not part with ones wife at
this rate
Leopold, the caretaker, made a warn
inG gesture.
Come. Leopold, must have ny
Jest" laughed Steinbock-
Within certain bounds" returned
the cd man phlegmaticaIly. 1t IS
high time you were on You are fool
hardy to match your chances with JUS
tice- Prison stares you in the face"
bah, Do you believe it?''
1T is a positive fact added the
princess
But 10 leave like this has the pans
OF DEATH Steinbock demonstrated.
What, shall 1 be off without having
even kissed the bride?'
The bargain is concluded on ali
sides; you have your thousand
crowns"
But not loves tribute. 1 must have
that 1t is worth thousand crowns.
Besides" with a perceptible change in
manner, shall I forget the contempt
with which you have always looked
upon me, even in the old days that
were fair and prosperous? Scarcely
Opportunity is a thing that can not be
permitted TO pass thus lightly" Then
1 observed his nose wrinkle; he was
shifting. 'Tobaccoi I did not know
that you smoked. Leopold"
BE gone cried the old fellow. his
hands opening and shutting.
Presently" With a laugh he
sprang toward her highness, but Leo
pold was too quick for him.
There was a short struggle, and
saw the valiant old man reel. fall. and
strike his head on the stone of the
hearth He lay perfectly mOtionless.
So unexpected was this scene to my
-
particular sense OF movement 1 stood
like stone With an evil laugh Stein
book spranS toward her highness
again. Quick as light she snatched UP
my crop. which lay on the table. and
struck the rascal full across the eyes.
again and again and again, following
him as he stepped backward. Her de-
fense was magnificent. But. as fate
determined TO have il. Steinbock final
" succeeded in wrestling the stick
from her grasp He was wild with
pain and chagrin- II was then I awoke
to the fact that I was needed.
! rushed out. hot with anger L
caught Steinbock by the collar just in
time to prevent his lips from touching
her cheek. i flung him TO the floor.
and knelt upon his chest I am
ashamed TO confess it, but 1 recollect
slappins the fellows face as ne strug-
gled under me
You scouudrel-' I cried, breathing
hard.
XIII HIM" whispered her highness.
She was furious; the blood of her