The Washington times., 1906-05-27
(Chapter III. Contfnued.)


Empty your pockets OF those thou
sand crownsr"-peremptor
= was certain that smelled sobao-
CO." he sneered. 1T would seem that
there are other bridegrooms than my
self"
Those crowns. OF I'll break every
bone in your bodyi" I bale. nay
fists. Nothing would have pleased
me better at that moment than TO
pummel the life out OF him.
Slowly he drew out the purse. It
was one of those limp silk affairs so
much affected by our ancestors. He
balanced It on his hand. Its ends
bulEed with gold and bank notes. Be
fore was aware Of his intention, he
swung one end OF It IN so def
manner that IL struck me squarely be-
tween the eyes. With a crash Of glass
he disappeared through the window.
The blow Gazed me only for a moment
and was hot TO be on his tracks. The
Honorable Betty stopped me.
He may shoot you.' she cried
Don't EO.'
Although hair through the window,
I crawIed back. brushing my sleeves.
Something warm trickled down my
nose.
You have been cuti' exclaimed her
highness.
''It IS nothing. I beg OF you 10 let
me follow. It VIII be all over with
that fellow at large"
mot at all" Her highness' eyes
sparxled wickedly. He will make for
TIE nearest frontier. He knows now
that ! shall not hesitate a moment to
-
lice"
He win boast Of whst he has
done"
''Not TIL he has spent those thou
sand crowns" She crossed the room
and knelt at the side OF Leopold.
dash!ng some water into his face.
Presently he opened his eyes. He
IS only stunned. Poor LeopoldT'
I helped the cid man TO his feet.
and he rubbed the back Of his head
grimly. He drew a revolver from his
rccket.
Il had forgotten all about it." he
said conritely. Shall I follow him.
your highness?"
Let him go II doesn't matter
now. Betty, lou were right, as you
always are. have played the part OF
a silly fool. I would have my own
way IN the matter. Well. have this
worthless paper. At least I can fright
en- the duke. and that IS something"
'Oh. my dear. If only you would
have listened TO NY advicev the other
girl said. There was deep discourage
ment I'm her tones. I warned YOU so
often that It would come to this end
Let US drop the matter entirsIy."
said her hishness-
I Eazed admirinEly at her-to see
her sink suddenly into chai and
weep abandonedlyl Leopold eve her
mournfVlly while the English -.irI
rushed 10 her side and flung her arms
around her soOthingIy.
Il am very unhappy" said the
princess, lifting her head and shaking
the tears from her eyes. Il am har-
9ssed on all sides; 1 am not allowed
any viii Of my own. wish were
n peasant Thank youi thank voul
But for you that wretch would have
kissed me" She held out her hand 10
me. and / bent to one knee as I kissed
It She was worthy to be the wife Of
the finest fellow In all the world.
was very sorry for-her, and Thought
'-'-f e--+---At l'-ttAft'A Lllliis[o OF the
duke
Il shall not ask YOU to forget my
weak ness" she said"
1t is already forgotten, your high
ness"
Under such circumstances I met the
Princess Hildegarde or Barscheit:. and
] never betrayed her confidence until
this writing. when I have her express
permission
OF Herman SteiRbock I never saw
anything more. Thus the only villain
passes from the scene. As I have re-
peatedly remarked. doubtless to your
WEAKNESS, this is not my story at alf;
bit in parenthesis I may add that be
tween the Honorable Betty Moore and
myself there sprang up a friendship
which later ripened into something
infinitely stronger.
This. then. was the state Of affairs
when. ons month later. Max Scharf-
enstein poked his handsome blond