The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-01-24

siye ! took out my watch Ny hour
was up.
n regret that must he on said |
ruefully ~ is much ploaaanier here !
than on the road
"a can not ask you 90 remain here. |
You will nnd the Inn very comfort. |
able place for the night" vas Gretoh-
ems suggestion.
before I go. may ! ask In what
manner ! might serve AS Witness
Ere the words had fully crossed my
lips recognized that my smauness
had caused me % commit an unpar
donable hlundor for a man Who wished
20 show up well In an adventure 81
this sort but fate had hand In u.
AZ presently you shall scel
Gretchen laughed. but the sound
was harsh and metallic She turned
10 her companion. Who vas staring ~
me with startled eyes.
What did Z tell YOU You can not
tell gentleman In the candle-liTht"
TO me she said, 4 thought a. much.
son have heard Faust la Paris but
%. inod ~ hn n renfif
man. yet you have permitted us 90
converse IN French"
Was n polite of you % use ~" I
asked. IAN this" with a wave Of the
hand. appears mysterious. This Is
not q residence one would expect 90
hnd Inhabited and b. two charming
womcn." ! bowed. your presence
here is even less satisfactorily en-.
planned than mine. ~ ] denied the
knowledge of French " vas because
I wasn't sure OF my surroundings. u
was done IN selfdefense rather than
In the desire % play a trick. And In
this language you speak Of witnesses,
~ papers. OF the coming Of a man you
DO not trust II looks very much like
a conspiracy" gathered up my
gloves aud ridinEcrop. believed that
/ had eNtricsted myself rather well.
This IL my castle. said Gretchen.
gently shaking on the warning hand
Of her companion. IL desire 10 &C.
cupy Il for a night. who shall gainsay
me? n ! leave the latches down. that
IL due 20 the fact that have no one 20
fear. Now. sir. you have eaten the
bread 81 my table. and ] demand TO
know who you are. n you do not tell
ne AZ once. ! shall be forced 90 con
hne you here TN ana ready 20 leave"
"Conhne mei"-nonplussed. This
was more than I had reckoned on.
Yes" She reached out 20 strike
the song IN can not be blamed FOR
surrendering ~ tameiy. ] didn't know
that the old servitor vas the only man
aroundl
4 am the American consul e.
Barscheit"
The two women drew together In
stinctively. as u one desired 10 pro
tect the other from some unknown
calamity What the deuce was Il all
about? All at once Gretchen thrust
aside her friend and approached. The
table was between Us. aud she rested
her hands upon H. Our glsnces met
and clashed
did the duke send you here?" she
demanded repellently
The dukef" / was getting deeper
than ever. The dukegr
yes. ! am the Princess Hildegarde. "
The Princess Hildegarde % bar.
scheit' Ny gloves and riding crop
slipped from my neryeless fingers 10
the floor A numbing whiting sensa-
ton Wrlnkled my spine. The Princess
I Hlldegarde Of Bascheit' She stood
/ opposite me. the woman-ought not
/ % say girl2-for whom had been
| seeking. after fashion. all these
months The beautiful madcap who
l took the duchy BY the ears every now
and then. and tweaked them' The
princess herself here In this lonely
old castle into which had 30 care
| lessly stumbled Romance. enchant.
menti oddly enough. the picture Of
her riding a bicycle flashed through
my brain. and this Vas followed by
another. equally engaging. Of the hus.
sar who rode crosscountry. 90 the
horror OF tho conservative element Al
court
The Princess Rildegardel" muir
INJURED stupidity.
Yes. have asked you a question
sir or shall I put the question Ia
French ironically Was Il tbs
duke who sent YOU here7"
There was look In ner superb eyes
which told me that q would have
been 90 her Infinite pleasure 20 run
a sword through my black and VII
! famous heart Presently ] recovered
with forced calm ! stopped and col
lected my gloves and crop.
Your highness. What the deuce has
| the duke 20 do with my Affairs. or
with his7 As an American. YOU would
scarcely expect me 10 NEEDLE with
your private ahairs. You are the last
l person In the world ! thought To meet
this night ] represent the United
states IN this country. and though
| am Unfortunately young. I have ac'
uuircd the habit Of attending 20 my
own affairs"
From the angry face IN front Of me
1 turned 10 the dismayed face beyond.