The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-12-16

NeSuNche0n,l
Copyright, 1909, by Dood, Mead
What irritated him most of all
was the amazing discovery that
there was Cooks tourist office
in town and that no end of par
ties arrived and departed under
his very nose, all mildly exhilar-
ated over the fact that they had
seen Graustark! The interpreter,
with Cooks" on his cap, was
quite the most important, If quite
the least impressive parsonage in
town. 1t is no wonder that this
experienced globe-trotter was dis
gusted!
There was train to Vienna
three times week. He made up
his mind that he would not let the
Saturday express go down without
him. He had done some en-
phatic suffering because he had
neglected to take the one on
Thursday.
Stunning the newly discovered
American club in Castle avenue as
| if it were pest house, he lugu-
briously wandered the streets
alone. painfully conscious that
the citizens, instead of staring at
him with admiring eyes, were
taking but little notice of him.
Tall young Americans were quite
common in Edelweiss in these
days.
One dingy little shop in the
square interested him. 1t was di-
rectly opposite the Royal Cafe
with American bar attached)
and the contents of its grimy lit
tie windows presented a peculiar
| ly fascinating interest to him.
Time and again, he crossed over
from the Cafe garden to look in
to these windows. They were
packed with weapons and fire
arms of such ancient design that
he wondered what they could have
been used for, even in the Middle
Ages. Once he ventured inside
the little shop. Finding no at
ltendant, he put aside his sudden
lily formed impulse to purchase a
mighty broadsword. From some
where in the rear Of the building
came the changing of steel ham,
mers, the ringing of highly tenn
pered metals; but, although he
pounded vigorously with his cane,
no one came forth to attend him.
On several occasions he had
seen a grim, sharp-featured old
man In the doorway of the shop,
but it was not until after he had
missed the Thursday train that he
made up his mind to accost him
and to have the broadsword at
any price. With this object in
view, he quickly crossed the
square and inserted his tall frame
into the narrow doorway, calling
out Justify for attention. So
loudly did he shout that the null
titude of ancient swords and guns
along the walls seemed to rattle in
terror at this sudden encroach-
ment of the present.
| what is it?" demanded q
sharp, angry voice at his elbow
He wheeled and found himself
looking into the wizened, parch-
ment-like face of the little old
man. whose black eyes snapped
viciously. do you think am
| deaf?"
81 didn't know you were here,
gasped Truxton, forgetting to be
surprised by the others English
THE place looked empty. Excuse
me for yelling"
what do you want?"
THAT broad Say, you speal
English, don't your"
Certainly" snapped the ole
man. "Why shouldn't I?
can't afford an interpreter. You'll
find plenty of English used here
lin Edelweiss since the American!
and British came. They won
learn our language, so we mus
learn theirs"
"You speak it quite we'll as
do"
Better, young man. You are al
American" The sarcasm was no
lost on Truxton King, but he wa
mot inclined to resent it. A twin
kle had come into the eyes of TIL
ancient; the deep lines about hi
Hips seemed almost ready to cracl
Into a smile.
whats the price of that oil
lsword you have in the Window
"Do you wish to purchase it?'
Certainly"
"Three hundred gavvos."
I whats that in dollars?"
-Four hundred and twenty"
"Whew!"
''It is genuine, sir, and thre,
hundred years old. Old Prime,
boris carried 1t. It's most rare
Ten years ago you might have hat
lit for fifty gavvos. But" with ;
Ishrug of his thin shoulders, 9Th,
lprice of antiquities has gone III
materially since the American
began to come. They don't wan
la thing If 1t is cheap"
"I'll give you hundred dol
lars for 1t, Mr.-er--" he looked
at the sign on the open door
"Mr. Spantz."
Good day, SIR" The old mai
was bowling him out of the shop
King was amused.
Lets talk 1t over. What's tn,
least you'll take in real money!
II don't want your money
'IGood day."
4 Truxton King felt his chin IL
|perplexity. In all his travels HI
had found no other merchant
| whom ha couId mt cheat down'
two or three hundred per cent or
an article.
tits too much. / can't afford
It," he said, disappointment IL
Ibis eyes.