The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-12-23
s s..I,t * 'TRUXTON KING RZs;s Bar.

Copyright, 1909, by George Barr
1IcCutcheOn.)
Copyright, 1909, by Dood, Mead
ID Company. Publ.shed, Sept, 1901
+" Well, hang it all, he can't OBJ
5ect to that, can he? Besides, l
never buy without haggling," he
expostulated, suddenly exhilarat-
ed, he knew not why.
Don't come in here unless you
expect to buy" she said, serious
in an instant. at isn't the GUS
tom in Edelweiss. Young men
may chat with shopgirls all the
world over-but in Edelweiss, no
unless they come to pay most
honorable court to them. My un-
Gle would not understand"
81 take it, however, that you
would understand" he said
boldly.
Il have lived in Vienna, in
Paris and in London. But now
am living in Edelweiss. l have
not been a shopgirl always"
Il can believe that. My deduc-
tions are justified"
Pray forgive me for offering
this bit of advice. A word to the
wise. My uncle would close the
door in your face Tiff he
thought"
81 see. Well, I'll buy the
blooming sword. Anyhow, that's
what / came in for"
mo. You came in because /
Smiled at you from the window
upstairs. 1t is my sitting-room.
why did you smile? Tell me?"
eagerly.
ut was nature asserting ITSELF"
you mean you just couldn't
help it?"
That's precisely what l
mean"
Not very complimentary, I'd
say"
"a smile is every a compliment,
sir"
81 say, do you know you inter
-
she put her finger to her lips.
my uncle is returning. / must
not talk to you any longer" She
glanced uneasily out upon the
square, and then hurriedly added,
a certain wistfulness in her voice
and eyes. 81 couldn't help it to-
day. l forgot my place. But you
are the first gentleman I've spok-
en- to since l came here"
II was afraid you might
think 1 am not gentleman. I've
been rather fresh"
81 happen to have known many
gentlemen. Before l went into
service, of course" She turned
away abruptly, a sudden shadow
crossing her face. Truxton King
exulted. At last he was touching
the long-sought trail of the Golden
Girl! Here was Romance! Here
was mystery.
Spantz was crossing the side
walk. The American leaned for
ward and half-whispered: Gust
watch me buy that broadsword.
may, in time, buy out the shop,
piece by piece"
She smiled swiftly. LET me
.warn you: don't pay his price"
Thanks"
When Spantz entered the door,
a moment later, the girl was gaz-
ing listlessly from the window and
Truxton King was leaning against
the counter with his back toward
her, his arms folded and a most
impatient frown on his face.
''Hell!" he said gruffly. eve
been waiting ten minutes for
you"
Spantz's black eyes shot from
one to the other. What do you
want?" he demanded sharply. AS
he dropped his hat upon a stool
near the dor, his glance again
darted from the man to the girl
and back again.
"The broadsword. And, say,
Spantz, you might assume a diff
ferent tone in addressing me. I'm
a customer, not a beggar."
The girl left the window and
walked slowly to the rear of the
shop, passing through the mar
row door, without so much as a
glance at King or the old man.
Spantz was silent until she was
gone.
y you want the broadsword,
eh?" he asked, moderating his
tone considerably. cts a rare
Old
''I'll give you a hundred dol
1ars-not another cent" inter-
rupted King. not vet over his re-