The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-20
ASTORY OF GRAUSTARK
GEORGE BARR MCCUTCHEON
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd. Mead q co.

ofricialIy?"
That COMPOUNDED American has ev-
! cry one hypnotized," exploded the duke.
! His influence over this boy is a men
ace 10 the country He is making an
oat Of him-a slangy, impudent lit
Your graceF' interrupted Baron Dan
/ gloss sharply.
! Uncle Jacks all right declared the
Prince, vaguely realizing that a de-
Tense should be forthcoming
/ lie is eH2' rasped the e&aSperdleu
duke. hopping his brow.
He sure Is pronounced the prince,
with a finality that LETT no room Tor
doubt. They say that fierce little Baron
/ Dapgiossl N striving to suppress a
gulEaW, ChOked so impTessiVely that
| there was a mOmentaTy doubt as TO MS
| ever getting over II alive.
/ 'He is a mOuntebank-a meddler,
| to realize 1t, the better exclaimed the
] Overheated duke He has greater in
4 riuuce over our beloved prince than
{ any one else in the royal household. He
/ has no business heTe-nOne whatsoever.
/ His presence and his Tneddling is an
| aftrOnt 10 the intelligence of -'
! But the prince had slid down from his
I pile Of books and planted himself be-
! side him so suddenly that the bitter
words died away on the old man s lips
Robins face was white with rage mis-
little fists were clenched in desperate
anger his voice was half ChOked with
the tears of indignation.
You awful old man. be cried trem-
! bling all over his eyes blazing Don I
YOU say anything against Uncle Jack
Iu-In Danish yOu-yes, sir-banish you
like my mother fired Count MaHanX
/ out or the country. l won't let you
come back here eVer-neveT. And be-
! fore you so I'll have Uncle Jack give
YOU a good licking. Oh, ne can DO IL
all right II hate youi"
The duke looked down in amazement
into the flushed, writing face OF his
little master. For a moment he was
stunned by the vigorous OutbuTst- Then
the hard lines in mis- face relaxed and
setter expression came into his eyes
there was something like pride in them,
too. The duke be IL said, was an honest
fighter and loyal Graustarkian; he
loved his prince and, therefore, he glOr-
led in his courage. His own smile Of
amusement, which broke IN spite of his
lnOrdlnate vanity, was the sign that
brought relief TO the hearts of ms scan
dalized cOnfreres.
Your highness does well in defending
a friend and counselor he said. gently.
4 am sOrry 10 have forgotten myself in
your presence. 1t shall not occur again.
Pray forgive me-
Prince Bobby was still unappeased, Il
could have you beheaded," he said,
stubDornly- Couldn't /. Uncle Cas-
par2"
Count Halfont gravely Informed him
Ihat II was not customary to behead
gentlemen except for the most heniOus
Oftenses against the crown.
The Duke Of Perse suddenly bent for
ward and placed his bony hand upon
the unsnrlnking shoulder of the prince,
his eyes cleaning kindly, his voice
strangely free from its usual harsh
ness. You are a splendid little man,
Prince Robin he said. 7 glory IN
you. I shall not forget the lesson in
loyalty that you have taught me-"
Bobby's eyes filled with tears. The
genuine humility OF the hard old man
touched his tempestuous little heart.
''It's-it's all right. Gu-yOur grace
I'm sorry / spoke that way, too.
Baron DanglOss twisted his imperial
/ Vigorously My lords, I suggest that
We adjourn The prince must have his
at O'Clock"
As the. prince strobe soberIy from the
Room or WrangleS every eye was upon
his sturdy little back and there was a
kindly light in each Of them, bar none.
Inc duke, following close behind with
Halfont said quietly
Il love him, Caspar. But have no
love for the man he loves so much bet
ter than he loves any Of us. TuIlis IS
a meddler-but, for heavens sake, my
friend. don't let Bobby know that I have
repeated myself. "
Later on the prince in his khaki rid
Ing suit loped gaily down the broad
mountain road toward GranloOk. beside
the black mare which carried John TuI-
lis. Behind them rode three picked
troopers from the house guard He had
told Iullls Of his vainglOTious defense
And I told him, Uncle Jack, thatsyou
could lick him. You Jan, can't y0u7"
The Americans face was clouded Eor
second. then. to please the boy, a
warm smile succeeded the frown. why.
Bobby YOU dear little beggar he could
thresh me with one hand.
What almost shrieked Prince Bob
by, utterly dismayed.
Hes better swordsman than I.
don't you see, Gentlemen over here
about dueling- He'd get at me In two
thrusts."
IL think you'd better take some
lessons from Colonel Quinnox. II won't
do 70 be caught mapping"
II daresay you're right"
say, Uncle Jack, when are you going
20 take me 20 the witch's howell" The
new thought abruptly banished all else
from his eager little brain.
some day. soon" said TuIlis. You
see, m not sure that she's receiving
visitors these days A witch Is very
arbitrary person. Even princes have to
send up their cards.
Let's telegraph her." in an inspired
tone
soon, Bobby II Is hard ride through
the pass-aud there may be 10. Of
COLLINS up there where the old woman
keeps herself"
The witchs hOveI was in the noun
tain across the most rugged of the can
yOns. and was 10 be reached only after
the most hazardous Of rides. The old
woman OF the hills was an ancient char
spookish traditions, but who, IN the
opinion Of John TuIlis. was nothing more
than a wise fOTtuue-teller and necrO-
mancer, who knew every trick in the
trade Of hOodwinking the superstti0us.
He had seen her and he had been
properly impressed. Somehow. he did
not like the thought Of taking the prince
20 the cabin among the mists and crags.
They say she eats boys, now and
then" he added. as If suddenly remem-
beTiug Il.
Gee, DO you suppose we could get
there some day when she's eating Oney'
AS they rode back TO the castle after
an hour, coming down through Castle
avenue from the Monastery road. they
passed a tall, brOuZed young man whom
Tullls at once knew 20 be an American.
He was seated on a big boulder at the
roadside, enjoying the shade, and was
evidently on his way by foot 20 the
castle gates to watch the beau monde
assembling for the review. At his side
was the fussy, well-knOwu figure OF
Cooks interpreter, eagerly pointing out
certain important persOnages 10 him as
they passed. OF course, the approach
Of the prince was excuse for c0nsldera-
BILE agitation and ferVOr on the part OF
the man from Cooks. He mounted the
boulder and took off his cap to wave
IT, frantically.