The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-30

/ John Tullis' gaze. II don't care to
/ hear any more. Come, baron! You
/ are next"
/ Truxton King, subdued and troubled
/ in his mind, found himself studying
/ MS surroundings and the people who
I went so Tar to make them interesting
he glanced from time TO time at the
dencatet eager profile of the girl be-
side him! at the soft, warm cheek and
/ the caressing brown hair. at the little
ear and the white slim neck of her
d and realized just what had happened
/ to him. He had fallen in love. that
was the palm upshot of it. Il has
come TO pass, just as he had hoped
I II would Ia his dearest dreams. he
/ was face to face with the girl of royal
/ blood that the story books had created
Ior MIN long, long ago, and ne Vas
/ tended to do; falling heels over head
and hOpelessly in love with her. Never
had he seen hair grow so eXquisitel.
about the temples and neck as this
ones hair-but Just to confound his
/ budding singleness of interest. his gaze
at that instant wandered of and fell
upon something that caused him to
stare hard at a certain spot far re-
moved from the couture Of a fair and
/ dainty lady.
His eye had fallen upon crack in
/ the door that led 10 the kitchen, al
though he had no means of knowing
/ that il was a kitchen. To his amaze
ment a cleaning eye was looking out
/ upon the room fro n beyond this narrow
| he was not mistaken. There was an eye
glued close to the opposite side Of the
riCkety door, and It's gaze was directed
TO the Countess Marlanx.
The spirit of adventure, recklessness,
Observation-Disclosures you may choose to
call it-fiared high in the soul of this
self-despised outsider. He could feel
strange thrill OF eXaltation shooting
through his veins; he knew as well as
he knew anything that he was destined
10 create commotion IN that stately
crowd, even against his better judgment
The desire to spring forward and throw
open the door, thus exposing a probable
confederate was stronger than he had
the power to resist. Even as he sought
vainly to hold himself in check he be-
came conscious that the staring eye
was meeting his own In glare Of reaii-
zation.
Without pausing TO consider the re-
suit Of his action. ne sprang across the
room, shouting as he did so that there
was a man behind the door. Grasping
the latch, he threw the door wide open,
the others in the room looking at him
as if he were suddenly crazed.
He had expected to confront the own
er Of that baSilisk eye. There was not
sign of a human being In sight. Be
yond was a black little rooms at the
back of which stood an old cooking
stove with a fire going and kettle
singing. He leaped through. prepared TO
grasp the mysterious watcher, but, 10
his utter amazement. the kitchen was
absolutely empty, save for inanimatc
things. His surprise was so genuine
that it was not 10 be mistaken by the
men who leaped TO his side. He had
time TO note that two Of them carried
pistols in their hands. and that Tullis
and Quinnox had placed themselves be-
tween the prince and possible danger.
There was an instant commotion, with
cries ana ordinations from all. Quick
as the others were, the old woman was
at his side before them, snarling with
rage. Her talon-like fingers sunk into
his arm and her gaze went darling
about the room in a most convincing
way Some minutes passed before the
old woman could be quieted- Then King
explained his action He swore solemn
~, If sheepishly, that he could not have
been mistaken, and vet the owner OF
that eve had vanished as II swallowed
up by the mountain.
Baron Dangioss was convinced that
the young man had seen the eye. With
out conjunction he began a search OF
the room. the old woman looking on
Search seaTchir she croated. cit
was the Spirit Eyei It Is looking at you
cannot be found. No. no! Oh, you
fools. Get out! Get OUT All Of you!
Prince or no prince. 7 fear you not. nor
ali your armies. This is my home! Ny
castIei CO. Cor
There was a man here, old woman"
said the baron COOliy. Where Is he7
What is your gamer I am not to be
fooled bv tfF-ee esamnable tricks OF
yours. Where is the nIan?''
She laughed aloud, a horrid sound.
The prince clutched rullis by the leg
In terror.
friend, ltaning down TO comfort him.
BE a mani
Tits mighty hard chartered Bob
by. but he squared his little shoulders.
The ladies Of the party had edged
forward, peeTing into the kitchen, alarm
having passed although the eXclama-
ton boo" would have played havoc
with their courage.
7 swear there was some one Ieok-
ing through that crack" protested King.
wiping his brow IN confusion. Miss
err should say-you could have seen
II from where you stood" he pleaded,
turning TO the lady in gray.
Dear me, I wish I had" she cried
I've always wanted TO see some one
shopping"
There is no window, no trap doo-,
no slKylight," remarked the baron, PIX
zled. Nothing but the stovepipe, six
crawl out through that, I'm sure Mr..
King, we've come upon a real mystery.
The eye without a visible body"
I'm sure saw IT," reiterated TTuX-
ton. The princes aunt was actually
laughing at him. But so was the witch.
for that matter. He didn't mind the
witch.
Suddenly the old woman stepped into
the middle Of the room and began to
wave her hands in a mysterious man
ner over an empty pot that stood on
the floor IN front OF the stove. The 9TH
ers drew back. watching her with the
greatest curiosity.
A droning song oozed from the thin
lips: the gesticulations grew IN weird
ness and fervor. Then, before their
startled eyes. a thin film OF smoke be-
gan TO rise from the empty pot. II
grew in volume until the room was
quite dense with II. Even more quickly
than II began. it disappeared, drawn ap-
parently by some supernatural agency
Into the draft Of the stove and out
through the rfckety chimney pipe. Even