The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-29

A STORY OF GRAUSTARK
GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON

Copyright. 1903, by podd Mead & Company,

I prettily and felt constrained to avoi,
Truxt0nHs look Of inquiry. He did no
/ lose his wits, but vowed acquIesenc
and assumed that he knew.
As result Of the combined suppl
cations OF the entire party, the oil
| woman gTudgiugly consented to TAX
| them into her howell, where, in ex
change for small PIECES Of silver, SIN
5ould undertake certain manifestation
| in uecrOmancy
Truxton King, scarcely able to be
| lieVe his good fortune, crowded int,
me loathsome, sQual1d room with hi
aristocfatlc companions. managing, witt
considerable skill, to keep close besid.
his charming friend. They stood haeI
table where the bag Occupied hersel
with a crystal ball.
Never had Truxton looked upon a
creature who so thoTOIsehlv 1ysndfca I'D
the lifelong reliance he had put IN the
description of witches given BY the
fafry-taIe telLers of his earliest youth
She, had the traditional hook nose and
peaked chin, the glittering eyes. the
thousand wrinkles, and the toothless
gums. He looked about for the raven
and the cat. buE If she had them. they
were not in evidenc3. At a rough guess
ne calculated her age at 100 wears
youth Of extreme laziness. who Baron
Dangloss said was the old woman 3
grandson. appeared to be her man-of-
all-woTk. He fetched the old woman S
crystal placed STOOLS for the visitors.
lighted the candle on the table, occupy
ing no les Sthan a. quarter of an hour
in performing these simple acts. so awik-
glggled openly and whispered their
opinions.
,'Gruesome lady. isn't she?' whispered
King.
IT shall dream of her for months. =,
! whispered the lady in gray, shuddering.
Are you willing to have her read
your future In that ball?"
DO you really think she can teli?"
frHT 49,
would be married before / was twenty
interested.
And were you?'
NO. But she did her part. you know
the fortIne-teller, I mean"
She warned you. see. So il really
wasn't her fault. She was watching
the prepare tons at the table with eager
eyes, her lips parted, and her breath
coming quick through excitement.
Would you mind telling he how
They were leanEag against the mud
plastered wall near the little window
side by side. TIE whimsical smile that
every one loved 10 see was on his lips,
IN his eyes. You see. I'm a stranger
in q strange land That accounts for
my ignorance
You mast not speak while she is
gazing into the crystal" she warned
after quick. searching glance at his
face. He could have sworn that he saw
a CLEAN of concern in her eyes, followed
instantly by twinkle that meant mis-
chief.
Please consider my plight" he i'm
plored- I can't call you Aunt Lorraine.
you know"
She laughed silently and turned her
head to devote her entire attention TO
the scene at tha table Truxton King
Tras in a sudden state OF trepidatfOn.
Had he offended herr There was a
hot rush of blood to his ears. He missed
the sly, wondering glance that she gave
him out Of the corner OF her eye a mo-
ment later.
Although it was broad daylight, the
low, stuffy room would have been pitch
dark had it not been for the pickering
candles on the table beside the bent
gray head OF the muTubling fortune tel
Ter whose bony fingers tWitched over
and about the crystal globe like wig
CLING serpents' tails. The window gave
little or no light and the door was
closed, the grinning grandson leaning
against II hmpig =. The picture was a
weird, uucanny one. despite the CAV.
HghtsOme appearance of the visitors
The old woman, IN high, shrill tones,
had commanded silence. The men obey
ed with a Grim scepticism, while the
wCmen seemed really awed by their sur
roundtngs.
The Continuation of This story VIII
he Found in Tomorrow
Issue of The Times.