The Washington times., 1909-10-22
STORY OF GRAUSTARK
GEORGE BARR MCCUTCHEON
Copyright. 1909 by Dodd. Mead & Co.

what you are driving at. but III set
you straight SO Iar as I'm concerned,
I never saw that girl until the day be
fore. yesterday. never spoke 10 her
until today"
she smiled on you quite Familiarity
from her window easement yesterday,
said DaugloSs COOlIy.
"She laughed at me, to be perfectly
candid But what's all this aboutE VINO
IS Shey what's her name? / don MIND
cOnfesslng that I have a feeling she Is
not what she claims to be, but that $ as
far as I've got"
Dangloss studied the young mans face
for a moment and then came TO sud
den decision. He leaned forward ana
smiled sOurly.
Take my advice: do not play with
fire. he said, enigI1aucaily.
''YOu-you mean she's dangerous
person? ] car't believe that, baron.
she has dangerous friends out In the
world. / don't mean TO say that she
viii cause you any trouble here-but
there is a hereafter Mind you, / m not
saying she isn't good girl, or even an
adventures. on the contrary, she
10rses of an excellent family. in fact
there were noblemen among them
generation or two ago. You know her
name2'
mo. I say, this is getting interesting
He was beaming.
"she is Olga Platanova. Her mother
was married IL this city twenty-five
4
saw. The professor was executed last
year for conspiracy. He was one OF the
leaders OF a great revolutionary move
ment in Poland. They We're virtually
anarchists, as you have come TO place
them in America This girl, Olga, was
his secretary. His death almost killed
her. But that is not all She had
sweetheart Up TO fifteen months ago. He
was a prince of the royal blood. He
would have married her in spite of the
dluar pence IN their stations had it not
been for the Intervention OF the crown
that she and her kind hate so well. The
young man powerful relatives took
hand IN the affair. de was compelled to
marry scrawny little duchess, and
Olga was warned that If she attempted
TO enuce him away from his wife she
would be punished. She did not attempt
It. because she is a virtuous girl-Of that
am sure But she hates them all-On,
how she hates themi Her uncle, Spantz,
offered her a home. She came here a
month ago, brOken-spirited and sick. So
Laf' she Ilds Deen exceedingly respeclIuI
70 our laws. II is not that we fear
anything from her, but that we are
obliged to watch her for the benefit OF
our big brothers across the border. Now
YOU know why advised you TO let the
fire alone"
King was silent for a moment, turning
something over In his head
Baron are you sure that she IS
red2'
quite. She attended their councils"
she doesn't look II, pom my word,
thought they were the scum Of the
The kind you have in America are
But over here-oh. well, we never can
tell"
II don't mind saying she interests
me. Shes pretty-and I have an idea
she's clever. Baron, let me understand
YOU. Do you mean that this IS a polite
way of commanding me to have nothing
70 do with her?"
you put it broadly. IN the first place.
l am quite sure she will have nothing TO
do with you She loved the husband OF
the scfaWny duchess You, my good
/ friend, handsome as you are, cannot in
] terest her, believe me-
Il daresay you're right" glUmly.
i am merely warning you Young
men of your age and temperament
sometimes let their fancies lead them
into desperate predicaments. I've no
doubt YOU can take care Of yourself,
but" he paused, as # very much IN
doubt
I'm much obliged. And III keep my
eyes well opened. I suppose there's no
harm I'm my going 70 the shop 10 look al
2 lot Of rings and knickknacks ne has
mot in the least. Conhne yourself
TO knickknacks. that's all.
isn't Spantz above sUspicion?"
mo one is in my little world BY the
way. / am very fond of your father. He
is most excellent gentleman and a
splendid shot"
.,TIIuxton stared harder than ever.
/ WHAT'S that2'
boars with him five years ago in Ger
m9ny. And your sister, She was q
( beautiful young girl. They were at
. Carlsbad at the time. Was she quite
well when you last heard2'
She was was all that the wondering
. brother could SAY.
well, come ia and see me at the
tower, I am there in the mornings.
Come as caller, not as a prisoner.
that's all The baron cackled at his
little jest 'Au reVOiri Till we meet
again They were shaking hands in
the Irieuduest manner. "Oh. by the
way you were good enough to change
your mind today about the personal
atLTactiyeuess Of our ladies' Permit
me TO observe, in return, that not a
few or our most distinguished beauties
were gooa enough 10 make inquiries as
BE left the American standing at the
mead or the steps, gazing after his re-
treating figure with look of adj
mlTaUDu Eu his eyes.
TTuxtou Jared forth into the streets
that night with a greater zest iu life
than be had ever known before. Some
thing whispered iDsistcutIy 10 his fan
Cy that dreariuess was "A thing Of the
past; he did not have 10 whistle 10
keep up his spirits. They were soar
ing Of their own accord.
He did not know, however, that n
person from the secret service was
watching his every movement Nor, on
the other hand is it az all likely that
the secret service operative was aware
that he was not the only shadOWer Of
the blithe young stranger.
A man with limp cigarette between
his lips was never far from the side Of
the American man who had stopped
TO pass the time Of day with William
Spautz. ana who from that hour was
not 10 let the young man out of his
sight until another relieved him OF the
task.
D,TYt r,yvr,T, NY