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

I hangs over the lazy-lit valley; it is al
ways so in the summer tine.
Outside the city wall s! .etch the wheat
fields and the meadows, the vineyards
and orchards, all snug in the nest of
fQrest-crowned hills, whose lower slopes
are spotted with broken herds Of cattle
and the more mobile docks of sheep.
An air OF tranquility lies low over the
entire vista. One dozes if he looks long
into this peaceful bowl of plenty.
From the distant passes in the noun
talns TO the east and north come the
dull intonatiops of dynamite blasts,
proving the presence of that disturbing
element OF. progress which Is driving the
rsi'road through the unbroken heart Of
the land
It is a good three hours ride to the
summit of Monastery mountain. And,
after the height has been attained. one
does not care to linger long among the
chilly, whistling crags. with their snow
creVasses and bitter winds; the utter
loneliness, the alOofnCsS of this FROST
crowned crest appalls5 disheartens one
VINO loves the fair, green things of
life. In the shelter of the crags, at the
base Of the monastery walls, looking
out over the sunlit valley, one has his
luncheon and mis- snack of spirits quite
undtsturbed, for the monks pay no heed
70 him. They are not hospitable, neith-
er are they unfriendly. one seldom sees
them.
Tru1oton King and Mr. Hobbs were not
long ia dtsposinE of their lunch. 1t was
too cold for comfort in their drafty
dining room, and they We're not invited
10 enter the inhOspitable gates. In half
down the north side OF the peak by
gradually declining roads, headed for
the nuch-talke<t-of home of the witch
IN Ganlook Gap, some six miles from
Edelweiss as the crow flies, but twice
that distance over the tortuOuS bride
paths and post roads
It was O'Clock when they clattered
down the stone road and I'D to the for
p MI frFr an
EVIL, guilty thing, the log-built home of
that ancient female who made no secret
OF her practices in witchcraft The hut
stood back from the mountain road a
hundred yards or more, at the head of
a small -thieket-grown recess.
A low matched ROOF protruded from
he hill against which the hat was
built. AS a matter Of fact a thin him
all the world like a smoking tree stump.
The howell was a. squahd, beggary thing
that might have been Quilt over night
somewhere back In the dark ages. It's
single door was so low that one was
obliged to StOOD to enter the little room
where the dame had been holding forth
Tor three-score years, twas said This
was her throne room, her dining room,
her bed chamber, her all. il would seem.
unless one had been there before and
knew that her kitchen was beyond in
the side OF the hill. The one window
sans glass, looked narrowly out upon
giving the occupant of the hut an un-
obstructed view Of the winding road
that led up from Eie1Weiss. The door
faced the MONASTERY road. down ayifich
the two men had just ridden. As cor
the door yard. Il pras no more then =
pebbly. avalanche-sTyept opening among
the trees and rocks, down which in the
glacial age perhaps a thousand torrents
had leaped, but which was now so dry
and white and lifeless that one could
only think Of bones bleached and pol
ished by sun that had sickened Of the
work thousand years ago.
This brief, Inadequate descrlption OF
the witch's hut is given in advance OF
the actual descen Of the personally
conducted gentleman for the somewhat
ambiguous reason that he was to find
II not at ali as described.
The two horsemen rode into the glen
and came plump upon small detach-
ment of the royal guard, mounted and
rather resolute IN their lack of amia-
biiity.
''Wots this?" gasped Mr. Hobbs,
drawing rein at the edge of the pebbly
dooryard-
Soldiers. I'd say" remarked Mr..
King, scOwling quite glumly from be-
meath the rim Of his panama. "HelloI'
HIS eyes frightened and his hat came
OF with a switch. There's the princer'
MY word" calculated Mr.. Hobbs,