The Washington times., 1909-10-18

"A black and red of the Grau-
stark middle classes, was
slowly approaching from the shadowy
recesses at the end Of the shop. She
gave him but a cursory glance, in
which no interest was apparent and
glided quietly into the little nook be-
hind the counter, almost at his elbow.
His heart enjoyed a lively thump.
Here was the first nOuceably good
looking woman he had seen in Edel-
weiss. and, by the powers, she was a
swordmaker's -niecet
The old man looked sharply at him
for an instant, and a quick little smile
wrtthed in and out among the mass
OF wrinkles. Instead of passing di-
Tectly out of the shop, SpantZ stopped
moment 10 give the girl some sud
denly recalled instruction. TruXton
King, you may be sure, did not pre-
cede the old man into the street. He
deliberately removed his hat and
waited most politely for age to so be-
fore youth. in the meantime blankly
gazing upon the face Of this amazing
niece.
Across the SCARE, at one Of the
tables, he awaited his chance and
plausible excuse for questioning the
old man without giving Offense.
Somewhere back in his impression
able brain there was growing dis
Tlnct hope that this beautiful young
creature with the dreamy eyes was
something more than mere ShOpSlrl-
II had occurred to him in that one
brief moment of contact that she had
the air the pOise of true aristocrat.
The old man. over his huge mug of
beer was properly grateful. He was
willing TO repay King for his ltuS at
r6ntlOn by giving him a careful history
OF 0fauStark past, present, and fItu=e,
from the time Of Tartar rule &c the
time Of the sO-caued American i1lva-
sion" His glowing description Of the
little prince might have interested
Truxton in his Lord Fauntleroy days,
but Just at present hi was more happily
engaged in speculatng on the true
identity of the girl in the gun shop.
He recalled the fact that a former
royal princess Of GTaustark had gone
sightseeing over the world lnCOgnlIa IS
Miss GuggeRslocker, and had been 70
manticaliy snaIched up Dy lucky
American named LOrry What if this
girl in the gun shop SHOULD t1Tn out TO
be a-wel, he could hardly hope for a
princess, but she might be "a countess.
The old man was rambling on. The
young prince has lived most of his
life IN Washington and London and
Paris, sir He's only seVenB sir Or
course you remember the dreadful ac-
cident that made him an orphan and
put him on the throne with the three
wise men of the East as regents or
governors. The train WreclC near Brus-
sells, sir. His mother, the glorious
Princess Yetive, was killed and his
father, Mp. Lorry, died the next day
from his injuries. That, sir, was a
most appalling blow 10 the people OF
Graustark. We loved the princess and
There never will be another pair Ike
them, sir. And 10 think Of them being
destroyed as they Were-in the most
dreadful way sir. Their coach was
demolished, you remember II viii
not go into the details. You know them,
OF course. God alone preserved the little
prince He was traVGzing with Them on
the way from London TO EdelWeiss. By
rome strange Intervention or Providence
re had gone with his governess and
cther members of the party 10 the lug
gage van In the fore part OF the train,
which had stopped on a side track be-
low the station. The collision was from
the rear, a broken ran throwing loco
motive into the princess coach. This
providenttal escape Of the young prince
preserved the unbrOken line OF the pres
ent royal family. If he had been killed
the dynasty would have come to an
end, and, / am telling no secret, sir
when ] say that a new form Of govern
ment would have followed.
What sort Of government?
"A more modern system, sir Per
haps soCialistc. ! can't say. AT all
events, a new dynasty could not have
rejected it, But y ince Robin was
spared, and. If I do say It, sir, he is
the most manifest little prince in all the
world You should see MIN ride and
fence and shoOt-and he IS but severn
Il say, Mr.. SpantZ, 7 don't believe
I've told you that your niece is most
CAS- way saving, sir Interrupted
Epantz, so pointedly that TruXton flush
ed, the little prince is the idol Of all
the people. Under the present regency
he Is obliged to reside In the priucipality
until his fifteenth year, after which he
may be permitted TO travel abroad
Graustark intends to preserve him TO
herself II it is In her power q do so.
Woe betide the man who thinks or does
81 toward little Prince Robin"
King was suddenly conscious Of a
strange intenLness of gaze on the old
mans part. A peculiar, indescribable
chill swept over him. he had dis
tinct, vivid impression that some subtle
power was exercising itself upon him
a power that, for the brtefest instant,
held him in a grip Of iron. What e was
n could not have told; 10 passed almost
Immediately. Something In the old
mans eyes, perhaps-or was it some
tang in the queer smile that nlckeTed
about his lipse
INV dear Mr.. Spautz." he FASTENED
TO say, as II a defense were necessary,
please don't get IL into your head that
I'm thinking 80 Of the prince. I dare
say he's a fne little chap. and I'm sorry
he's-er-lost his parents"
Spantz laughed. q soft, mirtHless CUR
Gle that caused TrIEfOn to wonder why
he had made the effort at an. IT inn
fear from any American" be said quiet
y. HE has been taIghJ 10 love and
respect the men OF bis fathers land.
He loves America quite as dearly as
ing sincerity Of the remark TTIxtOu
was vaguely conscious that "a peculiar
hardness laa fIepL INTO the other
voice He glanced sharply at the old
mans face. For the first time ne noticed
something sinister-yes, eyil-iu the
leathery cOuntenance5 a stealthiuess in
the hard smile that seemed 10 trans
form 81 at once into a pronounced Ieer.
like a fash there darted into the Ameri-
cans active brain "a conviction that
there could be no common relationship
between the hinty old man and the
shop New he recalled the fact that
her dark ewes had "a look OF sadness and
detection I'm their depths, and that her
face was peculiarly white and unsmil-
ing.
EpantZ was cycling him narrowly. you
do not appear interested I'm our royal
family" he Vcntured coldly.
TruxtOu fastened 10 assure him that
he was kCculy interests. Especially
so. ROW that / appreciate that the little
prince IS the last Of his race
There are three regents, sir, IN charge
Of the affairs of state-COunt HalfOut
the Duke of Perse and Baron Jasto Dan
gloss who is minister Of police Count
1Ialfout is a granduncle Of the prince
by marriage. The Duke Of Perse is the
father of the unhappy Countess lingo
= rnede. the Young and beautiful wife Of
the eXiled Iron Count MarlanX No