Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-09-16
"AI Americans are rich." she said
sobcrly.
The vintner laughed pleasantly.
CHAPTER Ill.
Tile YouNG WINNER.

our goose S1Tl! COuIouuu uly
memory. | would give 20 crowns to
know where | have seen him. \ fine
beer" he said aloud. holding up the
second tankard.
The vintner raised his. There was
an unconscious grace In the movement.
A covert glance at his hand satisfied
Carmichael in regard to one thing. He
might be a vintner. but the hand was
as soft and well kept as wOman's.
Could a man with hands like these
was both innocent and unworldly. To
the right man she might be easy prey:
never to man like Colonel Won Wal
ienStein. whose power and high office
were alike sinister to any girl of the
pcaSantry But man In the guise
of her own class. Of her own world
and people. here was a snare Gretchen
might not be able to foreser.
A tankard rapping table nearby
called Gretchen to her duties.
Gretchen Is beautiful enough to be
a queen and yet she Is merely n Hebe
In n tavern" remarked Carmichael.
"Hebe? suspiciously.
"IIebe was a cup bearer to the myth.
illogical gods in olden times" Car.
michael explained. He had set trap.
but the vintner had not fallen into It.
"a fairy story" The vintner nodded.
He understood now.
Carmichael would lay another trap.
"What happened to her?"
"Oh." said Carmichael. ''she spilled
wine on a god one day. and they ban
ished her"
ut must have been rare vintage"
II suppose you are familiar with all
the valleys M"srll?"
Eyes. That Is tine country"
The old man In tatters sat erect in
his chair.
"You have served?'
"A little. II could be or officer l
should like the army" The vintner
reached for his pipe. which lay on the
table.
TRY this" urged Carmichael. Offer
ing his pouch.
This will he good tobacco. I know"
The vintner tilled his pipe.
Carmichael followed this gift with
| many questions about wines and win.
tages. and hidden In these questions
were a dozen clever traps. But the
other walked over them unhesitant.
with a certainty Of step which cha
grined the trapper.
by aud by the vintner rose and bade
his table companion good night. He
had not offered TO buy anything. This
| frugality was purely OF the thrifty
peasant. But the vintner expressed
many thnhEs. On his way to the door
he stopped and whispered into Gretch-
ems ear. .
The press In the room was thinning.
unconcernetlly at the table occupied by
the old man. whose face Carmichael
had not yet seen A little later a
butcher approached the same table and
seated himself. II was then II dusty
baker came along and repeated this
procedure. and Carmichaels curiosity
was enlivened. Undoubtedly they were
Socialists. and this was little con.
clave. aud the peculiar manner Of their
meeting. the silence and mystery. were
purely nctiti0nM.
Had Carmichael not fallen a-dream.
ing over his pipe he would have seen
the old man pass three slips Of paper
across the table He would have seen
the carter. the butcher aud the baker
pocket these slips stolidly. he would
have seen the ,nOuntaineer wave his
hand sharply and the trio rise and dis.
perse. Carmichael left the Black
Eagle. nursing the sunken ember In
his pipe.
Interncdiately the mountaineer paid
bis score aud started for the stairs
which led to the bedrooms above. But
he stopped ut the bar. A very old man
was having pail filed with hot cab.
bage soup. II was the ancient clock
member across the way. The noun.
taineer was startled out Of bis habitual
reserve. The clock member had the as
pect Of a weary. broken man. He
shufiled noiselessly out. The noun.
taineer followed him cautiously. Once
! In his shop the clock mender poured
the steaming soup into a bowl. broke
bread In It and began his evening
meal. The other. his face pressed
against the dim pane. stared and
stared.
Colt In himmeli 1t Is her. be
gasped chOkingly.
Krumerweg was indeed a crooked
way. 1t formed q dozen elbows and
ragged half circles as 1t skunk OF from
the Adlergasse. 1t was half after Q
when Gretchen and the vintner picked
their way over cobbles pitted here and
there with mudholes. They were arm
In arm.
"Only little farther" said Gretchen.
for the vintner had never before pass
ed over this way.
Long as 1t Is and crooked. heaven
knows It II short enough" He en-.
circled her with his arms and kissed
her. Il love you! Hove your be said.
| Her bosom swelled. her heart throb.
bed. and she breathed in ecstasy the
sweet chill air that rushed through the
broken street.
| AFTER the vintage" she said, giving
hk arm q pressure. For this hand.
some fellow was to be her husband
when the vines were pruned and fresh.
ened against the coming winter.
AYE. after the vintage" he echoed.
But there was tragedy In his heart as
deep and profound as his love.
my grandmother-I call her that, for
! haven't any grandmother-is old and
seldom leaves the house. promised
that after work tonight I'd. bring my
man home and let her see how hand
some he Is. She il always saying that
we need a man about. and yet can
do a mans work as well rs the next
! one. love you. too. Leor' She pulled
his hand to her lips and quickly kissed