The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-03
s s,l,, f ''TRUXTON KING sZs;s Barr

Copyright, 1909, by George Barr
iIcCutcheOn.)
(Copyriehf, 1000, by Dood, Mead
ID Company. Published. sept, 1e09)
This brief, inadequate descrip-
ton of the Witeh's hut is given in
advance of the actual descent of
the personally conducted gentle
man for the somewhat ambigu-
Gus reason that he was to find IL
not at all as described.
The two horsemen rode into
the glen and came plump upon a
of the royal guard
and rather resolute in
their lack of amiability.
.'Wot's this?" gasped Mr.
Hobbs, drawing rein at the edge
of the pebbly dooryard.
Soldiers, I'd say" remarked
Mr.. King. scowling quite glumly
from beneath the rim of his pam
anna. "Hello!" His eyes bright
ened and his hat came off with a
switch. There's the prince!"
"My word" calculated Mr..
Hobbs, and forthwith began to
ransack his pockets for the band
which said he was from Cooks.
Farther up the glen, in fact at
the very door of the Witch's hut,
were gathered small but rather
distinguished portion of the royal
1t was difficult to
recognize the little prince. He
was standing beside John Tullis;
and it is not with a desire to speak
i'll of his valor that we add: he
was clutching the slackest part of
that gentleman's riding breeks
with an earnestness that betray-
ed extreme trepidation. Facing
them, on the stone doorstep, was
the witch herself, a figure to try
the courage of a time-tried hero,
let alone the susceptibilities of a
small boy in Knockers. Behind
Tullis and the prince were several
ladies and gentlemen, all in rid
ing garments and all more or less
i'll at ease.
Truxton Kings heart swell sud
denly; all the world grew bright
again for him. Next to the tall
figure of Colonel Quinnox, of the
Royal Guard, was the slim, en-
trancing lady of his most recent
princes aunt! The
lady of the grotto! The lady of
the goldfish conspiracy!
The Countess Marlanx, tall and
was a little apart from
the others, with Baron Dangloss
and young Count Vos Engo-
whom Truxton was ready to hate
because he was recognized suit
DR. for the hand of the slim, young
person in gray. He thought he
lad liked her beyond increase in
The rajah silk, but now he con-
fessed to himself that he was
He liked her better in
4 gray riding habit. 1t struck
nim sharply, as he sat there in the
that she would be abso-
lutely and adorably faultless in
point lace or calico, in silk or
low-neck or high. He
was for riding boldly up to this
little group, but very objec-
tiopable lieutenant barred the
way, supported in no small meas
ure by the detection of Mr.
Hobbs, who announced in a
hoarse, agitated whisper that he'd
'be 'anged If he'd let any man
make a fool of. him twice over"
The way was made easy by the
of the alert young
woman in gray. She caught sight
Of the restricted adventurers-or
one of them, to be quite accurate
and, after speeding swift
smile of establishment, turned
quickly to Prince Bobby.
A moment later, the tall strang-
or with the sunbrowned face was
The center of interest to the small
group at the door. He bowed
to the smiling young per-
son in gray and received a quick
nod in response. AS he was ad-
what he considered to
be proper salute for the prince.