The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-02-19

having a sorry time Of it. 1t all be-
gan when he went to the cathe-
dral in the hope Of seeing the charming
aunt OF the little prince once more.
Not only did be attend one service. but
all of them, having been assured that
the royal family worshiped there quite
as regularly and as religiously as the
lowliest communicate. She did not
appear.
More than all this, he met with fresh
disappointment when he ambled down !
to the armorer's shop. The doors were |
locked and there was no sign OF life !
about the suffered place. !
The next day King made a purely |
business call at the shop Of Mr. Spantz.
He looked long, with a somewhat !
shifty eye. at the cabinet of ancient !,
rings and necklaces and then depart |
ed without having seen the interesting
Miss Platanova.
At his room in the hotel he found
note addressed to himself. 1t did not
have much to say, but it meant a great
deal There was no signature, and the
handwriting was that of a woman.
"Please do not come again. That was
all.
/ He laughed with a fine tone of de-
! fiance and went back to the shop at
) O'Clock, just to prove that nothing
so timid as a note could stop him. On
the occasion Of this last visit to the
shop he did not stay long, but went
away somewhat dazed to find himself
the possessor Of ring he did not want
| and out of pocket just $50, American.
Having come to the conclusion that
knight errantry of that kind was not
only profligate, but distinctly irritating
to his sense Of humOr, he looked up
Mr. Hobbs and arranged for days
ride in the mountains.
Mr. Hobbs led his patron into the
mountain roads early the next morn
ing. both we'll mounted and provided
with luncheon.
1t 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 aloofness Of this
frost crowned crest appalls, disheartens
one who loves the fair. green things
OF life
1t was 3 o'clock when they Gathered
down stone road and up to the fer
: bidding vale in which lurked, like an
evil, guilty thing. the log built home
OF the witch of Ganlock gap, that an
cient female who made no secret or
her practices in witchcraft.
, A low matched roof pr truded from
the hill against which the hut was
built AS matter Of fact, a thin
chimney grew out Of the earth itself,
> for all the world like a smoking tree
stump. The single door was so low
that one was obliged to stoop to enter
the little room where the dame had
been holding forth for threeScore
/ years, twas said. This was her throne
room, her dining room. her bedcham-
: Der, her all, it would seem, unless one
y 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 an
odd opening in the foliage below, Civ
r ing the occupant of the hut an unob-
|. structed view Of the winding road that
s led up from Edelweiss.
k The two horsemen rode into the glen
and came plump upon small detach-
t ment Of the royal guard, mounted and
rather resolute in their lack Of ami
Q ability.
: SOLDIERS, I'd say" remarked Mr.
d King. His eyes frightened and his hat
# came off with a switch.
s Hello. There's the prince!
Farther up the GLENN fact at the
- gathered a small but rather distin
20 guished portion Of the royal household
Is 1t was not difficult to recognize tho
n little prince. He was standing beside
W John Tullis, and it is not with de
N sire to speak i'll Of his valor that W.
II: add he was clutching the SlackeS
II part Of that gentleman's riding breek:
N with an earnestneSs that betrayed eX
ia IRENE trepidation. Facing them, on tn
j. stone doorstep. was the witch herself
Behind Tullis and the prince wer'
m several ladies and gentlemen.
:" Truxton Kings heart swelled sud
s. denly. Next to the tall figure Of Colo
/ mel Quinnox of the royal guard wa
), the slim. enhancing lady of his mos
. recent dreams. the princes aunt, III
= lady Of the goldfish conspiracy.
r The Countess Marlanx. tall and eS
a Guisite, was a little apart from III
others. with Baron DanglosS an
young Count Nos Engo. whom TruS
ton was ready To hate because he wa
ne recognized suitor for the hand Of IA
II slim young person in gray. He Wa
ie for riding boldly IN 10 this little groul
but a very Objectionable NeutenaI
~ barred the way. supported in 40 sma
NJ measure by the agitated detection {
n Mr.. Hobbs.
I The way was made easy by the il
I tervention Of the alert young wo.na
as in gray. She caught sight Il the +
g stricted adveuturerS-"r ell" q. thes
to be quite accurate-and. after spec
-, ing a swift smile Of asJ...i-L.I1s Il
,,r turned quickly to Prince EuH- J
on The prince broke the ice.
in "Eello.' be cried sh-n.y.
If Hello" responded the g"'.1!" -
n readily
by
% Concluded on Fourth PagD