The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-03-24
CHAPTER VII.
AT THE wITCH's HUT.

% having Il sorry time of il. 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 he 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 shattered place.
The next day King made 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 great
deal There was no signature. and the
handwriting was that Of u woman.
"Pleasc do not come again. That was
all
He laughed with fine tone Of de
tiance 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 dazcd to md himself
the possessor of a 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 protligate, 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. wh!stliog craGs. with their
snow crevasses and bitter winds The
utter loneliness. the aloofuCss Of this
frost crowned crest apralls, dishearteus
one who loves the fair, green things
Of life.
II was O'Clock when they clattercd
down stone road and UP to the for
bidding vale in which Mrked, like an
evil, guilty thing, the log built home
Of the witch of Ganlook gan. that an
cient female who made 10 secret Of
her practices In witchcraft.
\ low matched roof protruded from
the hill against which the hut was
built As a matter Of fact, thin
chimney grew out Of the earth itself,
for all ne 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 threascore
years, twas said. This was her throne
room, her dining room. her bedcham-
Der, her all It would seem, unless enc
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
ing the occupant Of the hut an unob-
structed view Of the winding road that
led up from Edelweiss.
The two h0rsemen rode into the glen
and came plump upon a small detaCh-
ment Of the royal guard, mounted and
rather resolute in their lack of ami
ability.
soldiers, I'd say" remarked Mr.
King. His eyes frightened and his hat
came off with switch.
Hello! There's the prince"
Farther up the GLENN fact at the
very door of the witch's hut-were
gathered a small but rather distin-
guished portion of the royal household
1t was not difficult to recognize the
little prince. He was standing beside
John Tullis, and it is not with a de-
sire to speak Ill Of his valor that we
add he was clutching the slackcst
part Of that gentleman's riding breeks
with an earnestnesS that betrayed eX-
IRENE trepidation. Facing them. on the
stone doorstep, was the witch herself
Behind Tullis ard the prince We're
several ladies and gentlemen.
Truxton Kings heart swelled sud
denly. Next to the tall figure Of Colo
mel Quinnox Of the royal guard was
the slim. enhancing lady of his most
recent dreams, the princes aunt, the
lady Of the goldfish conspiracy.
The Countess MarlanX, fall and eX-
quiGite, was a little apart from the
others, with Baron Dangloss and
young Count Yes Engo, whom TruX-
ton was ready to hate because he was
a recognized suitor for the hand of the
slim young person in gray. lie was
for riding boldly uD to this little group,
but very Objectionable lieutenant
barred the way. supported in no small
measure by the agitated detection of
Mr.. Hobbs.
The way was made easy by the in
tervention of the alert young woman
in gray. She caught sight of the re-
stricted adventurers-Or one of them,
to be quite accurate-and, after speed