Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-02-25
CHAPTER w.
Truxton Trespasses.

in upon Mr.. Hobbs at Cooks.
Say, Hobbs, how about the castle
today-in an hour, say? Can you take
a party of one rubbernecking this
morning? / want you to get me into
the castle grounds today and show me
where the duchesses dawdle and the
countesses cavort."
"Of course, sir, you understand there
are certain parts Of the park not open
to the public. The grotto and the play
grounds and the Basin of Venus
I'll not trespass, so don't fidget,
Hobbs. I'll be here for you at TO-"
Truxton hurried to the square and
across it to the shop Of the armorer,
not forgetting, however, to look about
in some anxiety for the excellent
Dangloss, who might, for all he knew,
be snooping in the neighborhood.
Spantz was at the rear of the shop
talking to customer. The girl was be-
hind the counter, dressed for the
street.
She came quickly out to him, dis
turbed expression in her face. AS he
doffed his hat the smile left his lips.
He saw that she had been weeping.
You must not come here, Mr.. King"
she said hurriedly in low tones. Take
your broadsword this morning, and
please, for my sake, do not come again
II may not explain why I am asking
you to do this"
Just minute, please" he interrupt
ed. 1--WE heard your story from Baron
Dangloss. Are you in trouble? Do
you need friends, Miss Platanova?'
''The baron has told you all about
me?" She smiled sadly. ALAS, he
has only told you what he knows. But
1t should be sufficient. There is no
place In my life for you or any one
else There never can be. Do you
question me? l can say no more.
Now 7 must be gone. II have warn
ed you. Do not come again"
She slipped into the street and was
gone. King stood in the doorway,
looking after her, a puzzled CLEAN in
his eyes. Old Spantz was coming up
from the rear followed by his GUS
toner.
Hello, Mr.. Spantz! Good morning.
I'm here for the sword"
The old man glared at him in unmis-
taxable displeasure. Truxton began
counting out his money. The custom
rfh
door, turning to glance intently at the
young man. A meaning look and a
sly nod passed between him and
Spantz. The man halted at the corner
below and later on followed King to
Cooks office, afterward to the castle
gates, outside of which he waited until
his quarry reappeared. Until King
went to bed late that night this swarthy
fellow was close at his heels, always
keeping well out of sight himself.
I'll come in soon to look at those
rings" said King, placing the notes on
the counter. Spantz merely nodded,
raked in the bills without counting
them and passed the sword over to the
purchaser.
Truxton picked up the weapon and
stalked away.
A few minutes later he was on his
way to the castle grounds, accompa-
MED by the short legged Mr.. Hobbs.
Hobbs led him through the great
park gates and up to the lodge OF ia
cob Fraasch, the venerable high stew
ard Of the grounds. Here, to Kings
utter disgust, he was booked as a plain
Cooks tourist and mechanically advis-
ed to pay strict attention > the rules.
It's no disgrace" growled Hobbs.
redder than ever. You're inside the
grounds, and you've got to obey the
rules, same as any tourist Right this
way, sir. Wen take turn just inside
the wall. Now, on your left, ladies
and-ahemi-I should say-ahem!-sir
you may see the first turret ever built
on the wall 1t is over 400 years old
On the right we have
"See here. Hobbs" said King. stop
ping short, I'm dashed If I'll let you
lecture me as If l were a gang Of hay
seeds from Joshville."
VERY good. sir. No offense. ] quite
forgot, sir"
Just tell me, old chap. Don't lee
ture. Hobbs, this is all very beautiful
and very grand and very SLOW" said
King, stopping to lean against the
moss covered wall that encircled the
park within a park, the grounds ad'
joining the grotto. Cant 1 hop over
this wall and take a peep into the
grotto?"
BY no means!" cried Hobbs. horri.
fled.
King looked over the low wall. The
prospect was alluring. The pool, the
trickling rivulets, the messy banks, the
dense shadows-it was maddening tc
think he could not enter.
II wouldn't be in there a minute,
he argued And I might catch a
glimpse of a dream lady. Now, say
Hobbs. here's a low place. 1 could
Jump
"Mr. King, If you do that am
ruined forever. l am trusted by the
steward He would cut off all my priv.
ileges''- Hobbs could go no further
He was prematurely ashast. Some
thing told him that Mr. King would
hop over the wall.
go and report me. Hobbs: there's
good fellow. Tell the guards l wouldn't
obey. That will let you out my boy
and I'll do the rest"
He strobe off across the bright greer