The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-29

=. my boy, what put that question
INTO your mind2"
"She says she has to. l thought
only princes and princess had to
marry people they don't want to-"
"You should not believe all that
you hear"
Bobby was silent for twenty
steps. Then he said: well, I
think she'll make an awful mis-
take If she lets Mr.. King get
away"
my boy, we have other affairs
to trouble us at present without
taking up the affairs of Miss Tul-
lis"
well, he saved her life, just
like they do in story books" pro-
tested the Prince.
well, you run in and tell her
this minute that Mr.. King sends
his love to her and begs her to rest
easy. See if it doesn't cheer her
up a Bit"
Maybe she's worried about
Uncle Jack. l never thought about
that" he faltered.
uncle Jack will come out on
top, never fear" cried the old
man.
Half an hour later, Truxton
King, shaven and shorn, QUILTED
and polished, received orders toI
ride for twenty minutes back and
forth across the plaza. He came
down from Colonel Quinnox's
rooms in the officers row, consid-
erably mystified, and mounted the
handsome bay that he had brought
through the gates. Haddan, Of
the Guard, rode with him to the
plaza, but could offer no explana-I
ton for the curious command.
Five times the now resentful
walked his horse across
the plaza, directly in front of the
terrace and the great balconies.
About him paced guardsmen,
armed and alert; on the outer edge
of the parade ground a company
of soldiers were hurrying through
the act of changing the guard; In
the lower balcony excited men and
women were walking back and
forth, paying not the least atten-
tion to him. Above him frowned
the gray, lofty walls of the castle.
No one was in view on the upper
balcony, beyond which he had no
doubt lay the royal chambers.
He had the mean, uncomfortable
feeling that people were peering
at him from remote windows.
Suddenly a small figure in
bright red and gold and waving
a tiny sword appeared at the rail
of the broad upper gallery. Trux-
ton blinked his eyes once or twice
and then dotted his hat. The
Prince was smiling eagerly. "Hel-
lo!' he called. Truxton drew rein
directly below him.
81 trust your Highness has re-
covered from the shock of today"
he responded. II have been terri
bly, anxious. Are you quite well?"
quite well, thank YOU" He
hesitated for a moment, as if in
doubt. Then: Say, Mr.. King,
how's your leg?"
Truxton looked around in sud
den embarrassment. A number of
distressed, white-faced ladies had
paused in the lower gallery and
were staring at him in mingled
curiosity and alarm. He instantly
wondered if Colonel Quinnox's rid
ing clothes were as good a fit as
he had been led to believe through
Hobbs and others.
"It's-it's fine, thank YOU" he
called up, trying to subdue his
voice as much as possible.
Bobby looked a trifle uncertain.
His glance wavered and a queer
little wrinkle appeared between his
eyes. He lowered his voice when
he next spoke.
"Say. would you mind shouting
that little louder" he called
down, leaning well over the rail.
Truxton flushed. He was pref
ty sure that the Prince was not
deaf. There was no way out of
it, however, so he repeated his
communication.
'It's all right, your Highness."
Bobby gave a quick glance over
his shoulder at one of the broad
windows. Truxton distinctly saw
the blinds close with convulsive
jerk
Thanks! Much obliged! Good
bye!" sang out the Prince, glee-
fully. He waved his hand and
then hoped off the chair on which
he was standing. TruNton heard
his little heels clatter across the
stone balcony. For a moment he
was nonplused.
"Well, Im-By Jove! l un.
derstand!" He rode off toward
the barracks, his head swimming