Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-27

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he thanked the Gods-of Things-that-Are
for Jimmie's yacht and for all things
of .Jimmie's that had aided him In the
days adventure, for in that small duke
dom of Herzorania, whose linden for
est had seemed 80 much of toy for
est, had occurred one of those sudden
revolutions that belong to toy duke
doms. whereupon the ms are out and
the outs are In.
Franz Wilhelm had been declared
duke, and the little Duke Frederick,
now deposed, had disappeared In the
melee when the palace guards were
rushed. The regent, now prisoner,
know nothing of him. That was
proven beyond doubt There was no
trace of the child other than the fact
that the Countess Amadie Won
Schwarzwald had also disappeared.
The fondness between the two was
we'll known, and 1t was thought If the
countess could be found the little duke
would not be far away. For reasons Of
state it was necessary that he be found
and placed under strict supervision.
"Strict supervision! Dering jumped.
She was standing a little behind him,
reading over his shoulder, and the
brown eyes were blazing. "They would
have murdered q baby and termed 1t
reasons Of state!' know Franz Will
helm and his policies!"
Dering was regarding her in blank
amazement. do you mean to say you
archie is?"
"He is the Duke of Memoranda, but
Franz Wilhelm has stolen his throne.
Now he is only little child whose
life is hunted. You will help me to take
him to American"
Dering promised recklessly. Her
eyes were SO appealing, and, too, the
poor duke touched a soft spot in the
thought of that other little prince
who had paid the debt Of royalty IN
this sunny, frivolous land of France.
"Fraulein, Il"
Frau" she corrected.
Dering grasped for his bearings;
but the plain gold ring was there on
the hand held out to him, and he
came down to earth with thud, the
zest all gone from his romance.
Mrs. Jimmie's telegram was handed
to him as he came up the gangway.
She wanted the yacht brought around
to Monte Carlo. Dering was relieved.
It was only a matter of few hours,
and Mrs. Jimmie would take the situa-
ton in hand and his part of the game
would be played.
Mrs. Jimmie arrived in a flutter.
There was a. strained ten minutes
while Dering made his speech, and
then Mrs. Jimmie rose to the bait.
She smothered Amadie In her laces
and wanted to wake up the child that
minute-the poor baby who slept un-
caring that fate had reduced him
from a reigning duke to Waif OF
No-Man's-Land. She was in the seventh
heaven, for she had cornered the
biggest sensation of the season, and
with beautiful disregard Of extra
dition laws, or ugly legal complica-
lions anent kidnapping, was preparing
to make Newport sit up and wonder,
when Amadie brought her down to
earth with the brutal truth.
Dering saw little Of the girl she
was shy and made the child her ex-
cuse, and the Jimmie Montjoys went
maudlin ever the child. They wanted
him for their own. In very truth the
great country house up the Hudson
was a filter palace than that of the
ruler Of Herzorania, but Amadie
would not consent. They could have
him for time, until Franz Wilhelm
should grow tired Of the search, but
she would not be far away. It was
better of rthe child to be with strang-
ers at first.
They were going up to quarantine,
when at last Dering found her alone.
He, had settled it with himself on the
way over that there should be no
more evasions. In spite of reason,
queer little visions Of Amadie, out
there, in the big lonesome country,
the world of desert and sky, and they
two together-together always-were
beginning to fill his thoughts until 1t
became obsession. He must know the
truth, for doubt had grown steadily,
as the days went, and there was never
a mention of the Count Won Schwarz.
valid.
He had tried to get the truth from
Mrs. Jimmie, but she either played
innocent, or did not know--he doubt
ed that last, knowing Mrs. Jimmie.
He laid his hand on hers where she
stood watching the green water foam
away from the bow. Are you ready
to tell me your story? l have waited
but you have made no sign
She met his glance steadily.
81 mean"-he came closer, look
ing deep into the brown pools Of her
eyes-"are you free to listen? Are you
wife or widow"
Her eyes fell, but she laughed.
'Is this the American method? It Is
no secret in Herzorania that Emil
Won schwarzwald died the. day Of our
wedding, and L No! No! Not
yeti"
But the words were smothered
against the rough tweed OF Dering's
shoulder and Mrs. Jimmie stole away
from the sheltered corner where she,
too. had watched the waves against
the bow. The question Of Amadie was
settled and Jimmie could order that
pearl rope as soon as he pleased
sooner, for Mrs. Jimmie was good
To-, s,ars " y a.