The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-03
the excellent Mr..

figure with sudden pride. Il am ar
rnorer to the crown, sir. My blades
are used by the nobility-not by the
army, am happy to say"
Il say, Herr Spantz, or monsieur. I'd
like to have good long chat with you.
What do you say to mug of that ex-
cellent beer over in the cafe garden?
Business seems to be little dull.
Can't you-er-lock up?'
Spantz looked at him keenIy.
May ask what brings you to Edel-
weiss?" he asked abruptly.
II don't mind telling you, Mr.. Spantz
that I'm here because I'm somewhat
OF fool False hopes led me astray.
I came here looking for romance-for
adventure
II see," cackled Spantz, his eyes
tw1nkling with mirth. You thought
you could capture wild and beautiful
Processes here just as you pleased,
en-! Let me tell you, young man, only
one Amertcan-only one foreigner. in
fact-has. accomplished that miracle
Mr.. Lorry came here ten years ago
and won the fafrest flower Graustark
ever produced-the beautiful Yetiy,>
but he was the only one.''
NO. I'm not looking for princesses.
I've seen hundreds of 'em In all parts
of the worId''
"You should see Prince Robin" went
on the armorer.
i've heard of nothing but him, my
Sood MT. Spantz. He's seven years
old, and he looks like his mother. and
mes got jeweled sword and all that
sort OF thing. I daresay he's nice
little chap. Got American blood in
him, you see"
The old man retired to the rear of
the shop and called out to some one
upstairs. "A woman's voice answered.
My niece will keep shop, sir, while
l am out" Spantz explained.
They paused near the door until the
old mans niece appeared ut the back
OF the shop. Kings glance became
more or less in the nature of q stare
of amaZement.
A young woman of the most astound-
ing beauty. attircd in the black and
red OF the Graustark middle classes.
was slowly approaching from the shad-
owy recesses at the end of the shop.
HIS heart enjoyed a lively thump.
Iruxton King. you may be sure, did
not precede the old man into the street.
lie deliberately removed his hat and
waited most politely for age to go be-
lore youth, in the meantime blandly
niece.
Across the square, at one of the ta-
bles, the old man, over his hinge muc
OF Deer. became properly grateful. He
was willing to repay King for his lit
tie attention by giving him a careful
history OF Graustark. past. present and
future
The old man was rambling on. .sThe
young prince has lived most of his
life In Washington and London and
Paris, sir. He's only seven, sir. OF
course you remember the dreadful no.
cident that made him an orphan and
put him on the throne with the three
wise men of the east as regents or
GoTernors-the train wreck near Brus-
sells, sir. His mother. the glorious
Princess Yetive, was killed and his
rather. Mr.. Lorry. died the next day
from his injuries. That, sir, was a
most appalling blow to the people of
Graustark. There never will be an.
other pair like them, sir. God alone
preserved the little prince. The col
ls1on was from the rear, broken rail
throwing locomotive into the prin
cess coach. This providential escane
or the young prince preserved the I'M
broken line OF the present royal fam
lily"
II say, Mr.. Spantz, don't believe
I've told you that your niece is a most
remarkably beau
AS l was saying, SIR" Interrupted
Spantz so pointediy that Truxton
flushed. 'the little prince Is the idol
OF all the people. Under the present
regency he is obliged to reside in the
principality until his fifteenth year,
after which he may be permitted to
travel abroad
Spantz was eying him narrowly.
You do not appear interested in our
royal family" he ventured coldly.
IruXton fastened to assure him that
he was keenly interested ESPECIALLY
SO now that l appreciate that the lit
tie prince is the last of his race"
There are three regents. sir, in
charge of the affairs of state-Count
Haifont, the Duke of Perse and Baron
'IaSto DangloSS, who Is minister of DO
lice. Count Halfont is a granduncle
or the prince by marriage. The Duke
OF Perse is the father of the unhappy
Countess 1ngomede. the young and
beautiful wife Of the exiled Iron Count
Marlanx. No doubt you've heard of
him.
Il remember that he was banished
from the principality''
Quite true. sir. He was banished
In 1901 and now resides on his estates
NJ In Austria. Three