El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-29
By George Barr
McCutcheon

| DiotolY 0lSlIIuSlOneu IN MS OWD mind
and not little disguised with himself
for having gone to the trouble to visit
the place.
Where were the beautiful women
he had read about and dreamed of
| ever since he left Teheran! On his
soul. he had not seen half dozen
| women IL EdelweiSS who were more
! than passably fair to look upon. True.
| he had to admit. the people he had
seen were of the lower and middle
| classes-the shOpleepers and the shop
! girls the huckSterS and the fruit vend-
ers. What he wanted to know was
this: What had become of the royalty
and the nobility of Graustark? Where
were the princes. the dukes and the
barons, to say nothing of the feminine
concomitantS to these excellent gen
| tlemen?
One dingy- little shop in the square
interested him. 1t was directly op-
bosite the Royal cafe, with American
bar attached md the contents of its
grimy little windoxss presented pc
culiarly fascinating intes6st to him.
They were packed with weapons and
firearms of ancient design. Once he
ventured inside the little shop. FfHdr
ing no attendant. he put aside his sud-
denly formed impulse to purchase a
mighty broadsword.
On several occasions he had seen a
grim. sharp featured old man in the
doorway of the shop. but it was not
until after he had missed the Thurs
day train that he made up his mind to
accost him and to have the broad
sword at any price. With this object
in view. he inserted his tall frame into
the narrow doorway. calling out Justify
for attention.
What is it," demanded a sharp. an
CRY voice at his elbow He found him
self looking into the wizened. parch-
ment-like face of the little old man.
THAT broad Say, you speak Eng
lish, don't you?"
Certainly" snapped the old man.
why shouldn't l? l can't afford an
interpreter You'll find plenty of Eng
lish used here in Edelweiss since the
Americans and British came They
won't learn our language. so we must
learn theirs
whats the price of that old sword
you have in the Window
''Three hundred gavvos."
"What's that in dollars?"
-Four hundred and twenty. It is
genuine. sir. and 800 years old Old
Prince Boris carried it. It's most
rare
it. Mr-er"-he looked at the sign on
the open door-''AIr. Sbantz"
Il don't want your money. Good
day"
Truxton King felt his chin in per
plexity. Its too much. l can't af-
ford it, he said. disappointment in his
eyes
81 have modern blades Of my own
make. sir, much cheaper and QUITE as |
good" ventured the excellent Mr.. |
Spantz.
You make emp in surprise
The old man Strengthened his bent |
figure with sudden pride. 81 am ar |
morer 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 a good long chat with you. /
What do you say to a mug of that ex-
cellent beer over in the cafe garden? !
Business seems to be a little dull |
Can't you-er-lock up?"
Spantz looked at him keenly.
May l ask what brings you to Edel-
weiss?'' he asked abruptly.
Il don't mind telling you, Mr.. Spantz. !
that I'm here because I'm somewhat
of fool. False hopes led me astray.
came here looking for romance-for
adventure
81 see." cackled Spantz. his eyes
with mirth. You thought
7ou could capture wild and beautiful
,rincesses here just as you pleased.
h? Let me tell you. young man, only
me American-Only one foreigner, in
accomplished that miracle
dr. Lorry came here ten years ago
md won the fairest flower Graustark
yer prOduced-the beautiful Yetive-
tut he was the only one"
mo. Pm not looking for princesses.
we seen hundreds Of 'em in all parts
f the world"
''You should see Prince Robin" went
n the armOrer
1--WE heard of nothing but him, nv
.ood Mr.. SpantZ. He's seven years
Id. and he looks like his mother. and
les got a jeweled sword and all that
ort of thing. l daresay he's a nice
title chap Got American blood in
i'm, you see"
The old man retired to the rear of
he shop and called out to some one
pstairs. A wOman's voice answered.
my niece will keep shop, sir, while
am out" Spantz explained.
They paused near the door until the
Id mans niece appeared at the back
( the shop. Kings glance became
1ore or less in the nature of a stare
f amazement