Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-22
-ARTuY ERIInW

keeping well out PASSED OUT OF
of sight himself. THE DOOR.
"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 Ja-
cob Fraasch. the venerable high stew.
ard of the grounds. Here, to Kings
utter disgust, he was led as plain
| Cooks tourist and L.. financially ad.
vised to pay strict attention to the
| rules.
Its 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. Well take turn just inside
the wall. Now, on your left. ladies'
and-ahem!-1 should say-ahem!-sir,
on the wall. 1t is over 400 years old
On the right we have"
"See here, Hobbs" said King, stops
ping short. "I'm dashed if I'll let you
lecture me as If 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 park. the grounds adj
joining the grotto. Cant | hop over
this wall and take peep into the
grottoY"
by no means! cried Hobbs, Mortified.
> King looked over the low wall. The
prospect was alluring. The pool. the
: trickling rivulets. the messy banks, the
dense shadows-it was maddening to-
think he could not enter.
II wouldn't be In there a minute"
he argued. "And I might catch al
glimpse of a dream lady. Now. say
Hobbs. here's a low place. 1 couldi
jump
"Mr. King. if you do that l am
) ruined forever. l am trusted by the
IS steward. He would cut off all my priv
Il ileges'- Hobbs could go no further4
He was prematurely aghast. Some
thing told him that Mr.. King would
e hop over the wall.
e 60 and report me. Hobbs; there's a
s. good fellow. Tell the guards wouldn't
u obey That will let you out, my boy
e and I'll do the rest"
70 He strobe off across the bright green
turf toward the source of all this ems
e chantment. leaving poor Mr.. Hobbs
Il braced against the wall, weak kneed
= and helpless.
What are you doing In hereY de,
y manded voice.
Truxton. conscious of guilt, whirled
III with as much CONSERVATION as If he
!, had been accosted by voice of thun.
~ der He beheld very small boy stand
~ ing at the top Of the knoll above him
" not thirty feet away. His face was
u quite as dirty as any small boys
'p should be at that time of day. and his
e- curly brown hair looked as IL it had
Il. not been combed since the day before
ID His firm little legs. in half hose ant
ie presumably white knickers. wer,
%. spread apart, and his hands were IL
his pockets.
: King recognized him at once ant
ne looked about uneasily for the attend
au ants who. he knew. should be near. /
VI. is safe to say that he came to his fee
W and bowed deeply, even in humility.
II am resting. your highness," hi
'e' said meekly.
on Don't you know any better than t,
70 come In here?" demanded the prince
Truxton turned very red
'ut II am sorry. I'll go at once"
he "Oh, I'm not going to put you out,
'ut hastily exclaimed the prince, comm;
no down the slope. But you are oil
ne enough to know better. You are tn
on gentleman who picked up my GRO
re. yesterday You are an American
n Yes lonely American with a
n ttannt at the rathnfip