The Irish standard., 1910-12-31

! SHINING eyes obeyed.
There are men up on that corner"
announced the General at length.
Don't point" warned the man in
the room. How many menu
Five Two of them all got guns"
"All right. Don't turn your head
when you speak to me-"
There's more men hunting through
the garden across the street." piped up
the boy, wallowing in the satisfying
knowledge that at last, by some mirac-
ulous Intervention of beneficent prov.
ldence, he had become an indispen-
sable character in very real adven-
ture which promised to eclipse the
most thrilling hairbreadth escape he
had ever read.
Are any of the men looking up
here?" whispered Kirby. "No? Come
in. then-quick" The boy obeying, he
cautiously closed one part Of the win
dow, but refrained from drawing the
curtain.
II think" impressively announced
the General, approving of these pre-
liminary maneuvers, "that this is bet
ter than where the good princes trusty
friend cuts his bonds. Which one are
you?"
(Which what am II" asked Kirby,
with a perplexed smile.
II mean are you the good prince or
the bad prince?"
ooh. see. Well, I'll try to be the
good prince for few minutes If you'll
help me to get away. Suppose you find
me hat, eh?'
| The General, with that lively disre-
gard for another's property which
! every loyal servitor of unfortunate
princes must possess, instantly seized
M. veaudry's hat, which was reposing
! on an adjacent chair.
''Thank you," said Kirby gravely,
covertly examining the pistol in his
, breast pocket. 'This door leads to the
! street, you say? And there are FIVE
! men on the corner, two with gunsT'
Eyes. What do we do now2" briskly
asked the boy.
The other gravely offered his hand
"Why, now" he said gently. 1--WE
shake hands, and l say thank you.
And next we say goodby."
"All right Wait till get my hat"
'But we just said goodby," remon-
strated Kirby.
Eyes. but I'm going with you. You
don't know what minute you may need
a trusty friend. Besides. I've got to
see what happens next"
"Thats just what you mustn't" re-
piled Kirby. shaking his head Don't
you look out of that window when
I've gone, and don't you come near
the door. What do they call you?"
General"
"Well, General I've only known you
about two minutes. but Id hate to get
you into any trouble. Now. we both
! would be in trouble If anybody came
In here, SO I've got to get out pretty
quick, and we'n be in worse trouble
ii you try to follow me into the street
So put it to you this way: If you
really want to be my trusty friend
just shake hands with me again and
say goodby."
! "Will you promise can be your
trusty friend?' said the boy earnestly.
mo matter whether you turn out to
be the good prince or the bad prince,
I'll always be your trusty friend-al-
! ways"
Always" pledged Kirby, with the
utmost sincerity.
"Then shake hands," said the Gen
eral.
RI Yr01Vy MIL
General" said Kirby. OPP
! He turned sharply ut the sound of
softly closing door. A girl had en-
tered the room, a girl whose clear
pallor was accentuated by the deep
! black Of dress and hair She had over
heard the boys last words. had esti.
mated the tableau. and now as Kirby's
eyes met her own the warm blood
crept into throat and cheek, and she
/ said impulsively, little catch in her
voice:
$50 1t is the General who has had
the honor of receiving you. after all.
l am SO glad you have again changed
your plans. Now you can go in the
carriage with u.s.
Dul you uOH uuuCCSLUuu, Auelc,
cried her brother, while Kirby looked
! his establishment. Ills enemies are
! after him. and he had to make hair.
breadth escape through our window
He lost his hat in his flight from some.
| where
"Wait. General. Well finish the
story after awhile" she interrupted,
smiling Understandings at Kirby.
"But tell you he climbed In the
window" persisted the excited boy.
II gave him Anatole's hat"
Kirby. his eyes still on the girl, bow
ed with courteous formality.
1T is entirely true. madam" he said
! lightly. Unhapplly it isn't story at
: all. I have not the honor to be here
/ by appointment, as you evidently In
fer, but simply by Accidentally virtue
Of the only open window in the street"
| "And he doesn't know yet whether
he's going to be the good prince or the
bad prince" trlumphantly added the