The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-05

! At his room in the hotel he found .
note addressed to himself. 1t did not
have much to say, but 1t meant great
deal. There WAS no signature, and the
handwriting was that Of woman.
"PIedsc do not come again" That was
all.
| He laughed with "a fine tone OF de-
fiance and went back to the shop at
o'clock. just to prove that nothing
SO timid as note could stop him. On
the occasion of this last visit TO the
shop he did not stay long. but went
away somewhat dazed to find himself
/ the possessor of a ring he did not want
and out Of pocket lust $40. American.
Having come to the conclusion that
knight errantry of that kind was not
only protiigate. but distinctly Irritating
to his sense Of humor. he looked up
Mr.. Hobbs and arranged for days
ride in the mountains.
Mr.. Hobbs LED his patron into tho
mountain roads early the next morn
ing both well mounted and provided
with luncheon.
1t Is good three hours ride to the
summit of Monastery mountain. And
after the height has been attained
one does not care to linger long among
the chilly, whistiing crags. with their
snow crevasses and bitter winds. The
utter loneliness. the aloofness of this
frost crowned crest appalis. disheartens
one who loves the fair, green things
of life
Ii was . O'Clock when they clattered
down n stone road and up to the for
bidding vale In which lurked. like an
evil, guilty thing. the log built home
Of the witch of Ganlonk gap, that an
cient female who made no secret OF
her practices In wttchcraft.
A low matched roof protruded from
the Hill agains. which the hut was
built As matter OF fact, n thin
chimney grew out OF the earth itself,
for all me world like smoking tree
stump Thc single door was 50 low
that Gre was obliged TO stoop to enter
the little room where the dame had
been holding forth for threescore
room, her dining room. her bedehana-
Der. her all. II would seem, unless ono
had been there before and knew that
her kitchen was beyond. In the side
of the hill. The one window, tsans
glass, looked narrowly out upon an
odd opening IN the foliage below. Civ
ing the occupant of the hut an unob-
structed view of the winding road that
led up from Edeiweiss.
H. ,xs-
and came plump upon small detach-
ment Of the royal guard. mounted and
rather resolute In their lack OF ami
ability.
Soldiers. I'd say" remarked Mr..
King. His eyes frightened and his hat
came Off with a switch.
Hello. There's the prince."
Farther up the GLENN fact at the
very door OF the witch's hut--were
gathered small but rather distin-
guished portion Of the royal household.
| II was not difficult to recognize the
| little prince. He was standing beside
John Tullis. and 1t is not with de-
! sire to speak Ill Of his valor that we
add he WAS clutching the slackest
part OF that gentleman's riding breeks
with an earnestness that betrayed ex-
treme rrepidation- Facing them, on the
stone doorstep. was the witch herself.
! Behind Tul!!s and the prince were
several ladies and gentlemen.
Truxton Kings heart swelled sud-
denly. Next to the tall figure OF Colo
mel Quinnox Of the royal guard was
the slim. enhancing lady Of his most
recent dreams. the princes aunt. the
lady of the goldfish conspiracy!
The Countess Marlanx, tall and ex-
quisite. was little apart from the
others. with Baron Dangloss and
young Count yos Engo. whom Trux-
ton was ready to hate because he was
recognized sutton for the hand OF the
slim young person In gray. He was
! for riding boldly up TO this little group.
but very Objectionable lieutenant
barred the way. supported in no small
measure by the agitated DETECTION Of
Mr.. Hobbs.
The way was made easy by the In
teryention Of the alert young woman
I in gray. She caught sight Of the re-
stricted adventurers--or one Of them,
to be quite accurate--and. after speed
ing swift smile Of establishment.
turned quickly to Prince Bobby.
The prince broke the Ice.
"Helio!" he cried shrilly.
Hello" responded the gentleman,
readily.
John Tullis found himself being drag
ged away from the witch's door to-
ward the newcomer at the bottom Of
the glen. Mr.. Hobbs listened with
deepening awe to the friendly CONVEX
sation which resulted In Truxton King
going forward to join tho party in
front Of the hut.
Truxton was duly presented to the
ladies and gentlemen Of the party by
John Tullis, who gracefully announced
that he knew Kings parents In New
York. Baron Dangloss WINS quite an
old friend, II one were to Judge BY the
manner in which he greeted the young
man. The lady In gray smiled -
sweetly and nodded SO blithely that
Tullis, Instead Of presenting King t.
her as he had done to the Countess
Marlnnx and others. merely said:
"And you know one another, q
course" Whereupon she flushed vef3
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