Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-01-27


| barons, to say nothing of the feminine
| eoncomitants to these excellent gen
tlemen?
One dingy little shop in the square
posite the Royal cafe, with American
bar attached, and the contents of Its
grlmy little windows presented a pc
culiarly fascinating interest to him
They were packed with weapons and
firearms of ancient design. Once he
ventured inside the little shop. Find
ing no attendant, he put aside his sud
denly formed impulse to purchase @
mighty broadsword.
On several occasions he had seen a
grim, sharp featured old man in the
doorway Of the shop, but 1t was moi
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 it2' demanded 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 your
Certainly" snapped the old man.
"Why shouldn't l? l can't afford all
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. 1t is
genuine, sir, and 300 years old Old
Prince Boris carried 1t. It's most
rare"
"I'll give you hundred dollars for
it, Mr.-er"-he looked at the sign on
the open door-"Mr. Spantz."
81 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.
Il have modern blades of my own
make. sir, much cheaper and quite as
good" ventured the excellent Mfr.
Spantz.
"You make emp in surprise.
The old man Strengthened his bent
figure with sudden pride. Il am ar
morer to the crown, sir. My blades
are used by the nobility-not by the
army, l 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-
celent beer over in the cafe garden
Business seems to be 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
twinkling with mirth. You thought
you could capture wild and beautiful
princesses here just as you pleased,
eh? Let me tell you, young man, only
one American-only one foreigner, in
fact-has accomplished that miracle.
Mr Lorry came here ten years ago
and won the fairest flower Graustark
ever produced-the beautiful Yetive-
but he was the only one"
"No. I'm not looking for princesses.
I've seen hundreds of 'em in all parts
of the world"
"You should see Prince Robin" went
on the armorer.
1--WE heard Of nothing but him, my
good Mr Spantz. He's seven years
old, and he looks like his mother, and
he's got jeweled sword and all that
sort of thing. l daresay he's a 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 womans 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 at the back
of the shop. Kings glance became
more or less in the nature of stare
Of amazement
A young woman of the most astound-
ing beauty, attired 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
Truxton King, you may be sure, did
not precede the old man into the street
He deliberately removed his hat and
waited most politely for age to go be-
fore youth, In the meantime blandly
gazing upon the face of this amazing
niece.
Across the square, at one of the ta
bles, the old man, over his huge muR