Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-10-28
CHAPTER XIII.

l. laughed blithely.
"Your hat. scoundrel" cried Hoff-
man.
The vintner snatched off his hat
apologetically and swung it around on
the tips of his fingers.
us this the way you work."
II have picked nine baskets"
"You should have picked twelve"
1t interested her highnesS to note
that this handsome young fellow was
not afraid Of the head vintner. So this
was Gretchen's lover? He was really
handsome. There was nothing coarse
about his features or figure.
The pause was broken by Gretchen.
Pardon. highness!"
For what. Gretchen"
For not having seen your approach"
THAT was my fault. not yours
When Is the wedding"
after the vintage, bighness"
Her highness then spoke to the bride
groom elect. You will be good to
her?"
'Who could help 1t, your highness"
The pronOun struck her oddly, for
peasants as a usual thing never used
it in addressing the nobility.
We'll, ON the day of the wedding l
will stand sponsor to you both. And
good luck 60 with you"
She passed down the aisle, the head
vintner following. wagging his head.
The day was ended. The lad swung
the basket to his shoulder, and the sun,
flashing upon its contents, turned the
bloOmy globes into dull rubies. He
presented his card ut the Office and
was duly credited with three crowns,
which. according to Gretchen, was a
fine days work. Hoffman said moth
ing about dismissal.
Come day after tomorrow. Tomor-
row is feast day. You are always
having feast days when work begins
All summer long you loaf about, but
the minute you start to work You must
find excuses to lay off, Clear out.
both Of yOu!'
"oAA a. AASt, Satlu OictTlCu us he
and Gretchen started for the city.
Arm in arm they went on. Some
times Gretchen sang. Often he put her
hand to his lips. BY and by they came
abreast Of an old gypsy. He wore a
coat Of Joseph's, and his face was rs
lined as frost bitten apple.
"Will you tell me how to find the
Adlergasse?" he asked in broken Ger
man. His accent was that Of a Mag
var.
They carelessly gave him specific d.
rections and passed on. He followed
grimly, like fate. whose agent he was.
though long delayed. When he reach
ed the Adlergasse he looked for sign.
He came to stop in front Of the dingy
shop OF the clock member. He went
inside, and the ancient clock mender
looked up from his work. for he was
always working. He rose YEARLY.
The gypsy smiled mysteriously and
laid hand on his heart.
"Who are your sharply demanded
the clock member.
WHO l am does not matter. l am
he whom you seek"
"GCd in heaven" The bony hands
OF the clock member clutched the 9th.
er's coat.
The gypsy released himself slowly.
But first show me your pretty crowns
and the paper which will give me i'm
munity from the police Your crowns.
as you offered. and immunity: then /
speak"
Man, can give you the crowns, but
God knows have no longer the power
to give you immunity"
The gypsy shouldered his bundle.
For Gods sake, waitr' begged the
clock member.
But the gypsy walked out. unheed-
ing.
TWO days later, in the afternoon.
"Grumbach," said Carmichael. "what
were You looking at the other night
with those opera glasses at the bally"
Il was looking into the past"
"oh, pshaw! You were following
her highness with them. want to
know why"
'She is beautiful"
You made n promise to me not long
ago"
Il did!' noncOmmittally.
Yes. Soon Shall lie shaking the
dust Of Dreiberg. and / want to know
beforehand what this Chinese puzzle
is. What did you Go that compelled
your flight from Ehrenstein:"
Grumbach's pipe hung pcndnlent in
his hand. He swung 1t 10 and fro alb
sently.
Il am waiting. Remember. you are
an American citizen for all that you
were born here. If anything should
happen to you l must know the whole
story in order to help you. You know
that you may trust me-"
1T isn't that, captain. have grown
to like you In these few days. Those
opera Glasses-it was an idea. Well.