Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-06
Castle of Gloom
(Continued from Page ID

MIN lne slip, ana get over 10 Mluuleudlh
before he discovers she has left the
Castle of Gloom. Does that sound like
crazy mans scheme? l am sworn to
help her gain a CROWN
Fosdick was open-mouthed in aston
shiment.
Furthermore" added Van Tasel,
"she is to go on the He'll Diver, in your
charge. You are the only man on earth
to whom l would trust her"
"I go to LuXembrant, Van Tasel?
Impossible I'm trying a laWsuit-in
the very midst of it. I'd be disbarred
if 1 should desert my clients to go to
Europe"
Van Tasel made a gesture of impa-
tience.
"The devil take your clients, the
court and the whole batch of them.
This is something IMPORTANT. See
here, Fosdick, I've got money enough
to hire all the lawyers in New York to
take your case and I'll guarantee to
get you a battery of them that will
convince any jury on earth that black
is white. You'll just send your regrets
to the judge, with polite little note
saying that you've got the smallpox
They can't disbar a fellow for having
the smallpox can they? And they
won't come around to investigated
Fosdick was dubious, but Van Tasel
cut him short.
that l am to the princess, and it's
worse crime than contempt of court
to go back on an oath. Now, that
we've settled that point"
'What do you propose to do your
self, while I'm gomez" broke in Fos-
dick. What are you sending me off
for, with the princess? Why don't you
go yourself?'
Van Tasel looked hopeless. During
his night ride from the castle his fer
tile brain had been busy with dark
plots. Yet the thought of turning the
princess over to the care of another
was maddening.
MY original purpose he answered,
"was to take her myself, as you say,
but the fates have decreed differently"
Fosdick protested.
"Throne-snatching and runaway
queens are right in your line. What does
a legal fossil like me know about prin-
cesses or crowns, or how to boost
queen on to a throne?'
"I'H furnish full directions" insisted
Van Tasel.
Suddenly he lowered his voice to a
whisper. Then he tiptoed t. the door
and peered up and down the corridor,
to make sure there were none of Lean
ders spies within hearing. He looked
in the clothes closets and adjoining
rooms of Fosdick's apartments, and ,
were no listeners he resumed:
'I have other work to do in New
York"
Fosdick was anxious.
Van Tasel chuckled.
you admitted some days ago" he
answered, "that Anthony Hope migft
do something in New York, after ALL
What do you think Anthony Hope ;
would do with his majesty"
Fosdick looked blank.
"The proposition is as simple as the
alphabet" Van Tasel went on. Lean
der and I will go for long cruise to-
gether-his majesty as my gues'. IL
may not be good form to keep a guest
in irons, but I may find it necessary.
It's unfortunate that I won't Rave the
He'll Diver, but that's not so material.
Jim Blackwells yacht, the Sea Gull, is
for sale. [ shall buy her today for the
king. She's a fine boat, and she carries
three 12-inch guns l shall give Lean
der a royal suite in the cabin, furni h
him with the best the market affords,
and let him take all of Anthony Hopes
novels to read. If he behaves him velf
he can come on deck sometimes and
figure out, if he can, what latitude and
longitude he is in. That may amuse
him and keep him from suicidal
thoughts, though of course if he SRI
ously contemplates suicide therell lie no
objections.
81 haven't a doubt, Ben, that Leander
and I will get to be quite chummy in
time. You sec, we've both been turned {
down by the same girl, and we know
how it is We will cruise arOund-Well,