The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-03-25
CHAPTER VII.
AT THE wITCII'S HUT.

w
young friend, TruXton King, was
having Il sorry time of it. 1t all be-
gan when he went to the cathe-
dral in the hope of seeing the charming
aunt of the little prince once more.
Not only did he attend one service, but
all of them, having been assured that
the royal family worshiped there quite
as regularly and as religiously as the
lovlieSt commandment. She did not
appear
More than all this, he met with fresh
disappointment when he ambled down
to the armorer's shop. The doors were
locked and there was no sign of life
about the shattered place.
The next day King made a purely
business CAL at the shop of Mr.. Spantz.
He looked long, with a somewhat
siifty eye, at the cabinet of ancient
rings and necklaces. and then depart
ed without having seen the interesting
Miss Platanova.
At his room in the hotel he found Il
note addressed to himself. It did not
have much to say. but it meant great
NGd4- mere NtiS 1O duu IAS
handwriting was that of a woman.
"PleGse do not come GgGin." That was
all
He laughed with Il fine tone of de-
fance and went back to the shop at
8 o'clock, just to prove that nothing
SO tinlid as note could stop him. On
the occasion of this last visit to the
cbNro ln 1i1 no OF 1nnc hJT+
away somewhat daZed to find himself
the possessor of ring he did not want
and out of pocket just $50, American.
Having come to the conclusion that
knight errantry of that kind was not
only profigate, but distinctly irritating
to his sense Of hum0r, he looked up
Mr.. Hobbs and arranged for q days
ride in the mountains.
1lr. Hobbs led his patron into the
mountain reads early the next morn
inc. both we'll mounted and provided
With luncheon.
IT is Il 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, whistling crags, with their
snow crevasses ard bitter winds. The
utter loneliness. the aloofness of this
frost crowned crest appalls, dishe2rtens
enc wko loves the fair, green things
OF life - & .5
1t was o'clock when they clattered
down q 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 Ganlook gap, that an
Gent female who made no secret Of
her practices in witchcraft.
! low matched roof protruded from
the hill against which the hut was
built. As a matter of fact, q thin
chimney grew out Of the earth itself,
for all me world like smoking tree
stump. The single door was SO low
that enc was obliged to stoop to enter
tie little room where the dame had
been holding forth for threescore
years, twas said. This was her throne
room, her dining room, her bedcham-
Der. her al, it would seem, unless one
had been there before and knew that
hec kitchen was beyond, in the side
Of the hill The one window, sans
glass, Locked narrowly out upon an
cdd opening il the foliage below, CIV
Ing the occupant of the hut an unob-
structed view Of the winding road that
led up from Edelweiss.
The two horsemen rode into the glen
and came plump upon q 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 switch.
Hello: There's the prince"'
Farther up the GLENN fact at the
very door Of the witch's hut-were
gathered a small but rather distin-
suished portion 'of the royal household.
MP was not difficult to recognize the
~ &c prince. re was standing beside
John Tullis. and it IS not with de-
sire to speak i'll of his TalOr that we
odd he was clutching the slackest
part of that gentleman's riding breeks
with a. earnestless that betrayed e2-
IRENE trepidation. Facing them, o. the
stone doorstep. was the witch herself
Behind Tullis and the prince were
several ladies and gentlemen.
Truxton Kings heart swelled sud
denly. Next to the tail figure Of Colo
nel QuinloS Of the royal guard was
The slim, enhancing lady Of his most
recent dreams. the princes aunt. the
Lady o. the goldfish conspiracy!
The Countess Marlanx, tall and ex-
quisite. was q little apart from the
Others, with Baron Dangloss and
young Count Eos EnSo, whom Truz-
TON was ready to hate because II was
recognized suffer for, the hand of the
Slim young person in gray. IT. was
1oEsriding boldly pp TO this little gronn-