Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-04-27

the niece OF Olu Hlk tIA. w
! !: !: ! ! !:
man Spantz" He f1W
watched intently/ y M+Fk n
to catch the effect 4 i NJ G.EAM
Of the declara- Il MA dISkW
ton. VI AVllNn
you have heard VII WkIWlkSEI
nothing of the III slWNWM
kind" she said VI aQlEkEV
coldly IA
"Well, I'll con-
fess / haven't" nI N
he ad N lifted
cheerfully. "It
pleases me to de- "hAl hANI iwo
duce that you are HEARD of
not related to the armorer. You don't
look the part"
Now she smiled divinely. "And why
not, pray? His sister was my mother
"In order to establish a line on which
to base my calculations. would you
mind telling me who your father ISL"
He asked the question with his most
appealing smile, smile so frankly i'm
pudent that she could not resent it.
my father is dead" she said seri-
ously, land my mother is dead. Now
can you understand why l am living
here with my uncle? Even an amateur
may rise to that. Now, sir, do you
expect to purchase the sword? If not
shall replace it in the window"
That's what l came here for" said
he. resenting her tone and the icy look
she gave him.
81 gathered that you came in the ca
pacity of Sherlock Holmes or some
thing else" She added the last three
words with unmistakabIe meaning.
She was leaning toward him, her
bands on the counter. peculiar CLEAN
in her dark eyes, which now for the
first time struck him as rather more
keen and penetrating than he had sus-
pected before.
"I simply want to tell you, Mr.. King.
that unless you really expect to buy
this sword it is not wise in you to
make it an excuse for coming here"
My dear young lady, r.
"AIy uncle has a queer conception of
the proprieties. He may think that
you come to see me. Young men may
chat with shopgirls all the world over,
but in EdeIweiss, no, unless they come
to pay most honorable court to them.
My uncle would not understand"
Il take it, however, that you would
understand" he said boldly.
Il have lived in Vienna, in Paris
and in London, but now am living
in Edelweiss. l have not been shop
/ girl always"
Il can believe that My deductions
are justified"
MY uncle is returning" she remark.
ed suddenly. Il must not talk to you
any longer" She glanced uneasily
out upon the square and then hurried
~ added. a certain wistfulness in he1
voice and eyes: Il couldn't help it to-
day. l forgot my place. But you are
the first gentleman I've spoken tC
since l came here"
When SpaS1z entered the door the
girl was going listlessly. from the
window and Truxton King was lean
ing against the counter with his back
toward her. his arms folded and 6
most impatient frown on his face
Spantz's black eyes shot from one tt
the other What do you want?" ht
demanded sharply.
"The broadswOrd. And, say. Mr.
Spantz. you might assume a differen
tone in addressing me. I'm a Gus
toner, not beggar.''
The girl left the window and walked
ri, =, q ~, cI,
through the narrow door, without 81
much as a glance at King or the oil
man. Spantz was silent until she wa
gone.
You want the broadsword. eh?" b
asked, mOderating his tone cOnSidera
bly,. Its a rare old
III give you hundred dollars-no
another cent" interrupted King, no
: yet over his resentment There TO
| lowed a long and irritating argument
J at the conclusion of which Mr.. Kin
2 became the possessor of the weapon a
: his own price.
"rll come in again." he said indiffel
emily.
But you are leaving tomorrow, sir.
1--WE changed my mind
"Then you have discovered some
e thing in Edelweiss to attract you!
e grinned the old armorer.
e 81 dare say you're right. Clean tn;
sword up bit for me, and I'll dro
] in tomorrow and get it. Here's {
e gavvos to bind the bargain-the re
on delivery. Good day, Mr. Spantz"
e Good day, Mr.. King"
r How do you happen to know n
e name?"
d Spantz put his hand over his hea
and delivered himself of most il
IL pressive bow. when SO distinguish
a visitor comes Is our little city,"
Is said, I'VE lose no time in discoveriI
J. his name. 1t is part of our trad
sir, believe me-
d I'm not so sure that do belle