Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-13
TH.EGMSE GIRL
IT. A Romantic StoryBy N
SHAPOLD MAGGRATH -
& 4utl10, Of "A
Zhe/1AHN1Ae60x. HeLufp0 HeHaak, etc.
Copyright 1909 Boo0sMez1s1 Company

mote age. her forebears had been men
alarms or knights in the crusades.
You are very hard to please. Some
but what kind Of women" bitingly.
mot such as I should care to meet. VIII
you let me by peacefullyT
after the toll. after the toll!'
Too late she started to run. He laughed
sistibly he drew her toward his heart.
The dead-white Of her face should have
warned him. With q supreme effort she
freed herself and struck him across the
face, and there was a mans strength in
the fiat Of her hand. Quick as flash
he hot upon her heels He was raging
now with pain and chagrin. The one
hope for Gretchen now lay In the Black
Eagle. and into the tavern she darted ex-
citedly.
Frau Bauer" she cried. gasping as
much in wrath as for lack of breath,
may I come behind your counter"
ITO be sure. child. Whatever Is the
NATTER"
Wallenstein's entrance was answer suffi-
cient. His hand, held against his sting
ing cheek, was telltale enough for the
proprietress of the Black Eagle.
"Shame!" she cried. She knew her
rights. She was not afraid to speak plain
ly to any officer in the duchy. however
high he might be placed.
Il cannot get at you there. Gretchen"
said the colonel, giving to his voice that
venom which the lady's man always has
You will have to come hence presently"
'She shall stay here all day." declared
Frau Bauer. decidedly.
"I can wait" The colonel. now pos
sessing two smarts. one to his cheek and
one to his vanity, made for the door. But
there was bulk in the doorway formid-
able enough to be worth serious contem-
plation.
girl?" asked the grizsled old man, fold
ing his arms round his oak staff.
Herr colonel insulted me-
"Insulted your" The colonel laughed
boisterously. This was good: an officer
way" he snarled at the obstruction In
the doorway.
what did he try to do to you.
Gretchen
He tried to kiss met
THE man who tries to kiss q woman
against her will is always at heart a
coward" said the mountaineer.
The colonel seized the old man by the
shoulder to push him aside The other
Of his arms and clasped the colonel in
such q manner that he gasped. He was
| in the clutch of Carpathian bear.
well. my little soldier?" said the noun
taineer. his voice even and not a vein
showing in his neck.
Il will kill you for ths!' breathed the
colonel. heavily.
"so?'' The old man thrust him back
several feet. without any visible exertton
He let his staff slide into his hand.
The moment the colonel felt himself
liberated he drew his saber and lunged
toward his assailant. There was murder
in his heart. The two women screamed
The old man laughed. He turned the
thrust with his STAFF. The colonel. throw
| ing caution to the four winds. surrendered
to his rage. He struck again. The sabeI
rang against the oak. This dexterity
with the staff carried no warning to the
enraged officer. He struck again and
again. Then the old man struck back
The pain in the coloners arm was ex-
CIRCULATING. His saber ratified to the stone
flooring. Before he could recover the
weapon the victor had put his foot upon
1t. He was still smiling. as II the whole
affair was a bit Of pastime.
On his part the coloners blood suddenly
cooled. This was no accident: this med
ding peasant had at some time or other
held saber in his hand and knew how
to use 1t famously WELL The colonel
| realized that he had played the fool
nicely.
MY sword" he demanded. with as
much dignity as he could muster.
win you sheathe it?'' the old man
asked. mildly.
Since 1t is Of no particular use." bit
| terly.
IT could have broken 1t half q dozen
! times. Here, take It. But be wise In the