Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-17
THEGQOSE GIRL
IT. A ROMANTIC Story By N
SHAROLD r&GRXTH@
* 4H/I01 az IA
XHe/z1HOUHzeBOx. T1eLUIpO Of Me/7daf, etc.
Copyright 1909, BooosMcrfiH Company
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

CHAPTER XV-Continued.
This note was as welcome to the re-
cipient as the flowers in the spring. An
adventure? He was ready. now and al
ways. Anything to take his mind off his
own dismal affairs. Then he recalled the
woman in black: the letter could apply
to none but her. More than this. he
might light upon the puzzle regarding
the vintner. He had met the fellow be-
fore. But where?
What sort of clothes does vintner
wear" he asked.
"A vintner your cxcellency?''
Yes. I shall need the costume OF a
vintner this evening.
"Oh. that will be easy" affirmed the
concierge, If your eXcellency does not
mind wearing clothes that have already
been worm
MY excellency will not care hang.
Procure them as soon as YOU can
So ii came about that Carmichael
dressed as winner, his hat over MS
eyes. stole into the misty night and took
the way to the Krumerweg. He knew
exactly where he wished to go-number
forty. II was gray-black in the small
streets. and but for the occasional light
in window the dark would have had no
modification. Sometimes he would lose
the point of the compass and biunder
against a wall or find himself feeling for
the curb hesitant of foot. The wayside
shrine was A rift in the gloom, and he
knew that he had only few more steps
to take. After ALL who was the lady III
black and why should he bother himself
about her? She probably came from the
back stairs of the palace. Ana yet, the
chancellor himself had been in this place
What should he do? Should he wait
across the street? Should he knock at
the door and ask to be admitted? No,
he must skulk in the dark. on the oppo-
site side He picked his way over the
street and stood for moment in the
denser black.
A step? He trained his ear. But even
as he did so his arms were grasped hrmly
and twisted behind his back. and at the
same time a cloth was wrapped round
the lower part of his face, leaving only
his eyes and nose visible. 1t was all so
sudden and unexpected that he was pas
sive the first few seconds: after that there
was some scuffiing. strenuous. too he
was fighting against three. Desperately
he surged this way and that. Even In
the heat of battle he wondered little
why no one struck him: they simply chung
to him, and at length he could not move.
His hands were tied, not roughly, but
surely. In all this commotion not q
whisper, not a voice: only heavy breath
ing.
Then one of the three whistled. A min
ute or two after a closed carriage came
into the KrumerWeg. and Carmichael was
literally bundled inside. His feet were
now bound. Two of his captors sat on
the forward seat, while the third joined
the driver. Carmichael could distinguish
nothing but outlines and shadows. lie
choked, for he was furious. To be trussed
IKE this. without any explanation what.
ever. What the devil was going on!
Unanswered.
The carriage began to move slowly. IT
had to; swift driving in the krumerWeg
was hardly possible and at no time safe
Carmichael set himself to note the turns
of the street. One turn after another he
counted. fixing as we'll as he could the
topography of the town through which
they were passing. At last he reaizeo
that they We're leaving Dreiberg benlno
and were going down the mountain on
the north side. toward Jugendheit- once
the level road was reached fast pace
was set and maintained for miles. Al the
Ehrenstein barrier no question was asked
and Carmichaeis one hope was shattered.
At the Jugendheit barrier the carriage
stopped. There were voices. Garmlcnaei
saw the flicker of lantern His captors
got out Presently there appeared at the
door an old man dressed as noun
taineer In his hand was the lantern.
Pardon me. dear nephew Fools.
he broke off. swinging round. He mas
tricked you all This is not he"
Three astonished faces peered over the
old mans shoulder. Carmichael eyed
them evilly. He now saw that one was
q carter. another butcher and the tnird
baker. He had seen them before, IN
the Black Eagle. But TINS sigmned noun
ing. -
:'I-ntie him and take off that rag. 1t
NAV be Scharfenstein. The Old man
possessed authority.
Carmichael. freed, stretched himself
"Well?" he said, with dangerous
quiet
Herr Carmichael the American con-
sul,'' The old man nearly dropped the
lantern ..Oh, you Internal blockheads.
EXAMINATIONS are in ORDER suggested
Carmichael.
You are offered a thousand apologies
for stupid mistake. Now. may ask
how YOU came to be dressed i'll these
clothes on this particular night:
Car1nichaers anger dissolved and lie
laughed. All the mystery was gone with
the abruptness Of a mist under the first
glare of the sun. He saw how neatly
he had been duped. He still carried the
note. This he gave to the leader of this
midnight expedition.
"Humph"' said the old man in growl.
81 thought as MUCH He whispered to
his companions Herr Carmichael. 1
shall have the honor of escorting you
back to Dreiberg."
But will it be as easy to go in as it
was to come OUT?
consul,s word will be sufficient for our
needs ,o.,
And if | refuse TO give that Nord?'
IN that case you will have to use your
legs, CURLY.
Il prefer to ride.
THANKS ] shall sit with the driver.
THAT also will please me-.
land YOU ask no further questions
why should l? / know all ! wish TO
know. which is more than you would
care to have me-
The mountaineer swore.
eff we talk any longer l shall be late
for breakfast"
Forward, then!
ON the way 1t all came back to Carmi-
chael with the vividness of forgotten
come upon suddenly: Bonn,
the Rhine swift and turbulent. tow
headed young fellow who could not swim
we'll his own plunge. his fingers in the
haxen hair and the hard hight to the land
ing. all this was tale twice told.
Vintner? Not much.