The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-03-04
A Story Of
Gra1sfark
BY
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON

HOODS. neres Il low place. could
jump
''Mr. King. IL you do that ! am
ruined forever, | am trusted by the
steward. He would cut off all my priv
ileges"- Hobbs could 60 no further
He was prematurely aghast. Some
thing told him that Mr.. King would
hop over the wall
''Go and report me. Hobbs; there's il
good fellow Tell the guards wouldn' t
obey. Thar will let you out. my boy.
and I'll do the rest"
He strobe Off across the bright green
chantment. leaving poor Mr.. Hobbs
braced against the wall. weak kneed
and helpless.
"What are you doing in here?" de-
manded q voice.
Truxton, conscious of guilt, whirled
with as much CONSERVATION as if he
had been accosted by a voice Of thun-
der. He beheld very small boy stand
ing at the top of the knoll above him.
not thirty feet away. His face was
quite as dirty as any small boys
should be ut that time Of day, and his
curly brown hair looked as If it had
not been combed since the day before.
His firm little legs. fin half hose and
presumably white knickers, were
spread apart. and his hands were In
his pockets.
King recognized him at once and
looked about uneasily for the attend
ants who. he knew. should be near. II
is safe to say that he came to his feet
and bowed deeply. even I'm humility.
a II am resting your highness." he
said meekly.
Don't you know any better than to
come In here?" demanded the prince.
Truxton turned very red.
II am sorry. I'LL 60 at once"
"Oh. I'm not going to put you outw
hastily exclaimed the prince. coming
down the slope. But you are old
enough to know better. You are the
gentleman who picked up my crop
yesterday. You are an American"
Yes. Al lonely American" with an
attempt at the pathetic.
The youngster looked cautiously
about Say. do you ever 60 fishing?'
he demanded eagerly.
occasionally
You won't give me away. will your
with q warning frown. Don't you
tell Jacob Fraasch. He's the steward.
II know fine place TO fish"
The prince led the way up the bank.
followed by the amused American.
who stopped SO admirably that the boy.
docking back. whispered that 1t was
"just fine" At the top of the knoll
the prince turned into q little shrub
lined path leading down to the banks
of the pool almost directly below the
rocky face of the grotto.
The prince scurried behind a big
rock and reappeared at once with
willow branch from the end of which
dangled q piece Of thread. A bent pin
occupied the chief end in view. He
unceremoniously showed the branch
into the hands Of his confederate and
then produced from one Of his pockets
silver cigarette box, which he gin
gerly opened to reveal to the gaze a
conglomerate mass Of angleworms and
grubs.
"A fellow gets awful dirty digging
for worms, doesn't he?" he pronounced.
The prince took the branch and gin
gerly dropped the hook into the dane
ing pool. In less time than it requires
to tell 1T he had q nibble, bite and
catch. There never was boy SO ex-
cited as he when scarlet nibbler flew
into the shrubbery above.
On the opposite bank OF the pool
suddenly appeared two rigid members
of the royal guard, intently watching
the fishers King was somewhat dis
turbed by the fact that their rifles
were i'm q position to be used at an In
srant's notice He felt himself turning
pale as he thought OF what might
have happened if he had taken to
fight. .......
A young lady III rajah silk gown, u
fimsy panama hat tilted well over her
nose, with q red feather that stood
erect as if always in a state OF sur
prise, turned the bushes and came to q
stop almost at Kings elbow. He had
time to note in his confusion that she
was about shoulder high alongside him
and that she was staring up into his
face with amazed gray eyes. After
ward he was to realize that she was
amazingly pretty; that her teeth were
very white and even; that her eyes
were the most beautiful and expressive
he had ever seen, that she was slender
and imperious and that there we're
dimples In her cheeks 50 fascinating
that he could not gather sufficient
strength of purpose to withdraw his
gaze from them OF course he did not
see them At the outset She was not
smiling, 80 how could he2 .-."
The prince came to the rescue. This
| Is my Aunt Lorraine, Mr.. Mr. He
swallowed hard and looked helpless.
'King," supplied Truxton--Truxton
King, your highness." Then, with an
the courage he could produce. he said
to the beautiful lady: I'm as guilty as
he. Seer He pointed ruefuIlF t0 four
II Naw0 oao