The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-26
RtJX7ON
{ KING
copyrisht. 1909. by George
Barr McCutcheon
Cspyrisht. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead q Company


way to the castle grounds, accompa-
MED by the short legged Mr.. Hobbs.
Hobbs led him through the great
park gates and up 10 the lodge of ia
cob Fraasch, the venerable high stew
ard Of the grounds. Here. to Kings
utter disgust, he was booked as plain
Cooks tourist and mechanically adj
vised to pay strict attention to the
rules.
tits no disgrace" growled Hobbs,
redder than ever. you're inside the
grounds. and you've got to obey the
rules, same as any tourist. Right this
way. sir. Well take turn just inside
the wall. Now. on your left. ladies
and-ahem!-I should say-ahem.-sir,
you may see the first turret ever built
on the wall. 1t is over 400 years old.
On the right we have ~
"See here. Hobbs" said King, stop
ping short. I'm dashed if III let you
lecture me as if were gang of hay
seeds from Joshville."
Every. good. sir. No offense. ! quite
forgot. s4r."
"Just tell me, old chap Don't lee
ture. Hobbs. this is all very beautiful
and very grand and very SLOW" said
King. stopping to lean against the
moss covered wall that encircled the
park within a park. the grounds ad
Joining the grotto. Cant l hop over
this wall ard take n peep into the
grotto?"
by no means. cried Hobbs. Mortified.
King looked over the low wall. The
prospect was alluring. The pool. the
trickling rivulets. the messy banks. the
dense shadows-it was maddening to
think he could not enter.
81 wouldn't be in there a minute"
he argued. "And I might catch a
glimpse of dream lady. Now. | say.
- Hobbs. here's low place. l could
jump
"Mr King. if 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 a
good fellow. Tell the guards wouldn't
obey. That will let you out. my boy.
and I'll do the rest
He strobe off across the bright green
turf toward the source of all this en-
chantment. leaving poor Mr.. Hobbs
braced against the wall. weak kneed
and helpless.
"What are you doing in here?" de-
manded voice.
Truxton. conscious of guilt. whirled
with as much CONSERVATION as if he
had been accosted by 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 at 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, in 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. 1t
is safe to say that he came to his feet
and bowed deeply. even in humility.
Il 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"
ooh. I'm not going to put you out"
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"
Eyes. lonely American" with an
attempt at the pathetic.
The youngster looked cautiously
about. Say. do you ever 60 fishingY'
he demanded eagerly.
Occasionally"
You won't give me away, will your
with a warning frown. Don't you
tell Jacob Fraasch. He's the steward.
IL know a fine place to fish,"
The prince led the way up the bank.
followed by the amused American.
who stopped so admirably that the boy.
looking back, whispered that it was
'Just fine" At the top Of the knoll
the prince turned into a little shrul
lined path leading down to the banks
of the pool almost directly below thu
rocky face Of the grotto.
The prince scurried behind biz
rock and reappeared at once with
willow branch from the end Of which
\ dangled a piece of thread. A bent PHI
occupied the chief end in view. HI
unceremoniously showed the brancl
into the hands Of his confederate ant
then produced from one Of his pocket
a silver cigarette box, which he gin
gerly opened to reveal to the gaze
conglomerate mass Of angleworms ant
grubs.
"A fellow gets awful dirty digging
for worms, doesn't he?" he pronounced
The prince took the branch and gin