The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-27

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shifty eye, at the cabinet Of ancient
rings and necklaces, and then deIlnrt-
ed without having seen the interesting
Miss PIatanova.
| At his room in the hotel he found a
note addressed to himself. 1t did not
have much to say, bet it meant great
deal. There was no signature, and the
handwriting was that of q woman.
"Pleasceio not come again." That was
all.
He laughed with fine tone Of de-
f1ance and went back to the shop at
5 o'clock, just to prove that nothing
SO timid as note could stop him. On
the occasion Of this last visit to the
shop he did not stay long, but went
away somewhat dazed to ind himself
the possessor of ring he did not want
and out of pocket just $50, American.
Having come to the conclusion that
knight errantry Of that kind was not
only profiigate, but distinctly irritating
to his sense of humor, he looked up
Mr.. Hobbs and arranged for days
ride in the mountains.
Mr.. Hobbs led his patron into the
mountain roads early the next morn
ing. both well mounted and provided
with luncheon. s
1t is a good three hours ride to the
summit Of Monastery mountain. And
after the height has been attained
one does not care to linger long among
the chilly, whistling crags, with their
snow crevasses and bitter winds. The
utter loneliness, the aloofness of this
frost crowned crest appalls, disheartens
one who loves the fair, green things
Of life.
1t was 3 o'clock when they clattered
down stone road and up to the for
bidding vale in which lurked, like an
evil, guilty thing, the log built home
Of the witch of Ganlook gap, that an
cient female who made no secret Of
her practices in witchcraft.
A low matched roof protruded from
the hill against which the hut was
built. As matter Of fact, a thin
chimney grew out Of the earth itself,
for all The world like a smoking tree
stump The single door was SO low
that one was obliged to stoop to enter
the little room where the dame had
been holding forth for threescore
years, twas said. This was her throne
room, her dining room, her bedcham-
Der, her all, it would seem, unless one
had been there before and knew that
her kitchen was beyond, in the side
of the hill. The one window, sans
glass, looked narrowly out upon an
odd opening in the foliage below, CIV
ing the occupant Of the hut an unob-
structed view of the winding road that
led up from Edelweiss.
The two horsemen rode into the glen
and came plump upon a small detach-
'ment Of u royal guard, mounted and
rather reAolute in their lack Of ami
ability.
SOLDIERS, I'd say" remarked Mr..
King His eyes frightened and his hat
: came OF with switch.
"Hello! There's the princew
Farther up the GLENN fact at the
: very door Of the witch's hut-were
. guished portion of the royal household
|. It was not difficult to recognize the
little prince. He was standing beside
!. John Tullis, and it Is not with a de-
sire to speak i'll Of his valor that we
add he was clutching the slackest
! part Of that gentleman's riding breeks
with an earnestness that betrayed ex-
IRENE trepidation. Facing them, on the
stone doorstep, was the witch herself
Behind Tullis and the prince were
several ladies and gentlemen.
TruXtOn Kings heart swelled sud
denly. Next to the tall figure of Colo
mel Quinnox of the royal guard was
the slim, enhancing lady of his most
recent dreams, the princes aunt, the
lady Of the goldfish conspiracy!
The Countess Marlanx, tall and ex
quisite, was a little apart from the
= others, with Baron Dangloss and
young Count Vos Engo, whom Trux.
ton was ready to hate because he was
recognized sutton for the hand Of the
slim young person in gray. He was
for riding boldly up to this little group
but a very Objectionable lieutenant
barred the way, supported in no small
measure by the agitated detection Of
Mr.. Hobbs.
The way was made easy by the in.
PREVENTION of the alert young woman
: in gray. She caught sight of the re.
stricted adventurers-or one of them
to be quite accurate-and, after speed
ing a swift smile of establishment
. turned quickly to Prince Bobby.
The Drinca brOka the ica
"Hello" he cried shrilly.
'Hellow responded the gentleman
readily.
John Tullis found himself being drag
ged away from the witch's door to-
ward the newcomer at the bottom of
the glen. Mr.. Hobbs listened with
deepening awe to the friendly CONVEX.
sation which resulted in Truxton King
going forward to join the party in
front Of the hut