Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-09-24

horrible blunder The locket you hold
in your hand was taken from you
when you were an infant The one
you wear around your neck is. accord
ing TO the statement OF one OF these
men. not genuine"
And the signihcaneeT' She grew
tall. and the torn sleeve fell away from
her arm.
81 know you to be brave. Strength
en- your heart then. These men say
that you are not my daughter"
And that Gretchen is!' spoke Hans.
"I2' Gretchen drew closer 20 Hide
garde.
The duke studied the portrait Of the
mother and then the faces Of these two
girls. Both possessed a resemblance,
only il seemed now that Gretchen was
nearest to the portrait and Hildegarde
nearest to the doubt.
"You say she wore the costume of a
gypsy child when you lost herT said
the duke
Yes" Won Arnsberg took from I'M
der his coat a small bundle, which he
opened with shaking fingers. He had
been In the Krumerweg that afternoon
why. those are miner exclaimed
Gretchen excitedly.
You see?" said Won Arusberg.
Would you not ike to be a princess.
Gretchen"
A princess, Gretchen's heart fut-
tered. princess. She laid her head
on HiIdegarde's shoulder. She was
weak. and this was some dream
But who, then. am T. asked Hide
garde.
Tell what you know said Hans to
the gypsy. "Highness. he alone.knows
the man who brought about all this
The archplotter OF this damnable
conspiracy" The dukes eyes became
alive. his face, his whole body Every
beat OF his heart cried out for venge-
ance. "Who is he? Tell me. Give
him 10 me. man, and all OF you shall
go free. Give him into these hands
His namer The dukes hands worked
convulsively as II they were already
round the throat Of this unseen. i'm
placable enemy. lie was terrible in
this moment.
The gypsy produced q letter. II had
TO be held carefully. as It was old and
tattered. The duke read IL. Beyond
that IL made the original offer Il was
worthless. The handwriting was pal.
pably disguised. The duke flung the
missive 60 the floor.
Fool, is that all you have? Tell
me what YOU know. man. or I shall
have you shot In the morning immuni-
~ or no immunity. Quickr'
"Ilghuess." said the gypsy. thor
oughly alarmed. this is how Il hap
pened My band was staying NJ the
time I'm Drcihcrg. We told fortunes
and exhibited ana Italian puppet show
The letter came first. ! was poor and
sometimes desperate. was 20 take
her away and leave her with strange
people"
"Ah,' interrupted the duke with
hespairing gesture toward Grumbach
"why aid you not leave US all In
peacoT
"Highness. great wrong has been
done. and God brought me here 70
right it,"
You are a brave man." darkly.
81 am in your hands. highness." stur-
/ Oily. I'm a mad moment ] committed
a crime. would not accept tnl had
talked personally with him. lie came
at last. His face was hidden and his
voice munied. But this ] saw-when
he gave me the first half OF the money
was certain / should knew him
again"
How
"By his little finger. highncss."
His little hngerY" Won Arnsberg re-
peated.
The two women. large eyed and be-
wildercd. chung 70 each others hand
tensely. These were heartbreaking
times. Gretchen's mind. however. alb
sorbed nothing. neither the words nor
the picture. Her thoughts rev)lved
around one thing-if she were a prin-
cess she could be happy. But thu 9TH
er. from under whose feet all tangible
substances seemed 10 be giving way.
she was possessed by two thoughts
which surged in her brain Ike com
batants. II not a princess. what was
she? II not princess, she was free.
She stole q swift glance at Carmichael.
! who seemed far removed from the
heart OF this black business, and had
he been looking at her he would have
! seen the gates opening into Eden.
"WAat was this Nttlc finger likeT''
asked the duke.
N shuddering'
60 zone time IL
A%Nfs : had been cut or
MIN mangled"
Ss1GANkI The man was
AN&W tan?"
~ wv ~ "Yes, high
! AEA ~ ness"
/ &GCS The duke ST.
Ia lently toyed with
- II the little yellow
A$ shoes. Suddenly
- he laughed. but
(. II was the terri
N ~ BILE laughter OF
! mailman.