Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-11-04
CHAPTER XIV.
DISCLOSURES.


- ARMICHAEL sat in the office
q Of the consulate. His letter
ofresignation was on its way.
but it would be in November
before he heard definitely from the
department. BY that time the great
SHOWS would have blanketed the earth
and the nadir of his discomfort would
be reached. But what to do till that
time? He could ride for some weeks,
but riding without cOmpanionship was
rather lonesome affair. His own de-
fiance of the chancellor had erected
barrier between her highness and him
self. They would watch him now.
evade him. put small obstacles In his
path. obstacles against which he could
enter no reasonable complaint. A
withered leaf, glove and fan-these
represented the sum of his romance
Two figures moved in the garden be-
meath. When the two heads came to-
gether swiftly and then separated, both
smiling. he realized that he had wit
messed kiss. All, here was the op-
portunity, and, by the Lord Harry. he
would not let it slip. If this fellow
meant wrongly toward Gretchen-and
how could he mean else Abe, Carmi-
chael, would take the matter boldly
into his hands to do some Gaming. He
laughed. Here would be another SOU
venir, to have caned-
He jumped to his feet, dropped his
pipe on the sill Of the window and
made for his hat and sword cane. The
clerk went on with his writing.
10 gain the garden Carmichael
would have to pass through the tav-
ern. The first person he encountered
was Colonel Won Wallenstein. Wallen-
stein spoke to Frau Bauer. who an
swered him with cold civility. Wallen-
stein twirled his mustache, laughed
and went into the garden. Neither
Gretchen nor the vintner saw Wallen-
stein. He watched them with an evil
smile. After some deliberation he
walked lightly toward the lovers.
"A pretty picture" he said.
Leave US. Gretchen" said the vint-
ner. with a deceiving gentleness.
Gretchen started reluctantly down
the path. AS she stepped of the path
to so round the colonel he grasped her
rudely and kiSsed her on the cheek
She screamed. and this scream brought
Carmichael upon the scene. He saw
the vintner run forward aud dash his
fist into the soldiers face. Wallenstein
fell back hurt and blinded. The vint-
ner. active as u cat. saw Carmichael
coming on run. He darted toward
him and before Carmichael could pre-
vent him dragged the sword cane
away. The blade. thin and plant.
flashed and none too soon. The colonel
had already drawn his saber
Save him. Gretchen wrung her
hands.
The two blades met spitefully. Half
a dozen thrusts and parties convinced
the colonel that the raging youth knew
what he was doing. Down swooped
the saber cuttingly The blade of the
sword cane snapped like pipestem
The latter came on. and there was
deaths intent.
Meantime Carmichael had found a
short hop pole. He hit the saber with
good will Back came the steel. The
colonel did not care whom or what he
struck at now. When Carmichael re-
turned the compliment he swung his
hop pole as the old crusaders did their
broadswords. The saber dropped un-
injured. but the colonels arm dangled
Mt his side. He was in agony. Car
michael's anger abated none.
You're fine example of q soldier.
Are you mad to attack man this
way: They will break you for this. or
my names not Carmichael
II shall kill you for this
Bah. have fought more times
than you have years to your counting"
with good. Yankee spirit. But If you
think I'll waste my time in fighting a
duel with you. you're up the wrong
tree"
Go to the devil"
Not just at present. There's too
much for me to do"
Gretchen and the vintner had van
ished. Carmichael agreed that 1t was
the best thing for them to do. The
vintner was no coward, but he was
discreet. Somebody might ask ques-
tons. So Carmichael returned to the
consulate. equally Indifferent what the
colonel did or where he went. OF the
winner he thought, The hot headed
young fool. to risk bis life like thatw
He would see later what he meant in
regard 20 Gretchen. Poor little goose
girl,
Are you hurt, excellency: asked
the clerk solicitously
Hurt:
Yes. ! heard a woman scream and
ran to the window. 1t was n good
fight. But that fellow-nch. TO run
away and leave you. an outsider. to
fight his battlew
He would have been sliced In two
II l hadn't come TO the front. A hop
pole isn't half bad. Ill bet that lady's
man has bad arm for some time 10
come. AS for the vintner, be had good
reasons for taking 10 his heels"