Enterprise news-record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1910-1911, 1911-03-18

Farther up the GLENN fact at the
very door Of the witch's hut-were
gathered small but rather distin-
guished portion Of the royal household.
1t was not difficult to recognize the
little prince. He was standing beside
John Tullis, and it is not with de-
sire to speak Ill Of his valor that we
add he was clutching the slackest
part Of that gentleman's riding breeks
with an earnestness that betrayed ex.
treme 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 little apart from the
others, with Baron Dangloss and
young Count vos Engo, whom Trux.
ton was ready to hate because he was
a recognized suitor for the hand of the
slim young person in gray. He was
for riding boldly up to this little group,
but very objectionble lieutenant
barred the way. supported In no small
measure by the agitated detection OF
Mr.. Hobbs.
The way was made easy by the In.
tervention 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 astonishment,
turned quickly to Prince Bobby.
The prince broke the ice.
"Hellor' he cried shrilly.
"Hellop 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 conver-
satlon which resulted in Truxton King
going forward to join the party In
front of the hut.
Truxton was duly presented to the
ladies and gentlemen Of the party BY
John Tullis. who gracefully announced
that he knew Kings parents In New
York. Baron Dangloss was quito an
old friend. II one were to judge by the
manner in which he greeted the young
man. The lady in gray smiled %
sweetly and nodded so blithely that
Tullis, instead of presenting King te
her as he had done to the Countess
Marlanx and others, merely said; y
"And you know one another. OF
course" Whereupon she flushed very
prettily.
Truxton King, scarcely able to be
lieve his good fortune. crowded into
the loathsome, squalid room with his
aristocratic companions.
Never had Truxton looked upon .
creature who so thoroughly vindicated
the lifelong reliance he had put In the
description of witches given by the
fairy tale tellers Of his earliest youth
She had the traditional hook nose and
peaked chin, the glittering eyes. the
thousand wrinkles and the toothless
gums. He looked about for the raven
and the cat. but II she had them they
were not In evidence. At q rough
guess he calculated her age at lO(
years.
"Grewsome lady. isn't shsy' whis
pered King. ih
II shall dream of her for months, =
whispered the lady In gray. shudder'
ing.
"would you mind telling me how I
am to address your whispered King
They were leaning against the mud
plastered wall near tho little window
side by side. "You see. I'm stranger
In a strange land"
"You must not speak while she u
gazing into the crystal" she warned
after a quick. searching glance at hi
face. ~,
Although It was broad daylight, the
low, stuffy room would have been
pitch dark had II not been for the
ilickering candles on the table beside
the bent gray head Of the mumblins
fortune teller. whose bony fingers
twitched over and about her crystal
globe like wiggling serpents' taila.