The Washington times., 1912-06-25
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
THE PRINCE OF PRETENSE
STEPHEN CHALMERS
Copyright. Th. Frank A. Muns.y Co,

the saddle with his face toward the
'front.' and as he rode OF the Highland
servitors clung one to each stirrup-an
escort of honor, Of course.
The duke, realizing how badly Off
he was IN the matter of sobriety, lifted
his chin in the air, with the oversolenn-
ity of a man who would hide his in
ebriety. AS he appeared before the
assembled clansmen he had the air Of
a Don ouixote who Is particularly IN
terested in his own sublime thoughts.
Presently he collected himself suffi-
ciently to begin his address 1t was un-
fortunate from the beginning, which
was untactful, to say the least. d
"Campbells OF Argyll" said he, add.
ing as an afterthought, "and others!.
ling. The Duke then went on to speak
of the glory Of Scotland, Argyll in par
ticular He spoke OF the glorious ira
ditions Of the Campbells-which was
duke began to forget that he was ad-
dressing men and not household vassals
and under the belief that the 5000 were
tenants, warned them against cattle
plague and against !poaching and the
Campbell, one Of his aides, made a fran
tic signal to the pipe major. Next mo-
ment the dukes address was drowned in
the drone Of a hundred pipers.
,ns But the ;, duke, p, who theusht the dron- r
ing, although not a word could be heard.
Fitzwilliam, in the meantime, was
watching a Highlander, hatless and
cotless. who was coming at run
The man rushed up to the side of the
duke, whose eyes were still fixed on the
heavens and whose lips were moving in
vain articulation. The Highlander
start hazily and look unsteadily around
him. The man again shouted in mis- ear.
Argyll turned white as sheet. looked
helplessly at Sir David and Major Fitz-
william, and finally waved feeble hand
In second the excited messenger was
at Fitzwilliams side:
Sir" he cried above the storm of
pipe music "1nverlachie is aiame.
dard"'
His words were no sooner out OF his
mouth than sobriety seemed to come
back to the Duke of Argyll. He sud.
denly stiffened up in his saddle. waved
and spurred his horse toward the castle:
Fitzwilliam and Sir David Campbell
followed, while the pipe music stopped
and a whispering suddenly swelled in
to tosrins Habbl,Ig hs:r then roaring cheering
pandemonium In 1nrerary. The clans
men we're quarreling: fighting. insult:
ing one another and making up old
grievances. Before night hundreds OF
them were on their way, by st. Gather
ines to Inverlachie. Down the loch
the skies were bright from a dozen
bonfires in the affected town.
In the library of the castle the Duke,
half sober but almost insanely ner-
vous, was facing Fitzwilliam and Sir
David Campbell. The man was trying
to collect his wits to face the sudden
emergency.
Listen to me-! Listen to me" said
he. ''You-Major Fitzwilliam-rfde back
to observation-disclosures understand
Arrest this man like you would a brawl.
er--as II you were unconscious of his
claims. That will discourage them
more than a regiment. You-Sir Dav-
td-cut off the glens to the north, Sc
adherents can neither come to him nor
he go to them. Do you not see! The
mans trapped. He could not have
raised his standard In worse place
He's trapped. I'll nip It in the bud.
Now, go!-quck!-both of ye.''