The Washington times., 1912-07-04
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
THE PRINCE OF PRETENSE
- BY --
STEPHEN CHALMERS
Munssy coJ ....s
STEPHEN CHALMERS
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Col

animal which had touched her to wake
Outside there were a subdued MUIR
muring of many voices and the occa-
understood. The smugglers had come.
In little while they would go, and--he
would go with them.
Presently the door opened. McHen-
drfck entered softly. Seeing her awake,
he smiled and nodded his head.
will ye get ready?'' he said.
Must I go?' she asked. Cannot
remain here until"
NO" ne said. pursuing his lips. 1T is
the best way. Ye cannot return the way
ye came. Ye would be caught and ques-
toned. And girl walking alone on the
moors would arouse suspicion, especial
~ Margaret Dalgleish, In whose
house"
Il know-I know. But could not
remain here for few days"'
u w9pd not Ike that 1ts,sh sithSr HIScs said
best, but ye would have visitors afore
long and your presence would not be
missed in Inverlachle until your pres
| ence was marked elsewhere. No. Mar
garet, ye must come with US"
"Ah. then you go, too?"
II will that" said emphatically.
did ye think, little lass, ] would trust
you alone with these wild fellows?" No;
| 60, too, and l will see that you are re-
turned to your father when the time
Is safe"
Margaret arose and began to fold the
plaid around her.
! "You will remain!" said McHendrick
| suddenly in Gealic.
Margaret turned abruptly. wondering
| why he had changed his plans. But
the shepherd was speaking to the col
and curled up beside It.
rs he-where is he?" asked Margaret
| presently. when she was ready.
"Ye will see for. yourself" said Nc
Hendrck. "If We do not recognize him,
then, indeed, he is safe from other eyes.
] Put the plaid about your head. There!
That is better. You will look like one
! of their women"
! He led her out into the night: 1t was
| not dark. The transition had been a
! slow change from dusklight to moon
| light. The big orb was sailing upward
over a crutch Of the hills, away at the
| head of the glen.
/ Before the shepherds cot was a cart
drawn by scraggy-looking horses. Tho
cart was laden with pile of concealed
barrels. There were five or six men
lows, some in kits. a few in trews.
The latter suggested sea-flring men.
especially their piStails and shoon. and
a certain common fashion OF headgeaI
| Each wore handkerchief bound
around his head in lieu Of bonnet.
No sooner had Margaret Joined the
| party than a whisper was passed among
the men. The horses were spoken to
brutes. There was no cracking OF
whips or shouting. The mysterious
cart, with its little escort, moved away
up the glen, the only sound being ar
occasional word and the clack-cl-cluck'
clack of a loose wheel-spoke.
At the tail end Of the procession walk
ed Margaret and the shepherd, she very
unlike herself in such company, and
with her head wrapped in the plaid
McHendrick, very much like himself ir
Ions
crooked staff.
Walking alone, just ahead of Mar
garet and the shepherd. was tall
graceful man. Margaret glanced curl
ously at him. She knew the carriag,
and height, but in other things the
man was not Charles. He was attiret
in clothes that were foreign. He wore
peared kerchief. and there were ring
in his ears. Once, when he turned hi
head, Margaret caught his profile
against the moon. 1t was like Cast
Mrs yet very unlike.
garet to McHendrick.
"Whisht!" said the shepherd He II
a FrenChman from Bordeaux. He doe
not speak the Sassenach or the, Gaelic
That Is Jules Guertn. He is one OF th'
ships men"
Margaret watched the man curiously
and wondered why the shepherd Spok
with a kind of chuokle In his throat
nothing to her, unless he was Casimir
in which event he would be something
, less than nothing.
; And so they tramped on slowly. Th
horses made good progress sometimes
and the pedestrians were left behind
but presently they would come upon tn
> mysterious cart, stuck in rut or rest
} ing upon a steep hill. And when tn
horses were to be urged 1t was don
with patting and whispering. never wit
l anger or loud voices. The moon SCENE
L to understand, and 1t shone upon tn
stage and the actors with a quiet mys
| ticism.
!, A Continuation OF This story Wi
: he Found In TOmOrrOw's
Q Issue of The Times.