Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1913-11-07

"And this Is my birthday" mused
the king. gazing after him, mot wholly
q happy Que: but" he added uuizzical-
y. 1T Is not raining. One can never
be quite niserab BILE when It's not rain.
ing"
Sire" reported an officer, hurryinc
in as Vladimir depa rt+d. '.the streets
are quite safe now. The royal carriage
Is waiting"
Seuding for lrma to follow. the king
and his officials left the room. Scarce
were they gone when Hawthorne slip.
ped 10.
"Oficer." he said to the gold laced
captain who was waiting to escort the
princess to the carriage. cher royal
htghness will pass through this room in
q moment | want you to stand aside
and let me speak to her"
"Impossibie!' gasped the captain.
"Why. It would he as much as ms CON-
mission Is worth"
what is your Job worth?" demand
ed Hawthorne.
''My pay In :,UO francs month"
when yom get It, Which you don't
Here's mouths pay. In real money.
Now get over to the other side ut the
room. Shes coming"
The princess entered with Kate. At
a covert signal from Hawthorne the
American girl ducked back through the
door by which she had entered.
"YOur royal highnesa::' cried Haw.
thorne. xpringtnR forward with hands
outstretche<l.
The princess. with little cry Of sur
prise. took an iinpulsive step toward
him. Then she halted as " turned to
Ice
For. unperceived. Prince Vladimir
had entered the room. aud It was plain
be had caught the look exchanged by
the American and the princess. for his
bronxed face slowly turned deep red.
and his little eyes sn,oldered duly.
At a stride he was between Haw.
thorne and lrma. his hand on the hilt
Of his saber.
But once more Vludimir forced him
self to IN unnatural and mnwonted
calm-a calm that mnpleasantiy re-
minded Hawthorne Of motionless rat
tlesnake
His majesty Is waiting for you.
lrma." said the prince in mntfled
voice. LET the take you to the car.
rage"
He offered her his arm. Instinctively
she shrank buck. For a single instant
Z au.i Vladimir looked at
like the clashing OF sword blades.
Then the princess recovered her com
posture and took the prOffered arm.
Without word she and Vladimir pass
Ell out Of the room.
The second the tputer door closed be-
hind them Hawthorne shouted for
Blake. Rodney came gathering down
from his room. wondering ut the fran
tic summons.
Rod" exclaimed Hawthorne. there's
the deuce and all to pay. and | want
| you to help me. There's plot to de-
throne the king. and
| us there a chance Of the plot win
ming out?" asked Blake with sudden
eagerness.
| ~ -
Bully" exulted Blake III they
kick out the king the princess loses
her royal job too She won't be a
| princess any more. That gives you
chance to get her. What can | do to
help?"
mo. no. man. You've got 1t all
wrong. We've got to try to keep the
| LII, ut ls>
lieves IN these people so. If they de-
throned her shaky knee.l old father it'd
! break her heart"
''iou've sure got it bad. Tony" sigh.
ed Blake. slowly grasping Hawthorne's
state Of mind.
"Bad?" Knocked Hawthorne. "Rod.
I'm gone. She's just everything. Moth
ing else matters. Not even me. And
it's all SO rottenly hopeless Oh. I'm
nutty. all right. know that But I'll
hand you one ice cold fact: She shan't
marry that cur OF Il prince. I'm going
to stop that the only way ! can I'm
going to get proof positive Of this rev.
olution. and them
Can | help:"
hundred thousand bank roll in it and
lock it up in your room. I'll tell you the
| next move later"
Blake. reverently picking up the suit
case with its weight Of treasure. start
ed upstairs with 1t. nervously Tending
Off an oificious porter who met him on
the stairs aud wanted to carry the bur-
den for him. Hawthorne started OF In
another direction.
But the big room was not long empty.
Into it almost at once strobe Prince
Vladimir. who. having escorted the
princess to her carriage. had returned
with vague idea of wreaking his an
ger in comparative safety OH the un.
known American. But the American
was not there. and Vladimir was forced
to take out his i'll temper on the faith