The evening world., 1915-01-30
/ THE PRINCE Of GRAUSTARk \
The Odd Expioifs Of Eossisn Prtncsltss
- In Nep York and ElseUhsvs -
BY GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON

thought It was in danger Of pounding
IT. way out Of his bodyl
Below him lay the lighted city, .
yellow cloud almost at his feet.
Nearer. on the mountainside were the
misty lights In the windows Of the
jewellers on the alope. and at points
far apart the street lamps. dim
splashes of light In tho gloom. Far
Of 81. Valentine. hanging in the Sky.
He thought Of the monks up there.
What q lifei He would not bs q
"" ny s Words H. exclaimed Hobbs. blu.
cabby.
A woman came swiftly out Of thu
blackness and stopped beside the cab.
She was swathed In n long gossamer
and hooded. The carriage lamps
cleaned strong against the dripping
coat
"is that your cried Robin. throw
Ing open the door and leaping to the
Ground.
TT 10 !, M'sieur," said the voice Of
Marie, Miss 0uiles French maid.
n Bleak disappointment filled his soul.
He had hoped for-but mol He might
have known. She would not meet
him In this manner.
what has happened?" he cried.
graspinE the girl's arm. Has She
''Shl May we not speak in French"
said Marie. lowering her voice after
cabman. ale may understand Eng
llsh. M'sieur. My mistress has sent
me to say to M'sieur that she has
changed her mind"
Changed her mind" gasped Robin.
Yes. M'sieur. She will not receive
you at the Inn Of the Stars. She bids
you to drive to the end of this street.
where there Is a garden with q Mag
var band. and the most delicious Of
refreshments to DO had under vino
"A public sardenr' exclaimed Robin
In utter dismay.
.Pingari's, sir" said Hobbs, with
out thinking. II know the place well.
i t. !: ;. !. .. very quiet orderly place.
80 he understands French, chr"
cried Marie sharply.
TT doesn't matter" cried Robin i'm
patiently. "Why. In heavens name.
did she select public eating house in
which to receive me?"
III M'sisur chooses to disregard the
interrupted her.
j II am not accustomed 70 meeting
people In public gardens. p
Nor 10 my mistress. M'sieur. ! as
sure you II Is the first time she has
committed an indiscretion Of this
Kind. May I put Q hea In -A'sieur's
cart The place IL quite empty to-
night. and besides there Ii the drive
back to the inn with Aademotsells. Is
not that something. Missouri
by jovs!" exclaimed Robin. Drive
on-Xou! Hut waiti Lat me take you
To- the inn. Marie. It-
thoughtful Invitation. Bon soir.
She was OF like q fiaAh. Robin
leapsd nimbly into the cab.
"Pingari's. driver!" he said. his
heart humping once more.
VERY good, sir" and they were OF
at q lively rate. rafting quito gaily
over the cobblsstones.
Pingari's 10 the jumping on place.
II stands at the sharp corner OF an
elbow In the mountain, with an al
most sheer drop Of a thousand feet
into the quarries below. A low
rooted. rambling building. once used
as q troop house for nomadic fighting
men who came from all parts OF the
principally on draft by feudal bar
tanned. II WAS something Of historic
place. Parts Of the structure are
said to DO no less than 500 years old,
but time and avarice have relegated
history to rather uncertain back
ground, and unless one Is pretty well
up in the traditions Of the town, he
may be taken In nicely by shameless
attendants who make no distinction
between the old and the new SO long
as II pays them to procrastinate.
Al q matter OF fact, the walls of
what Is now considered the kitchen.
ana one never sters inside Of them
unless he happens to he connected In
a somewhat mental way with the
green grocer, tho hshmonGer, the
butcher or the poultry man. The
wonderful vine- colored porches, reek-
ing with si9ns of decay and tottering
with ago. arc In truth very substan-
tial ahairs constructed by an an
cestor Of the present Signor Pingari
no longer ago than the Napoleonic
go In Graustark.
Hobbs drove bravely into the court
yard. shouted orders to q couple of
hostlers and descended from the box.
The Magyar band was playing
biithely to the scattered occupants OF
the pOrches overlooking the preci-
pice.
"'Ere We arr. sir" said he TO
the Prince. as he terked open the
door OF the cab. Shall walt, sir7"
Certainly" said Robin. climbing
out. II am . long way from home.
my good man."
He hurried up the steps and cast
an eye about the place. There were
no ladies unattached. As he was
about to start on a tour OF investi-
CATION, polite person In brass but
tons came up to him.
Alone. sir?" he inquired pityingly.
Quite" said Robin. still peering
into the recesaes.
Then come with me, 70 you please.
I am directed to escort you to one who
Is alone. This way. sir"
Robin followed him through O door,
down q narrow hallway. up a flight
Of stairs and out another door upon
q small portico, sheltered by a heavy
canvas awning. Two men were
standing at the railing. looking down
upon the impTessionistic lights OF the
sunken city. The Prince drew back.
his face hardening.
what does this mean, airrahf
You said'----
At the sound Of his voice the two
men turned. stared at him lntently
for an instant and then deliberately