The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-17
BY Percy Brebner.
Copyright. 1918, by
Little, Brown & Co.
CHAPTER /.
Tells of the Opening of q Door

Tells OF the Opening of q Door
| "You should certainly return
J to England at once" the letter
concluded, and by way of disa-
greement / muttered an oath. |
drank the remains of the liquor
In a tankard which stood on the
rough table beside me, and stared
out of the open door across the
barrack yard.
4 In the covered way along the
opposite wall, score or more of
men were gaming and drinking,
laughing or cursing as the cards
or the dice fell in their favor or
otherwise. They were goddess
crew, recruited from almost every
capital in Europe. So, long as a
man had the physique for the
work, few questions were asked
when he joined the Kings Guard.
1t was company of broken-down
gentlemen, spendthrifts. ne'er-do-
wells, and criminals who had fled
from justice. oh. / sat in no harsh
judgment on these fellows; how
could I? I was one Of the Kings
Guard myself.
This letter, with It's advice to
return at once. raked up the
ashes of sordid story which
shall not find repetition here.
Enough that there was a woman
in the background. and for her
sake l was silent. Wandering
abroad, l drifted into SAKE Old
enburg, to Dravestadt, the capt.
tai, and become Trooper Hesel-
ton of the Kings Guard.
Suddenly there was a roar of
laughter mingled with oaths in
the yard. Then came a girls cry,
and slipping the letter into my
pocket, | went out.
In the midst of dozen men
was girl.some serving wench.
She was struggling to keep rude
hands from flinging back the
hood which concealed her face.
THE toll is a kiss for every
man who thinks you worth It,"
shouted a great German.
| Stand back!" l shouted, run
ming across the yard.
She's our prize, and I'll have
my kiss" said Frencbamn with
an oath.
! Discipline was not easily en-
forced in the Guard, and except
on duty, the men showed small
respect for an officer. I used
the only argument which | knew
would be effectual and knocked
the man down.
i You are fool to come here"
| said to the girl, as she walked
beside me towards the gate. "Why
did you Gomez"
am new to Dravstadt.
thought | could reach the palace
this way"
THE palace"
Bitter experience had made me
distrust all women, but this girl
puzzled me. | noted her feet as
she walked beside me. There II
much character in a foot The
girls were as dainty turned as
any man could wish to see. | had
had no glimpse of her face. she
had contrived to hold the hood of
her cloak SO closely about her.
We had passed out OF the yard
and had turned into an alley be-
tween two high walls. the bar
racks on one side of us, the King s
garden on the other.
There is small door I can
open for you. l have the key"
You must be a person of some
Importance to be entrusted with
Key into the Kings private gar
den."
An officer in the Guard, that
is all. This is the door," con-
tinued, fitting the key into the
lock. II have no right to open 1t
for such as you. SO a still tongue
may save me from censure pres
emily"
Il shall be dumb. An officer in
the Guard might reasonably con-
slider a serving maid fair quarry,
especially when he had just res
cued her from insult. She thanks
you for your courtesy. II you
will. you may kiss her hand"
l laughed at her impudence,
but swept the hat from my head
and raised her hand to my lips.
i She ran lightly along the gar
den path. not hesitating which
way she should take. Evidently
she knew the Kings garden well.
/ closed and locked the door.
"You should certainly return
at once" The sentence was in my
brain as l went slowly back to the
barracks, but the call was not SO
strong as 1t had been an hour
ago. l was suddenly aware that
/ wanted to remain in Dravstadt.