Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-12-27


4 caasse The tAsse thiaQ % 49,
" - ! used q. ~ answered Q ntt1e
saGlV. -6o0et11ag has cone over n
latsly-I doo't know what Il is-Sat
I hem 10 have lost ny taste for 6lf.
tationa John. doa't look up. doat
turn roundi I have been afraid a
the prince an TIE evening. When 20
came In, I fancied that you had beea
drinking. When the prince asked me
something about you. Al hour or 30
ago. ! knew that he had. I saw him
like It ono before. about a year ago.
Don't take any notice of him! Don't
talk to him, II you can at all help It'll"
Toward their table the prince was
slowly making his way. skilfully avoid.
Ing the dancers, yet looking neither
to the right nor to the left. His eyes
were fastened upon John. II he had
been drinking. as SOphy suggested.
there were few signs Of 1t. His walk
was steady: his bearing, as usual, de-
liberate aud distinguished.
He came to a standstill beside them.
Sophy's fingers clutched ut the table
cloth. The prince looked from one to
the other.
"You have robbed me Of a guest,
Mr.. Strangewey." he remarked; "but l
bear you no ill-will. 1t Is very seldom
that M sees you In these haunts of
dissipation"
at is n gala night with me-" John
replied. his tone raised no more than
usual, but shaking with some new
quality. Drink a glass of wine with
me. prince" he invited. taking the
bottle from the ice-pail and filing u
tumbler upon the table. swish me
luck, won't you? am engaged to
be married."
II wish you happiness with all my
heart" the prince answered, holding
his glass up. MAY l not know the
nanle Of the ladyw
mo doubt you are prepared for the
news" John told him. Miss Maurel
has promised to become my wife,"
The princes hand was rs steady as
a rock. He raised his glass to his lips.
II drink to you both with the great
est of pleasure" he said, looking John
full In the face. 1T Is a most remark.
able coincidence. Tonight is the an
ni-ersary of the night when Louise
MuuTel pledged herself to me-"
Johns frame seemed for Il moment
to dilate, and fire flashed from his
eyes.
"Will you be good enough to explain
those words?" he demanded.
The prince bowed. He glanced to-
ward Sophy.
"Since you insist! !" he replied. ITO.
night, then, let me tell you. is the an
niyersary Of the night when Louise
Maurel consented to become my" =
What followed came like a thunder
clap. The prince reeled back, his hand
to his mouth, blood dropping upon the
tablecloth from his lips, where John
had struck him. He made a sudden
spring at his assailant. Sophy, shrek
ing, leaped to her feet. Everyone
else in the place seemed paralyzed
with wonder.
John seized the prince by the throat,
and held him for a moment at arms
length. Then he lifted him off his feet
rs one might lift a child from the
floor. Holding his helpless victim in
a merciless grip, he carried him across
the room and deliberately flung him
over the table toward his empty chair.
Sophy held John by the arm, clutch
ing 1t Historically, striving to drag
him away. But to John the vas
empty. He stood there, a giant, mo-
tionless figure, his muscles still taut,
his face tense, his eyes aflame, glar.
ing down Mt the PROSTATE figure Of
the man on whom he had wreaked the
accumulated fury Of these last days
and weeks of madness.