The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-03-07

either to marry your young man down
at Bath, or to have a sweetheart Of
your own, a companion, some one
quite different"
"How differentT
someone who cared for you as you
deserve to be cared for, and whom
you cared for. too"
II cannot take these things as light
ly as used to-" she answered little
sadly. "Something has come over me
lately-I don't know what 1t is-but
I seem to have lost my taste for fir
tations. John. don't look up. don't
turn roundi I have been afraid Of
the prince all the evening. When you
came in, fancied that you had been
drinking. When the prince asked me
something about you, an hour or 80
ago, / knew that he had. I saw him
like 1t once before. about year ago.
Don't take any notice of himl 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. bis 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 and distinguished.
He came to q standstill beside them.
sophy's fingers clutched at the table
cloth. The prince looked from one to
the other.
"You have robbed me of a guest,
Mr.. Strangewey," he remarked: "but I
bear you no ill-will. 1t is very seldom
that one sees you In these haunts Of
dissipation"
"It is a 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-peA and filling a
tumbler upon the table. swish me
luck. won't yous I am engaged to
be marriedr
81 wish yUu happiness with all my
heart" the prince answered, holding
his ,c:ass up. MAY I not know the
ns,he Of the lady7"
"No doubt you are prepared for the
news" John told him. Miss Maurel
has promised to become my wife"
The princes hand was as steady as
q rock. He raised his glass to his lips.
IT drink to you both with the great
est of pleasure" he said, looking John
full in the face. ut Is most remark
able coincidence. Tonight is the an
niversary of the night when Louise
Maurel pledged herself to me-"
Johns frame seemed for a moment
to dilate, and fire flashed from his
eyes.
"wIn you be good enough to explain
those words1" he demanded.
The prince bowed. He glanced to-
ward Sophy.
"Since you insist r. he replied. ITO
night, then, let me tell you. Is the an
niversary Of the night when Louise
Maurel consented to become my"
What followed came like 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 of his feet
as one might lift q child from the
floor. Holding his helpless victim IN
a merc;less grip. he carried him across
the room and deliberately dung him
over the table toward his empty chair.
Sophy held John by the arm, clutch
ins 1t hysterically, striving to drag