The Washington times., 1919-01-20

n
% the information that he was an
underkeeper at the castla. Il was
a busy time for them. he told ma.
as four big shoots had been ar
ranged The 1rst was 20 take plaoa
the next day. There were plenty
OF birds. and he thought the Fran
Graftn.s guests ought % be sstts-
fed
L asked him n there va. n Mr.
party staying at the castle Ma
ne told me. only one gentlemsn BE-
sioes the officer billeted there but
a LOT OF people were coming over
Tor the shoot the next dsy. the Of
Ulcers from Cleves and Goch. the
Chief Magistrate from CIevex, ana a
number Of farmers from round
about
Il expect you will IND In. .ol-
oiers billeted at the castle useful al
oeaters," Inquired with aIpurposs.
Fhe man sssented grudgingiy.
Samekeepers are first-lass grumb-
Iers. But the soldiers were not
many. For his part he could do
without them altogether. They were
such terrible poachers 60 have about
the place, he declared But what
they would do for beaters without
them, he didn't know they
were very short OF beaters sss thaf
was a fact
Il am staying at cleyes,- s,td.
ana I'm out OF a job. I am not
lOng from hospital, and they've dis
charged me from the army.
wouldn't mind earning a few ns,k,
as beater. and I'd like to see thu
sport used to do q bit of sboot.
ing myself down. on the Rhins
| where i come FROM
The man shrugged his shoulders
ana shook his head. That's mona Of
my business. getting the beaters to-
getner, he replied. Besides, I shan
nave the head gamekeeper after me
1 go bringing strangers in. -
ordered another drink for both
or US, and won the man round
without much difficulty. He pouch
eo my five mark note and announe-
ed that would manage IL ths
| Frau Grafin was TO see some rnen
who had offered their services an
oeaters after dinner at the castle
that evening. He would take me
along.
Half an hour later I stood. m
one OF a group OF shagTy and be-
oassled rustics, In a big stone
courtyard outside the main entrance
70 the castle. The head gsmekeep-
mustered us with bis eye. ana.
oIooing us follow him. led the way
] under waited gateway through n
2 massive door into a sr,,u Iohh,
which had apparently been burt
INTO the great hall OF the castle, for
1t opened right into Il.
We found ourselves in a snIep6,6
old teudal hall, oar LINED and oab-
raftered, with lines OF dusty bar-
ners just visible in the twilight
reignlng in the upper part of the
vast place. The modern generation
had forborne to desecrate the FIN.
old room with electric IiRht. and
massive silver candIesticks shed s
sort light on the table set at the
Tar end OF the hall. where dinner.
apparently, was just at an end.
Three people were sitting at the
table, a woman at the head. who,
even before j had taken in the de-
talis have just set down. I knew
10 be Monica, though her back was
toward me- On one side OF the
table was a big. heavy man ubor,
] recognized as CIubfoot. On the
other side a pale slip OF a lad in Of
Ulcers uniform with only one arm
Schmalz, no doubt.
n servant said something to No
nlca, who. asking permission OF
her companions by a gesture left
the table and came across the hail
To my surprise. she was dressed IN
deepest black with linen cuffs. Her
face was pale and set, and there
was a look OF fear and suffering in
her eyes that wrunE my very heart.
| had shuhled into the last place
OF the row In which the head keeper
4 ms
word or two to each Of the men.
who shambled Of in turn with low
obeisances. Directly she stopped IN
gront OF me knew she had recoc-
niZed me- felt IL rather, for she
made TO sign-though the time I
had had in Germany had altered nv
appearance, I dare say. and I must
hive looked pretty rough with nv
three days beard and muddy
clothes.
| "Ah," she said. with all her LAM
guor dc grande dame. you are the
man of whom Heinrich spoke You
have just come out OF hospital, I
think"
BEG the Frau Grafin's pardou,-I 7
mumbled out in the thick patois OF
} the Rhine which 7 had learnt AZ
Bonn. '1 served with the Herr Graf
I'm GaIicia. and I thought maybe the
Frau Grafiin o"
She stopped me with q gesture
Herr Doktor!" she called to the
dinner table.
BY jove! this girl had grit her
pluck was splendid.
Clubfoot came stumpfnE over. an
smiles after his food and smoking q
long cigar that smelt delicioua
"F'rau Grafn?" he Queried. gisne-
ing at me.
This is a man who served under
my husband in Galicia He is m
and out of work, and wishes me to
help him. I should wish, therefore.
TO see him in my sitting-room. Il
YOU will allow me. -
But Frau Grafin, most certainly.
There surely was no need
"Johann," Monica called the
servant ] had seen before, take
this man into the sitting-room!"
The servant led the way across
the hall into a snugly furnished IL
brary with, a dainty writing-desk
and pretty-chintz curtains. Monica
followed and sat down at the desk
Now tell me what you wish to