Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-04-27
The Kidnapped
Princess
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By DOROTHY WHITcoMB

plorers," said Randolph at the club
"She has left on a three years trip
through Central Arabia, and expects
to emerge from the desert near Bag
dad at the end of that period. 1t will
be remembered that her divorce from
the prince of Vessel, after four years
of married life made much CONVERSE
ton at the courts of Europe last sum-
mer."
That's interesting" put Ia Bruce.
81 didn't know princesses were hui
man enough to be granted divorces.
BY the way, what's become of Gardi-
ner"
"What has become of Gardiner
asked somebody else.
ave seen him." said little Jim
Barnes. "But either he has failing
eyesight or he is living incog. just
now. saw him stepping out Of an
auto in front Of house in Yonkers,
where l happened to be last week.
Ordinary house, ordinary auto, but the
lady he was with-say! She was a
sumner. Black, flashing eyes, and
such an air. I'd know her anywhere
In ten years time"
speaking Of Gardiner" said Treve-
than, I'm going to tell you fellows
something. AS you know, Gardiner
and went to Europe together some
five years ago. We stopped at lit
tie hotel in Spa. There were some in
teresting people at our hotel. One Of
them was Belgian countess-at least,
so she called herself.
II don't know how Gardiner struck
up an acquaintance with her, but be-
fore week was out she and he were
always together, walking in the
woods, listening to the band, or sit
ting outside the casino side by side.
I'VE three were sitting out in front
of the hotel. could see the countess
big eyes, fixed on Gardeners; could
see the tremulous nuttering of her
heart under her corsage.
81 made some trivial excuse and
rose, promising to be back in half an
hour or so. | took n few turns up
and down the open space in front Of
the hotel; and then a big, burly man
dressed like an officer and accOmpa-
MED by two smaller men, also in uni
form, came out of the hotel and
walked straight toward Gardiner and
the countess.
IT looked round after them. At the
sight of the big, burly man the count
ess seemed to grow pale as death.
She rose to her feet. Gardiner rose
also, but / could see he had no ink
ling of the situation. Then. in the
twinkling of an eye, the big man
raised her in his arms and ran back
with her through the hotel dining
room, carrying her as though she had
/ been bag of feathers.
"Of course Gardiner went after her.
But the two men who had been with
the big man cOntrived to get in his
way and trip him, so that when at
last we reached the hotel door togeth-
err there was no sign of an automo-
bile or Of the countess. The maid had
vanished, and the proprietor seemed
quite indignant when I questioned him
about the kidnapping, and accused me
Of being inebriated.
Gardiner spent the night rushing
about the streets, in the wild hope
that the countess was being held.
"On the lowest step of the hotel
Gardiner and found a lady'S visit
ing card. 1t had evidently dropped,
or had been thrown there by intent
as the girl was being carried out of
the hotel. On it was engraved the
name of the lady who is now, or was
till recently, Princess Beatrice of Lux
emburg
$50 Gardiner had the clue, but that
was all. went with him to Luxem-
burg and we stood before the big, old
fashioned palace of the, ruler, and
watched the sentry walking up and
down with his rife over his Shout
der. Not much use trying to get past
himi
eve spent, I think, three days in
this sort of nonsense, and then we
read in the newspapers that the prin-
cess was living in seclusion at the
court of Vessel, paying visit to the
mother of the young prince whom, 1t
was rumored. she was to marry. Next
day the engagement was announced.
That day we left for America"
HE never got over It," Trevethan
continued. II am sure that he was
in love with her all the time. l know
that about the time Of her marriage
he went big game stalking In the
Rockies without guide, and was
away for months, living in complete
solitude. However. II you really saw
him in Yonkers--but ! guess you were
mistaken, Jimmy. Gardiner isn't the
sort Of man to 60 to Yonkers. He
hates the suburbs. Unless he was
making call there. By the
way, I'd like to see that piece about
the princess In the newspaper"
Somebody picked it up and handed
It to him, and Trevethan read it.
swell, she still has the travelling
instinct" he said, "and If she eludes
fhn he dofflu cha ol,,sJo,l 49,