Show A Story ry TRUXTON KING By of seo Geo Barr arr Graustark Copyright 1905 1909 by George Barr McCutcheon McGutcheon Copyright 1909 by Dodd Mead Head Mc d I Co C. C CHAPTER m. m III Continued She was Ica taming leading ins toward him her herlands lands hands on the counter a a peculiar gleam in her dark which eyes eyes which now for tho the first time struck him as rather ratter more moro keen and penetrating than ho had suspected sus peeled before I I simply want to toll toU you Mr Kin King that unless you OU really expect to buy this sword it is not wise wise in you to make mako it an excuse for coming comins hero dear I IMy I- I My My young youn lady My My Mr uncle has nas as a queer conception of the tho proprieties Ho lIo Hoy may think that you yon como como come to see sec me mc A radiant smile taped leaped into her face transforming its f strange sombreness into absolutely imp imp ish ih mirth WeH Well hang it all aUt he lie cant can't object to that can he hot Besides I never buy without ha haggling ho expostulated suddenly exhilarated ho know not why Dont Don't Dm t como come in hero unless you expect ex ex- expect to buy she said serious in an instant It isn't the custom in Eidel Eidel- weiss Young men may chat with shop girls all aU the tho world over over but but in In Edelweiss Edelweiss Edel Edel- weiss no unless no-unless unless tho they come como to pa pay most honorable court to thorn thom My J-Iy uncle un un- uncle i cle would not understand I III take tako it however howe that you would understand understand ho he said boldly I I havo lived Jived in Vienna in Paris and in London But now I am Rm livin living in Edelweiss Edelweiss I t have not been beon a shop shopS girl giro irl always L I can n believe that M My deductions are justified Pray tray forgive mo me for offering this bit of advice A word to the wise wise My undo uncle would close the door in your fa face o if-if if if if-if if if he thought thought- I III I se see 1 Well ell Ill I'll buy the blooming sword Anyhow that's what I came in forNo for 71 i No Wo You came in because I smiled d I at you from the window upstairs It Itis I IB is mv my sitting room Why did dia you smileY smile Tell TeU met met meta eagerly a erly It was nature asserting itself You mean moan you just couldn't help it precisely what I r mean lot ot very vory Id I'd sa say A A smile is over evor a compliment sir 71 I say do you know you interest me rael ho he began warmly but she put hc her fin finger finger- er to her hor lips My My uncle is returning I must not talk to you any longer er She Sho glanced uneasily out upon the tho square and then thon hurrie hurriedly y added a a certain wistfulness in her voice and eyes I couldn't help it t today I forgot my place But you aro are the first gentleman Ivo Ive spoken to since sinco I came camo here hore I Ii i i I I 1 I was afraid you Jou might think I J I am not a gentleman I Ive I've vo been rather fresh I II I happen to have o known many gen gen- gen sen Before I went into into service service of course She turned away abruptly a sudden shadow crossing her face ace Truxton Kin King exulted At last Jast ho was was touching the long on sou sought ht trail of th the Golden Goldon Girl Hero was Romance Hero was mystery was crossing crossin tho the sidewalk The American American leaned forward and half whispered Just Just watch me buy that broadsword I mays may in time buy buyout out the piece by bv piece pieta She smiled swiftly Let Let mo me warn Dont Don't his price yon pay ay J Thanks When e entered tho the door a a. moment moment mo mo- ment later tho the girl Jirl was gazing listlessly listlessly list list- lessly from the window and Truxton n King KinS was loaning leaning against tho the counter with his back toward her hor his arms folded and a most impatient frown on onlie his lie faco face Hello he said gruffly Ive 10 been waiting ten minutes for you black eyes shot from oneto ono one onoto onoto to the other What do you Jou want he demanded sh sharply As ho dropped 11 his Lis is hat upon a stool near the tho door his glance lance a again ain darted from tho the thoman man to the girl Sirl and back again aJain Tho broadsword And sa say Bay Mr you JOU mi might ht assume a a different fono tono ono in addressing me Im I'm a customer not a be beggar ar The girl rl left tho window and walked slowly to tho the roar r roar ar of the tho shop passing passin through the tho narrow door without so 50 much as a glance at Kin King or tho old ma man was silent until ahe sho was was I gone one x You want the broadsword eh gh h he I asked moderating his to tono no bly Its a rare old old old- Ill give ivo you a hundred dollars dollars- not another cent interrupted Kin King not yet over his resentment There Thera fol lowed a lon long and irritating argument argument- at tho conclusion of which Mr Kin King became the possessor of tho weapon at at athis his own price in time he fell to admiring some soma old rings and bracelets in in a cabinet near by thus paving tho the way for future visits Ill como come in again ho he said indi- indi But you are aro leaving tomorrow sir II Ive Ive Ivo chan changed ed my mind You You are arc not going I Not for a fow low d days vs Then Then you have havo c discovered something some some- thin thing in Edelweiss to attract you you grinned the old I thou thought ht you yu might Ive had a glimpse of the tho swells my good friend Its Its It's all tho the good you'll got tet of ot it said itt S pants gruffly I I dare daresay say you youre you're re ri right ht Clean that sword up a bit for me and nd Ill I'll drop in tomorrow and got of it H. Here's Heres 60 to bind tho the bargain The Tho rest reston reston reston on deliver delivery Good day Mr Good Good day ay Mr King How do you happen to know my name barnot put his hand over oyer his heart and delivered himself of a most impressive impressive im bow When BO so distinguished a a. visitor comes to our little city ho maid laid wo swo lose loso no time timo in discovering his his' name It is a part of our trade trado lir k ir believe me mc Im Im not so euro Buro that I do believe yOU you said Baid Truxton King KinS to himself as as he be sauntered up tho the street toward the hotel Tho The girl irl knew me too now not that I come to think of it Hoi hol B By By- Jove I d do hope I can work up a n little tittle something to interest Hello interest Hollo I Mr Hobbs from Cooks Cook's was at his elbow his eyes glistening wi with th eagerness eager eager- ness f r I say old is waiting for forY foro Y o at the sir sir Wot's Wats up Opt Wot of Y u been up to air sir II Up V Jj tot Up to Hobbs Hobbs f T My y word words sir sir YOU you must havo have been beon or or- orho he ho wouldn't t bo be there to see Gee you Who Who is Dan loss r I Minister of police police bavent haven't I told you r Hes He's a keen one too take tako my word for it Ho He's Hes s 's got Jot Sherlock Holmes boat a a. mile So So have havo I Hobbs Im I'm not slow at let me tell you tell you that How do you ou i know he lies he's s 's waiting to see seo me mo I II f I I heard him ask for you And I Iwas Iwas was there thero just now when ono one of hi himen his men camo came in in and told him you were worl on your your way up from the tho down there So they they they're ro watching me mo oh ch 1 t Gad Gac this this' is fine Ho lost no time timo in getting to toy tho the ho ho- tel A well remembered fierce lookin looking little man in a whito linen suit was wa waiting for him on the great piazza B Baron ron Dan loss was a a. polite polito man but not to tho the point of nation Ho advanced advance t to meet the tho puzzled puzzled American smiling amiably and twirling his imposing with neatly gloved loved fingers I havo have called Mr King to havo have havea a little chat with you about your father fath er or ho said abruptly Ho lie enjoyed tho the look of surprise on the young mans man's face faco My Iy father murmured Truxton catching catchin his breath Ho lie was shaking hands with the tho baron all the whilo starin staring blankly into his twinkling snapping snapping snap snap- pin ping eyes eyeR Wont Won't you join mo me at this table tablet tabletA t A julep will not not not bo be bad oh eh f t King sat sat down opposite to him at ut ono one of the piazza tables in tho the shado shade of the great trailing vines Fine was his only comment commont A walt waiter r took the order and de do- parted The baron produced his cigarette cigarette ciga ciga- rette case King King- carefully selected one ODe and tapped its tip on tho back of his handIs hand Is has Is has to anything happened m mv my father t he asked quietly Bad Dad news t On uOn the contrary s sir 1 he is quite well I had a cable cablegram ram from him to to- day dav u A A cablegram ram t 1 Yos Yes I cabled day before beloro yesterday yesterday yester- yester day ay to ask if he could toll tell me the whereabouts of his son Tho deuce you yon say lit He He replies that you ou are in Teho- Teho ran an What is the meaning of this b baron gront ron 1 It is a habit abit I have havo I make it a practice to keep in touch with the tho movements ments of our guests I sec see You want to know all about mo me why Im I'm here where I camo came from and nd all nIl that Well Well Im I'm ready for tho the sweat box Pro Pray do not take offense It is my rule rulee It t would not be bo altered if the kin ting king of En England land came Ah here are aro the tho ho juleps Quick service eh ch cht 1 Remarkably so FO duo to your powers of f persuasion T I I fancy I I really reany ordered them n. n few mins min min- ut tes s before you ou arrived You see sec I Iwas Iwas Iwas' Iwas was was' quito quite certain you'd oud havo have one You lou take ono one about this hour every da day By Jove you have been beon watching mol mel mot cried Truxton Truxton delightedly What are aro you doin doing in E Edelweiss Mr fro King asked tho the baron abruptly but nit not peremptorily n an and ana in search of adventure ad ad- venture II was the prompt response response I I fancied as much Youve You've seen quito a bit of the world since you left homo home omo two years ago on tho the of September By IBy Jove Been Deen to South Africa Asia and and and- South America America to to say nothing of Eu Eu- rope ope That must havo have been an tn exciting little episode in South America America You dont don't to mean say say- say Oh Oh I know all about your participation pation tation in the tho revolution down there thore You were a captain I understand during dur- dur in ing ng tho the three weeks of disturbance Splendid For the tho fun of tho the thin thing I Is s suppose Well VeIl I like it in you ou I should hould have havo dono done it myself And you got ot out of the tho country Justin ustin time if I remember rightly There hore was a price placed on your h head d by tho the distressed government I imagine they would lavo avo- shot you if if- the they havo cau caught ht you as as the they they did did the others The old man chuckled You dont don't expect to return to South America Americ do you 1 Tho The price rice is still offered you oU know Kin King was glar glaring DS at him in sheer Here was as an episode in his life ife that ho fondly hoped mi might ht never come ome to light he know how it would disturb his mother And this foxy old fellow ellow away off hero here heroin in Graustark kno know enow all about it Well el youre you're a wonder in pure admiration t I An An ap appreciated compliment I assure assure asuro as as- sure sure uro you This his is all in the way of letting let let- et tin ting ing you rou know that we wo havo bavo fou found out something c concerning your our movements Now to come d down wn to tho the present You expected to leave leavo tomorrow Why are aro re you staving over Baron Daron 1 leave leavo that to your own dis- dis tin powers of deduction said Truxton ruxton gently Ho ITe took a lon long pull at atho tho ho straw watching tho the others other's f face ace eo as ho 10 did so BO so Tho baron smiled You You have found the young youn lady to tobe tobo bo be attractive observed the 0 yeI very very baron Where havo known cro you her before I be beg pardon It is not unusual for a young youn man manin manin mann in in n search of adventure to follow tho lady ady of his choke choice from place laco to place She came camo but recently I recall You You think I knew her before and followed her to Edelweiss 7 I I am Bm not Quito sure Euro whether you have boon in Warsaw lately latch There Thero is a aap agap agap gap ap in your movements that I cant can't account account ac ac- ac count for Kin King became serious at onto once He lIe saw that hat it was best to be frank with this ke keen coon old man J Baron Dan loss I 1 dont don't know just what you are drivIng at but Ill I'll sot set YOU rou straight so far as Im I'm concerned T 1 never nover saw that girl until the day before before be boo fore foro yesterday I never to her until until today I She Sho She smiled o on you quito familiarly familiar from rom her window windo casement yesterday said coolly She She laughed at me to bo ho perfectly candid But what's all this about 1 t Who is shot she What's the tho game I dont don't mind confessing that I have a feeling sho is not what she sho claims to be bo but that's as far as asIve Ive I've got studied the young mans man's faco face for a n moment and then came to a sudden decision Ho leaned forward and smiled sourly Take Tako my advice do not play with fire fire ho said enigmatically You you You You-you you mean she's a dnn dangerous erous person r I cant can't believe that baron She Sho has Ens dan dangerous erous friends out in inthe the tho world I T dont don't mean to say she will cause you you any trouble here here but bu there thero is a hereafter Mind you Im I'm not saying Baying sho she isn't a good girl or even an adventuress On the contrary she comes of an c excellent family familY In m fact there thero wore noblemen amon among them a generation or two a ago o You know her name No I say this is petting interesting interest interest- in ing ingi t He was beaming She She is Olga a Platanova Her HAr mother was married in this city twenty five years years' Bare ago aJo to Professor Platanova o of Warsaw arsaw The professor was last year for conspiracy Ho He was one of tho the leaders of a great eat revolutionary ro movement in in Poland They wore virtually vir vir- anarchists as you have havo come to place them in America This girl rl Olga a was his secretary His death almost almos almon killed het her But that is not all She Sho had a sweetheart up to fifteen months a ago o. o He Ho was a n prince of the tho roya royal blood Ho He would havo married her in spite of the tho difference in their stations station had bad it not been for the tho intervention o othe of the crown that she and her kind hate hato so well well The young youn mans man's powerful relatives too took a hand in in the tho affair Ho He was compelled d to marry a scrawny little lit lit- tle duchess and Olga was as as warned that tha if attempted to entice him away from his wife wito she sho would 1 be ie punished She Sh did not attempt it because she is a virtuous girl girl of of of that I am sure But Bu slip sho ho hates them all all oh oh bow how she fihe hates them hem Hor uncle offered offered her a home omo Sho came camo hero nero a a. month ago spirited broken and sick So far ar s she sho phe ha has ia been exceedingly hr respectful to our pur laws Jaws aws It is i inot not that hat we fear anything front from rom her but that wo we aro are obliged ed tp watch her for tho the benefit of our big brother across tho the border Now you ou know why I advised you to let the tho firo fire lone alone King was silent for a moment turning turn turn- in ing ng something over in his head Baron are aro you O 1 suro sure that sho she is s a ared arod |