Show A A Story of TR TRUXTON KING I By Geo Barr Gr a as lark Copyright ht 1909 b by George Gcorge Barr McCutcheon 1909 b by Dodd Mead M ad Co Co CHAPTER IV Truxton Trespasses He went to bcd bed that night tired an nd I happy To hs revived rc spirits and hi h his his' new Dew attitude toward life in its preset present tate state the city cit had suddenly turned ga gand gay and nd vivacious vivacious Twice during the evering ever even jn ing ho he passed 5 shop hop It It w ws was dark upstairs and arid down Ho wondered if unhappy Olga was looking a at him hm from behind b the OJa darkened shutter But even if she sho vero not not not-la la la Ia II H le leWS was WS h haying having a good time He le was gay gayHe Jale Ja Ho He le was pretty prett women omen in th the cafes and the gardens Well well h he would see seo her tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow after after that h li bo would give Sf ive proper heed to the baron barons warning warin 1 An anarchists anarchist's daughter r I IHo Ho slept well wel too with wih never ne a thou thought ht of the Saturday express be he had laid awake on other nights t ti to lament and Bright ani an and early in the tho morning mornin be he was asti astr Somehow ho he felt he ho had b been en too much of if l late There was a in his eves a abe aho as ho be struck out across town after nr break ak fast ast He burst in upon Mr Hobbs a at Cook Cooks s Sat Hobbs how ho about the tho castl caste today today today-an m an hour say sal Can you taka tak take a party narty of one rubb rubbernecking this a a. a mT rf 1 like you OU Hobbs You aro are tin the b best st interpreter of English Ive I've 1 ye c eve cr r seen uen I cant can't help understanding you no DO matter how hard I try not to J want you to get et me mo into the tho caste grounds rounds jou toda today and show mo inc wh where re th tho duchesses and tho the countesses cavort Im I'm ashamed to say it Hobbs but since Im yesterday Ive I've quito quie lost interest in terest in tho the middle classes and the the th component parts thereof I have suddenly acquired a thirst for cham chain p in other words I have havo a hankering han kerin oring kering for the nobility Catch the thc ideal idea Good Then you'll guide mo me into tho the land of tho the fairies fines fines' At Ill take you to the castle caste grounds rounds Mr r Il Kin King all ni right enough sir and I Ill I'll Ill tell tel you ou all al the things of interest but butIl Ill I'll Il be DO sir if Ive I've got the blooming nerve nero to introduce you ou to the tho first ladies of tho the land That's more moreth th than in I can over opo ope to do do sir sir and and and- i Lord rArd bless bles you Jou Hobbs dont don't look BO so depressed I I dont don't ask you rou to present pre sent fent mo me at court I just want to look at tho the lilacs lacs and tho tim gar gargoyles oyles That's That 8 as far as 8 I expect to carry my invasion of the dream world I Of course coure sir you ou understand there thero aro are certain cerain parts part of tho the park prk not open to the public Tho The grotto roto and tho the play i grounds and tho the basin basl of Venus Venus- Venus Ill 11 not trespass so dont don't fd fidget c Hobbs Bobbs Ill I'll 11 be bo hero for you OU at 10 f Mr Hobbs looked after tho the vigorous yi orous I f happy figure as a it swung down the street and ana shook his head mournfully Turning to tho the solitary clerk who dawdled daw daw- dIed behind tho the cashiers cashier's desk he remarked remarked re re- re- re marked marke wont with more moro feeling than was his Hes just the kind of chap to pet get me me- into no end of trouble if I give Jio im TO rope rone 0 enough h. h Take Tako it from me me Stokes Ill I'll If have m my hands full ful of im up there thero this morning moring He's Hes charged tko like liko a soda sod t I bottle botto and you ou never ne know wot's going going go go- oin o- o in ing to happen unless you ou handle handlo a soda bottle botte very er careful Truxton hurried to the square and across it to tho shop of tho the not ot forgetting or however howe er to look aboul about in somo some anxiety for the excellent Dan Dan- gloss Closs who ho might for all al ho know knew bo be in tho neighborhood was at the rear of tho the shop talking to a customer The Tho girl gir was behind the counter coun coun- ter dressed for lor the street She Sho came quickly out ont to him a disturbed disturbed disturbed dis dis- dis- dis expression in n her face As he be doffed his hat tho the smie left lef his lips he be saw that she sho had been weeping You saw must not come hero here Mr r. r Kin King she said said hurriedly in low tones Take your broadsword this this' morning and and please please for m my sake do not conic como again I I-I I I may not explain why I am aRin asking askin you to do this but I mean it for your good more than for m my own M My undo will wi be out in a a moment He lie unco knows you aro are here Ho He is listening now to catch cath what hat I am an saying t to you Smile Smie please or he will wi suspect suspect suspect-J See Sec here demanded King smiling but very orv much in earnest up up Youve You've been been crin crying What's ho been a a- a doin doing or saying sayin to you OU f Ill I'll Il give J 0 him hima No uNo no not nol Be Bo sensible It I is nothing nothing noth noth- ing In which vou you could po possibly take a hand I dont don't know you OU Mr Ir King but I am in earnest earnest- when I f say sa that it itis itis itis is not safe for lor you ou to come hero here ostensibly ostensibly osten osten- sibly to bu buy It I is too easily seen through through through-it it it is- is is isI Just a minute please please he inter inter- Ive Ivo heard your stor story from Baron It I has appealed to me mc You aro are not happy Are Aro you on in trouble Do you need happ friends Miss Platano a 7 It I is because you would bo be a friend frend that I ask to You you ou stay awa away cannot cannot can can- not Dot be ba my ray friend But I know know know-I I know v men Mr King Kin The baron has hns told you ou all nI about me met f She Sho smiled sadly Alas Atas he has only told you Ol what he lie knows But it should bo be sufficient There Thero is no no place in m my life for you ou or any any anyone one ono else There never can be bo So 80 you see you ou may not develop our your r romance ro- ro mance manco with me rue as tho the foundation foundton Ob Oh Db Ive I've heard of your our quest of at adventure I like liko you ou for i. i it I 1 had bad an imagination imagination tion ton myself once on a time I loved th tho fairy fair books and the love tales But Butot at ot now now not not now There Thero is no ro ro- co ce for me Nothing but grave ra e real real- It W. W en Do not question que tol met I can say sav sa sayo no o more Now I must bo bi h gone one I I 1 1 I have e warned you ou Do not come a again ain Thanks for tho warning he ho said quietly But I expect to come in occasionally oc just the same Youve You've You vo taken the wron wrong tack by trying tr to ta frighten mo rue off of You ro sec sec M iss liss Platanova Im I'm Im actually looking for something dan dangerous danger danger- er ous-if ous ous it that's what you OU mean That isn't all al believe beleve me me she pleaded You can gain ain nothing by coming coining coming You know who I am I cannot bo be a friend nat friend not frend-not not oven even an acquaintance to t you to you Mr King Goodbye Good Please do donot not como come a again ain I She slipped into the street and was wa gone one King stood in the tho doorway looking look look- ln ing ng after aft r her a puzzled gleam glea in in 1 his eyes eyes Old Od was coming up from the rear followed b by his customer Queer 1 thought tho American changed her h r tactics t rather sud and denly deny Smiled at me mc in the be beginning inning and cries 4 a bit because Im I'm I m trying to return the compliment Well Vell b by by the L Lord rd Harry HarD she oho alan shan shan't shant t scare me of oft of like Hello Mr r. r Good morning Im I'm here bere for the sword The old man man glared i at him in urmia displeasure Truxton began 1 counting out his money The Tho customer a swarthy fellow passed out of the tho thedoor door turning to glance dance intently at the young man A meaning look took and a sly 61 nod pa passed std between him and The man halted hale nt ot tho the corner corer below beloW I and later on on followed Kin King to Cooks Cook's office afterward to tho the castle cute Rates gates outside of which ho be waited until his quarry uary reappeared Until Kin King went to tobed tobed I bed ed late lae that night this swarthy fellow was ws close at his heels always alwa's swarthy keeping well wel out of li sight sigh ht himself Ill 11 como come in soon toon to look took at those rn rings ings said King iCing placing the notes on oil the counter merely merel nodded raked in tho Jho bills bis without counting them ant an passed the tho sword over oyer to the purchaser Very lVery good sir ho growled a moment I II I hato hate to carry this awful thin through tho the streets carr said King looking look op ing in at the tho huge hu 0 weapon with des airn eye Inwardly he was cursing for his extravagance and cupidity It belon friend Tak I belong to you Jou m my it or leave it Ill Il take tako tko i. i it it i. i said Truxton indulgently With that he picked u uthe up the weapon and stalked awa away A few minutes later he was on hi lii hiway his way a to the tho castle castlo casto grounds n by b the short legged c Mr lr Hobbs who from time to time was ws forced to remove ro re ro move mo his tight lilting fitting cap c to map a hot po exasperated brow so o swift was the pac set by long legs Jeg The Tho broadsword reposed reposed re posed calmly on a desk under tho the nos nose of a properly impressed young peron named Stokes cashier Hobbs led him through tho great pan park parl gates and up to the tho lodge x of f Jacol Jacob tho the venerable high steward ol oi of tho the grounds Here to Kings King's uter utter disgust dis gust he was booked as a a. a plain Cooks Cook Just tourist and m mechanically advised ad to pa strict attention to the tho rules which nies would bo ho explained to him him by the guide gide Cooks tourist t eh 1 muttered Kin King Kinf wrath wrathfully as they ambled down the thc ful shad shady path to together eth r. r He lie looked with will disparaging c eye e upon the tho plain little chap beside him chap Its no disgrace dis growled Hobbs redder than ever raco Youre inside the tho grounds rounds and youve you've go got to obey the rules same as ns an any tourist Jot Right this thu wa way sir well we'll wel t take tako ke a turn tur just inside tho wall wal Now on your left ladies and ahem I ahem I should say say ahem s ir you ou OU OUma may maj ma see tho the first turret ever evor built on the he wall wal It I is over o years Jears old On the tho ho right we wc have have have- ha c Seo here Hobbs said King Kin stopping stop stop- pin ping ling short short Im Im I'm damned if Ill I'll IJ let you ou lecture mo mc as if I were a gang of hayseeds ha hay seeds from Oklahoma Vcr Very good sir No offense I quite sir for forgot ot sir Just tell tel me me-don't me don't dont lecture I For three quarters of an hour they wandered through h tho the spacious grounds never nover drawing dr closer to the tho castle castlo than permitted h by the tho restrictions always comin coming oming up to the broad driveway owa dr which marked tho the border line lino lne never nover passing i It Tho The gorgeous beauty of this his his- li- li one oric old park so full fun of traditions and ho the lore loro of centuries wrought strange fancies and bold hold inclinations in the heal of the audacious visitor Ho lie felt tho ho bonds of restraint he ho resented the irksome chains of convention he ho mur- mur mu against th the tho laws that said he ho honk not step across the granite tanio road nto into tho the cool forbidden world beyond beyond- he the world of kings kin s. s Hobbs knew he was vas doomed to havo hao rebellion on his hands before lon long ho could e see sec it com corn in ng When weve we've seen tho the royal rOJal stables well havo have seen everything of an any he hastened to say Then well we'll wel leave by tho the upper gates and and- nd Hobbs this is iR all al very beautiful and nd Lad ver very grand and vcr very slow said Kin ting ing stopping to lean a against tho the moss moss- covered wall al that encircled tho the park a park the tho adjoining tho lie ho grotto roto Cant I hop over this wall wal and nd take a peep into tho the grotto B By no means n cried Hobbs horri horn fed led ed Th That t sir is tho most proscribed sp pot t. t next to the tho castle caste itself You ant cant go in there Kin King looked over tho the low 10 wall wI The Tho was alluring Tho The pool tho the rickling rivulets tho the mossy banks the lense shadows it was maddening to think hink h he could not enter enter I wouldn't be in there a minute he e argued And And I might catch a of oC a dream lad lady Now I say say lobos Hobbs heros hero's a low place I E could coul jump jump- ump ump ump- Mr rr King if i you OU do that I am lined n forever I am trusted by the tho toward stoward He would cut off of all an my l es- es Hobbs could go no further luther He Ic c was agha aghast JO t. t Something old told him that Mr King would hop over tho ho 10 wall wan Just this once Hobbs pleaded plead d his hischar char barge e. e No N q one will it know For For the lovo love of Moses sir I I- I Hobbs or began to wail wai Then he hl groaned in in n dismal bEJan horror King had vaulted tho the wan wall and was grinning back at t him from the sacred precincts precincts from from from the tho ho playground of princesses Go and r report me me Hobbs theres there's a good follow fellow Tell Ten tho the guards I wouldn't ob obe boy y That will wi let you jOU out my m boy and nd Ill I'll II do the tho rest For heavens heaven's sake Hobbs dont don't burst burst You'll Youn explode sure suro if you hold in like liko that much longer Ill I'll be bo back in a min minute minte e. e He lie strode oft off of across tho the bright bri ht green reen turf toward the tho source of all an this en en- leaving poor Mr Hobbs braced against the tho wall wal weak kneed and nd helpless 8 If I he heard tho the frantic thou though hough h subdued whistles and the agonized agon- agon aJon- aJon zed hi hit of tho the man from front Cooks Cook's a minute hi or two later ho he Jave gave no heed to the ic warning A glimpse behind chind might have havo lave shown him the error eror of his ways reflected in tho the disappearance o ot of Hobbs Hobbs' head bead ead below the tho top of the tho wall But Dut ut ho he was looking lookin ahead lead drinking drinkin in inao in tho ao forbidden beauties of this fascinating in ing ng little nook of of nature Never in his wanderings had he looked er upon a more inviting spot than this jis He came to the edge of tho the deep buo luo pool above which could bo be seen been the ic entrance to the grotto Little Lite riv riv- lets danced lanced down through tho the cran cran- I nies ies in tho rocks and leaped joyously into nto tho the tree shaded pool Below an anto and ana to tho the right were the tho famed basins of Venus ronus shimmering in the sunlight flanked b by trees and banks of the tho softest soft soft- est cst st green On their surface swam the great black swans he ho had heard so about Through T rou h. h a wide rift if in iJ 1 the tho no trees ho be could see seo the tho great grey castle astle caste half a mile mie away towering against the dense greens reens of tho nearby neary near near- by y mountain The picture took tok his breath away awa He forgot forgot Hobbs Ho forg t that he be was trespassing Here at t last was the te Graustark ho hn had bad seen seenI in n his dreams had bad como come to feel in in his |