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Show 9 ! The 1 I Princess j I I Elopes I H By HAROLD McGRATII I BflflJ j Author of B "Tlis Mr on thn Ilox." ff BbH fL - Masks." Etc. 1 m (CoiijrlKlit, I'.vo. iluiiiiD-Jlcrriil 1J Ijfl SYNOPSIS. H Arthur Warrington. Aunrlimi rmimil BBBB In llarsclir-lt, (i-IIh liciw ii-IkiiIui; Oraml BBBBr Duke iitli'iiiilH In form IiIh ni'li'c, I'r.n- BBBB .-ess llllclt'pmlf, In marry I'rlni'i- I)(iipln- BBBB kin n, mi old wlilov.ir. Wlill" riilliiK BBBB liorm'linok In tin- rouiiliy iiIkIU nvnrtnkt'H B lilin mill lif ki'i'Uh hi tiiti imiilut Ioiih In a BBBB illliipMuti-it lien- lie IIiiiIh I'rln- BBH 'mh llllilcKiirili' ami a filenil. Hon. Il.-tty BBH Mourn, of KhkIhixI. Thry ili'lnln lilin to BBH wllncM a mock tnurrliiKn lintui'nn tlin BBH iirliirr-H uml a illsirriiinil iiiiny otlli'ni', BBH Klt'lnlMiik, ilium for tlin purposi1 of foiling BBB thn Km in I illikn. Htclnlioi'k nttcinptH to BBH klHH tlin prllK'i.'S.s nnil ulin Is msi-timl liy BBH Wntrliicton. Hd'lnlioi'lt illmippniiiH fur BBH rooiI. Max Hi'liarfi'iiHti'ln, an olil Aincil- BBB nan friend of Wurilimtnn'H innrlmH llur- BBH fM'lidt. WnrrliiKtun tcilii lilin of tin- pr!n- BBB ri'HH. .SclinrfuiiRli'lii bIiouh Wnrrllislnn BBH a loeknt Willi a tileturc of a unman In- BBH nhlo. It wiih on IiIh nni'lt when he, n a BBI lioy, wan plcki-il tip anil mlnpti'il liv IiIii BBH foster father, wlioso name lie was dwn. BBH, Hp Ix'lltivrH It In lio a plrluio of IiIh BBH mother. Tlin iirnml ilukn iiiiiiciiinri-s to BBH tlio prlncpwt Dial Nhn Ih to marry I topple- BBH. klnn Ihn follnwluir week. Iliultii: a ninrn- BBH Iiiu'h rliln Him plaim to rm n n-. Hhe iiiitIh BBH Ki'liarfiMintcln. tin lliuln a pnrKo Him Hum BBH lrnppd but lines nut lln"ovi't' linr lileti- BBHi 1 1 y. WarrliiKton i'nti tiilnu at a imlilU' BBH rt'Hlauratit for a iiinnlicr of American BBH imilk-iil RtiiilpntB. Max nrrlvcM lain anil BBH ri'lati'H an IntercHtliiK It 1 L of Kosslp to tli effect tliat tlin prlnroHS Iiiih run away fnim llnrm'holt. I In iinwlttliiidy nfft'inl BBH ii native ollli'i't' anil MiliJeelH himself In BBH icrliiln nirinl. M ix Ih pprsinult'il to tako BBH onn of tlir AiihtU mi tit ihIi-iiI'h i ibhmhih BBBfl uml 'wuin. Thn Krnnil iluli" iIIhi'iivith BBBB Hid iHiMipn of tin- prlni'i sh. HIip Innvt-H a BBBB note naylni; hIip Iiiih clopcil. IirfnrlH urn BBBB tiiinln to stop tlin prlni'PHH lit tlin frmit'i r. BBBB Hotly Mourn uhKh for Iipt pistpnrt. Hlin BBBB UHkH WnrrliiKti'ii for nnHlHtiiurn in Innv- BBBB Ini; Iliirnclii lt. ami Invltrn lilin to i nil on BBBB Iiit In litulon. Max lliuln tln prlnrnxM in BBBB thn railway rarrlni;('. Hlin ai-ruxpH lilin BBBB of fnllnwliiK li r. I In n t in iih to linr tlin BBBB inirnn lm liuil foiiml. It contulnci a llioli- BBBB kiiml poumlH In liank iioIch. CHAPTEnlxT-Contlnued. "TniHt mo to Ui'(' Hllrnt, tliun." Ho oontlniicil: "I luivc llvoil a part of my llfo on tho Krvnt pIiiImh; Ikivo rhlilun litirKca for dnyn mill clayu nt n tlmo. An n deputy Hlicrift I lntvo nrrcatutl (k'spernilos. lmvu nhot nml boon shot nt. 'l'hon I wcut cast and entered n Kront rollnge; vont In for ntliletlca, anil woro my Unit dross suit. Then my foster pnrcnt died, leaving mo Ills fortune. And as 1 am fniHiil, possibly liecniiso of my (otinnn origin, I liavo more money than I Know what to do with." Ho censed. "(to on," sho urncd. "When the Spanish war brol;o out I entered a cnvnlry roRlmunt as n troop-t. troop-t. I won rnnt;, but Biirrondorod It Hi after tho battle of Santiago. And now HH thero nro but two thliiRS In tho world I deslro to complete my linpidncss. I want to know who I am." "And the other thing?" "The other thing? I can't tell you that!" hurriedly. "Ah, I believe I know. You havo left omo sweetheart hack In America." All her Interest In his nnrrutlvo took n strnngo and tiunccotiutnblo slunip. "No; I have often admired womon; but I hnve left no sweetheart back In Amorlca. If I bud I should now feel ovy uncomfortable." Somehow bIio couldn't meet his eyes. Sho recognized, with vague nngor, that tho was glad that ho had no sweot-linurt. sweot-linurt. Ah, well, nobody could rob her nf her right to dream, mid this wan a very pleasant dreain. - "Tho train Is slowing down," lie snld tiddeuly. "Wo are approucblng the frontier." Sho shaded her eyes and searched tho tpoedlng blackness outside. "How far Is It to tho capital?" ho "It lies two miles beyond tho fron- Sllcnco fell upon them, nud at length tho train stopped with a Jerk. In what teemed to them an Incredibly short llmo a gunrd unlocked the door. Ho Hl "Hero they aro, stiro enough, your H! ixcellcncyl" nddrosslng some one In tbo dark beyond. An ofllcer from tho military house- hold of tho I'rlnco of Uoppolklnn was Instantly framed In tho doorway. Thu Klrl tried to lower her veil; tco late. "I urn sorry to annoy your highness," bo began, "but tho grand duko's ordern mo that you shall follow mo to tho HB i-astlc. Lieutenant, bring two men to IIH lio tills fellow's 'jonds," nodding to- ward Schurfonsteln. t Max stared dumbly at tbo girl. All thn world seemed to havo slipped from tiudor his feet. "Forglvo me!" sho said, low but im- pulslvcly. "What does it nirah?" His heart was very heavy. B, "I um tho Princess Hlldcgardo of Itarsehelt. and your cntorlng this ear- ilago has proved tho greatest possible B mlsforttinu to you." HH Ho stared helplessly And overy- thing had been going along so nlcoly tho dinner ho had planned In Dresden, and all that! "And they belluvu," (ho glii wont op. B "that I huvo doped with you to avoid marrying tho prlnco." Sho turned to Bv the ofllcer in tho doorway. "Colonel, 011 tbo word of a princess, this tentlu i man li In no wine concernm!. I run uttil.i (ilune " I Mhn bii'.ithf'il euHler. "I should bu most happy (o bollovo your hlgbuess, Inn yon will honor my Mlrlct iibsprvntici) of unlets." He pnHHod a telugrnni to her. ! "Search train for Doppelklun. I'rln-1 I'rln-1 cess has eloped. Arrest ami bold pair i till 1 arrive on special engine, i "IIAUSCHUIT." The telegraph Is the true arm of tho police. The princess sighed pathetically pathetical-ly It was nil over. "Your passports," said the colonel to Max. Mux Ktirrendereil his papers. "You ' need not tlo my hands," he said calm-I. calm-I. "I will come pencuahly." The colonel looked ltiitilrlngly at tho , princess. ' He will do as ho says." "Very good. I should regret to shoot Ii tin tipoti ho short mi ucnualntance." I The colonel beckoned for thorn to step forth. "Kverythlng Is prepared. There i Ih a carriage for the convenience of j j our highness; Herr ICIIIb shall rldo horseback with tho troop." Max often wondered why be did not make a dash for It, or a running light. U'liut he had gone through Hint night was worth a good light. "(Jood-by," said tho princess, holding hold-ing out her hand. Scharfensteln gravely bent his head and kissed It. "Oiood-by, I'rlnco Charming!"' sho whispered, so softly that Mux scarcely heard her. Then sho entered tho closed enrriago and was driven up tho dark, trco-cn-shrouded road that led to tho Cnstlo of Doppelklun. "What nro you going to do with me?" Mux asked, as ho gathered up tho reins of his mount. "That wo Bhall discuss lator. Llko as not something very unpleasant. For one thing, you nro pnsslng under a forged passport. You aro not an American, Amer-ican, no matter how well you may t o 'r H'iw Hun' wai-. il, n r i '0111' I'l iililr-li time thej inatwl pain; now tbey strive (o subline it. I mbjlit go Into a detailed hltiory of the DoppelldutiH. only It would be nb-! nb-! surd unci iinnec'Riir.v. since It would be luiippieclnble under the name of Doppelklun, which happens to be, as doubtless you have already surmised, o name of mine own linentlon. I could likewise tell you how the ancient dukes of Itarsehelt fought off the Insidious In-sidious Mattery of N'npoleon. only It is a far Interest, and linisclielt Is simply sim-ply fi'chuiactorlHtlc, not a name. Somo day t may again seek a diplomatic mission, mis-sion, mid what government would h.-ivo for Its representtttlvo n teller of talcs out of school? It was, t lion, to continue tho fortunes and misfortunes of Max Schnrfensteln, closo to midnight when tho cavalcade crossed the old tnoat-brldgo, which hadn't moved on Its hinges within n hundred yeurs. They were not entering enter-ing by the formal way, which was a llowor-beddcd, terraced road. It was tho loar entrance. Tho Iron doors swung outward with a philntlvo moaning, moan-ing, llko that of 11 man roused out of his sleep, and .Max round himself In an undent guard-room, now used as n kind of secondary stable. Tho men dismounted. "This way, Herr Hills," said tho colonel, Willi n mocking bow. Ho pointed toward a broad stono staircase "All I ask." said Max, "Is a fair chance to explain my presence horo." "All In duo time. Forward! Tho prlnco Is waiting nnd his temper may not bo us smooth as usual." With two troopers In front of hlro nnd two behind, Max climbed tho stepi readily enough. Thoy wouldn't dnr kill him, whatever thoy did. Ho tried to imagine himself tho hero of som Scott or Dumas tale, with 11 grim car dlnnl somewhere above, and oubllottci and torturo chambers besetting his path. Hut tho absurdity of his imag luatlon, so thoroughly Americanized "Good by, Prlnco Charming!" speak that language You aro a German." Ger-man." "Thero nro dormnns In tho United States, born nnd bred thero, who speak (Ionium tolerably well," ropllod Max oaslly. io was wondering If It would not bo a good schomo to toll a straightforward straight-forward story and ask to bo roturned to llarschclt. Hut that would probably appeal to tho olllccr that ho was a cow aid nnd was trying to lay tbo blamo on tho princess. "I do not say thn.t I can provo It," wont on tho colonel; "I simply nnirm that you nro a Gorman, oven to tho marrow." "Yeu havo tho advantage of tho discussion." dis-cussion." No; ho would confess noth-lug. noth-lug. If ho did ho might never sco tho princess again, . . . Tho princess! As far awuy as yonder stars! It was truly a very disappointing world to llui In. "Now, thou, forward!" cried tho colonol to his men, and thoy sot off at n sharp trot. From tlmo to tlmo, as a sudden twist In thu road broke tho straight lino, Max could sco tho careening lights of tho princess' carriage A princess! And ho was n man without a country or a name! CHAPTER X. Tho castle of tho Trlnco of Doppelklun Doppel-klun rested In tho very heart of tho celebrated vineyards. Llko all Gor-man Gor-man castles I over snw or heard of, It was n relic of tho Middle Ages, with many n crumbling, useless towor nnd battlement. It stood on the south sldo of a rugged hill which was gashed by a narrow but turbulent stream, in i which lurked tho rainbow trout that luu tho lazy man from his labors nllold. (And who among us shall cast u mono nt tho lazy man? Not I!) If you aro fortunate enough to run nbout I lOuropo next your, as llko us not you I will bo mailing homo tho "Doppolklnn" 1 post-curd. I Moro than onco I have wandorod nbout tho custlo'B Intorlor. cavernous and musty, strolled through Its gal- ' lories of ancient armor, searched Its dungeon keep, or loitered to soil!. qulzo in tho gloomy Judgment cuam- ovokod a ringing laughter. Tho troop, ors eyed him curiously. Ho might laugh Inter, but It -was scarcely prob-ablo. prob-ablo. A tramp through a dark corridor nnd they enmo to tho wost wing of tho cnstlo. It was horo that tho old prlnco lived, comfortably nnd luxuriously onough, yon may Uko my word for It. A door opened, Hooding tho corridor with light. Max felt hlmsolf gently pushed over tho threshold. Ho stood In tho great living-room of tho modern Doppolklnns. Tho first person ho saw was tho princess. Sho sat on an oriental orien-tal djvnn. Her bands wcro folded; sho sat vory eroct; hor chin wns tilted ominously; thero was so littlo expression expres-sion on hor pnlo faco that sho might havo been 11 n Incompleted statue. Hut Max wiib almost certain that thero was Just tho faintest flicker of a smile In hor eyes as she saw him enter. Glorious eyes! (It Is u bad sign when a man begins to uso tho miporlatlvo ndjectlvcsl) The othor occupant of tho room was an old man, fat nnd bald, with a noso llko a russet penr. Ho was stalking If It Is possible for n short man to stalk up and down tho longth of tho room, nnd, Judging from tho sonorous, rumbling sound, wiib communing half-aloud, half-aloud, llctweon whiles ho wns rubbing his tondcr nose, carefully and lovingly. Whon a man's noso resembles a russet pear It generally Is tender. Whoovot lio wns, Max saw that ho was vastly ugltatcd nbout something. This old gentleman wns (or sup-posod sup-posod ho was) tho last of his line, tlx Prlnco of Doppelklun, famous for hli wines und his lovo of thorn. Thora was, eo his subjects snld. but nno ton-dor ton-dor spot In the heart of this old man. and that wns tho memory of tho wlfa of his youth. (How the years, tho good 1 .und bad, crowd behind us, pressing us on and on!) llowovor, thero was always al-ways surccaso In tho collars that Is, tho Doppclkinn cellars. "Ha!" ho roared as ho saw tho blinking Max. "So this U tho follow!" Ho mado nn eloquent gosturo. "Your highness must ho complimented upon your good taste. Tho fellow Isn't bad-looking." bad-looking." I tTO an CONTINUED.) |