Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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AISTARK ...By... GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON t?Qt, by Bmrtxri B. 8ton? ? - i ? .m. ? -??.* t1 TT TTTTV V TT ER V. L EXCHANGE, that night, he was lt. All night long he uglit. Her face was Her voice tilled his ever ceasing, but It g music thnt Invites card the clock strlko to 8, when he urose, ted with himself. He other, but In several" ruing be caught hlm to prevent the utter ghnrp rejoinder to her ly queries. Twice she > repeat questions, his r away that he heard rds thnt another worn say, twenty-four hours |'s were red, and there loop to the lids. His iwling nnd bis voice ut warmth. His face Hired. veil, Grenfull," his - anxiously into his has done you up. Now, good, long rest and re vocation." July. needs n rest so much be end of his vacation, ell, work will be rest to the office this morn reo days' work before 11 prove to you that I ell." tentlon, ho went to in* luously inclined to work, fed him warmly and a over business affairs Lorry's annoyance nnd found himself frequent Ser? important cases End In a dny or two they court with a damage vban ordinary couse senlor could not re icntlon over the return tlve nephew at such an He had felt himself ft> the case alone. The en lung and vigorous mind ?>r the Coming bottle In together, the elder ea ltlal, the other respect Lmiuded. In the after went over the enso and h for authorities and determined to be con of his Inclination to be i the day he petulantly 5 books, curtly Informed ! uncle that he was not ,Hd left the office. Until in inyed billiards atro )lub; at dinner his moth |>rov*Ml him for flagrant 1 tiier dinner he smoked despondently. Tomor o sail! If he could but ore! nother found him in the ilng diligently through the encyclopedia that G's. When she asked (ooklng for, ho laughed mi confusion Informed trying to find the name fportnnt city In Indiana, ing at the books In the wns startled by hearing c.vclamntlon t\nd then I can make it!" mntter, (iren, dear?" ulatcd, bringing himself rt "I forgot?er?yes, ft have time to catch the . Will you kindly have this muss of books and off, you see, to New ay only, mother?back fnportnnt business?just you know?ahem! Good oodbyl" lie had kissed "? hall before she fair what he was talking he ran after him, galn 1 i time to see him pass eet door, his hat on the ft, his overcoat fluttering shoved his arms Into ["he door slammed, nnd low York. i ready to pull out when station, and It wns only thnt ho caught the last ing, but happy. Just irs before she had left d It wns right bore thnt 1 nnd said she would ome to Edelweiss. Ho e to secure n berth in was fortunately able taking the train. Gren ep feeling both disnp Isgustcd ? disappointed buiisslon to sentiment, e of the mnn who oc t&ctlon. A man who l doubt bns no patience wretch who can sleep Ibrenkfnst In New York [to the steamship com nsked the time of sal! sor Wilhelm. On being be ship wns to cast off lr, he straightway cab ins soon bowling along ly wnterwny. Directly pght, rigid nnd startled inoro n wakened to tho (s absurd action. Again ifntunted head that ho the veriest schoolboy to a steamship pier in ^hlng n tinal and at best fllmpse of a young wo [ppealcd to bis sensitive lovesick boy could bo ?Ii a display of imbccll -a man of the world! chasing down to the see that girl Is enough shamed of yourself for orry," he apostrophized, inn any lovesick fool of doing. I am blush Mind. The idiocy, the he thing! And suppose me staring at her out lor? What would she 'H not go another foot! )1!" ted and self conscious ashamed of the trip impetuous adoration . Just as he was tag in the effort to open It rdor the driver to take >e hotel a sly tempter thing in bis ear. His hi, and he listened: down to the pier and ??enger list Just to see booked oftfsfet TP?t I would Uo perfectly proper and sensi ble, mid; besides, It will bo a satisfac tion to know tliut slie gets off all right. Certainly! There's nothing foolish In that. ? * * Especially ns I ain right on the way there. ? * * And as I have como so for * * * there's no sense in going back without seeing whether she has scoured passage. * * * I ran And out in a minute and then go homo. ? ? ? There won't he anything wrong In that. And then I may get a glimpse of her before the ship leaves the pier. Sho must not see me, of course. Nev er! She'd laugh at me. How I'd hate to se? her laughing at mei" Then, sinking back again with a smile of justification on his face, he muttered: "Wo won't turn back; we'll go right ahead. We'll he a kind of a fool, but not so foolish as to allow her to see us and rccogni/.e us ns one." Before long they arrived at the wharf, and he hurried to the office near by. The clerk permitted him to look over the list. First ho ran through the first class passengers and was surprised to flml that there was no such name as Guggenslocker In the list Then he went over the second class, but still uo Guggenslocker. "Hasn't Mr. Guggenslocker taken passage?" ho demanded, unwilling to bellevo his eyes. "Not on the Kaiser Wilhelm, sir." "Then, by George, they'll miss tho boat!" Lorry exclaimed. "Maybe they'll be hero In a few minutes." "They can't get anything but steer age now, sir. Everything else Is gone." "Are you sure they haven't taken passageV" asked tho bewildered Lorry weakly. "You can sec for yourself," answered the young man curtly. Lorry was again in n perspiration, this time the result of n vague, grow ing suspicion that had forced itself In to his mind. Gradually he came to the conclusion that she had fooled him, had lied to bun. She did not Intend to sail on the Wilhelm at nil. It was all very clear to him now?that strange uess In her manner, those odd occasion al smiles. Whnt was she?an adven turess? That sweet faced girl a nttle ordinary coquette, n liar? He turned cold with the thought. The clanging of hells broke upou his ears, and he knew that the great ship was about to depart. Mechanically, disconsolately, he walked out and paced the broad, crowded wharf. All was excitement. There were the rush of people, the shouts, the cheers, the puff ing of tugs, the churning Of water, and tho Kaiser Wilhelm was o(T on its long voyage. Half henrtcdly, miserably and In a dazed condition he found a place in the front row along tho rail. There were tears in his eyes, tears of anger, shame and mortification. She had ployed with him! Gloomily his disappointed eyes swept along tho rail of the big steamer, half bitorested In spile of themselves. Twice they passed n certalh point on the for ward deck, unconscious of a force that was attracting them in that direction. The third time he allowed them to set tle for an Instant on the group of faces and figures and then stray off to other parts of tho ship. Some strange power drew them again to the forward deck, and this time he was startled into an Intent stnrc. Could he believe those eyes? Surely that was her figure at tho rail?there between the two young women who, were waving their hand kerchiefs so frantically. Ills heart be gan to Jump up and down, wildly, doubUngly, impatiently. Why could not that face be turned toward the wharf ns the others were? There was the bluo coat, but not the blue cap; a jaunty sailor hat snt where tho never to be forgotten cap had perched. The change was sligfi\, but it was sufficient to throw him into tho most feverish state of uncertainty. An insane desire to shout a command to this strange young woman came over him. The ship wns slowly opening a gap between herself and the wharf, and he knew that In a few moments recogni tion would be impossible. Just ns he was losing hope and was ready to groau with despair tho face beneath the sail or hat was turned squarely in his di rection. A glnzo obscured bis eyes; a numbness attacked his braiu. It was Miss Guggenslocker! A pair of big glasses was leveled at hlin for a second and then lowered. He plainly saw the smile on her face and the fluttering cambric in her hand. He waved his hat and then his handker chief, obtaining from her vigorous and unrestrained signs of approbation. Her face was wreathed in smiles ns she leaned far over the rail, tho picture of animated pleasure. Maklug sure that her uncle and aunt were not visible, he boldly placed bis fingers to his lips and wafted a kiss out over the water. 'Now she'll crush me!" ho cried to himself, regretting the rash act and praying that she had not observed it. Her handkcrcl'lcf censed llutterlng in on instant, and, with sinking heart, he realized that she had observed. There was a moment of indecision on the part of tho fair one going out to sea, and then the little finger tips of both hands went to her lips and his kiss came back to him. Whllo ho was still waving bis hand kerchief, debating savagely and Joy He boldly plqcul hi* finger* to hi* Up$ and wafted a HU$. wMf the wtodtf?? of the act, she be cainO n part of tbo distant color scheme. The blao figure faded and blended Into the general tono and could no longer bo distinguished. 8be w^'gonc, but sbo bad tossed bltn a kU. from lips that be should always sec. Uppermost in his bewildered mind wus tho question, Why Is she not in the passenger list? Acting on a Bud* den impulse, he again sought out tho clerk in charge and made a most thor ough inspection. There was no Gug genslocker nmung the names. As a last resort he asked: "They could not have sailed under an assumed name, could they?" "I can't say as to that. Whcro aro they going?" "Graustark." But the young man shook hlB bead slowly, Lorry's shaking in unconscious accord. ' "Are you sure that you saw tho young lady on board?" "Well, rather!" exclulmcd Lorry em phatically. "1 wus going to say there are a lot of Italinn and German singers on the ship, and you might hnvo been mistak en. But since you are so positive it seems very strange that your friends are not on tho list." So Lorry went away discouraged and with n vnguo fear that sho might bavo been a prlmn donnn whoso real name was Guggcuslocker, but whoso stage name was something more euphonlods. He instantly put away the thought and the fear. She was certainly not an opera singer?Impossible! He drove back to bis hotel and made prepara tions for his return to Washington. Glauciug casually over tbo register, he came to tho namo that had been haunt ing him?Guggcuslocker! There were tho names, "Caspar Guggenslocker and four, Graustark." Without hesitation he began to question the clerk. "They sailed on the Kaiser Wilhelm today." Raid that worthy. "That's all I know about them. They came yes terday and left today." Mr. Grenfall Lorry returned to Wash ington as in a dream?a fairy dream. The nir of mystery that had grown from the first was now an Impenetra ble wall, the top of which bis curios ity could not scale. Even his fancy, his imagination, served him not. There was but one point on which he was satisfied?he was In love. His own con dition was no mystery. Through tho long hot summer be worked and worried and wondered. He must know all about herl But how? Tho early months of autumn found him pale and tired and indifferent alike to work and play. lie found no pleas ure in the society that had known him as a Hon. The doctor told him ho was approaching nervous prostration. His mother's anxious eyes could no longer be denied, so ho realized grimly that there was but one course left open to him. He suggested It to the doctor, to his mother and to his uncle, nud they agreed with him. It involved Europe. Having fully decided again to cross the sea, his spirits revived. He became more cheerful, took an interest In tilings that were going on, and by the time the Kaiser Wilhelm sailed in September was the picture of health and life. Ho wob off for Edelweiss ? to the strange Miss Guggenslocker who had thrown him a kiss from the deck that sailing day. CHAPTER VI. OI1AUSTARK. TWO weeks later Grenfall Lorry was landed and enjoying tho sensations, the delights, of that wonderful world called by tho unme of Farls. The second day after bis arrival ho met a Harvard man of bis time on tho street. Harry Anguish had been a pseudo art student for two years. When at college, ho was a hall fellow well met, a leader In athletics and in matters upon which, faculties frown. He and Lorry were warm friends, although utterly unlike in tem perament. To know either of theso men was to like him. Between the two one found all that was admirable and interesting In man. The faults and vir tues of each were along such different lines thut they balanced perfectly when lumped upon the scale of personal esti mation. Their unexpected meeting in Paris was an exhilarating pleasure to both, and for the next week or so they were Inseparable. Together they sip ped absinth at tho cafes and strolled into tho theaters, tho opera, tho dauco halls and tho homes of some of An guish's friends, French and American. Lorry did not speak to his friend of Graustark until nearly two weeks aft er his arrival In the city. He had dis cussed with himself the advisability of revealing his plans to Anguish, fearing the lntter's ridicule with all the cow ardice of n man who knows that scoff ing is In a large measure Justifiable. Growing impatient to begin the search for tho unheard of country, its capital ami at least one of its Inhabitants, ho was at lust compelled to inform An guish to n certain extent of his plans for tho future. He began by telling him of his Intention to take a run ovor toward Vienna, Budnpesth and some of tho eastern cities, expecting to be gone a couple of months. To bis sur prise nud consternation, Anguish en thusiastically volunteered to take the trip with him, having had tho same project In view for nearly a year. There was nothing left for Lorry but to make a clean breast of it, which ho did shamefacedly, expecting the laugh ter and raillery of his light hearted friend as payment for his confidence. Instead, however, Anguish, who pos sessed a livoly and romantic nature, was charmed by the story and pro claimed it to be the most delightful ad venturo that bad ever happened out side of a story book. "Tell me all about her," he urged, his eyes sparkling with boyish enthu siasm. And Lorry proceeded to give him a porsonal description of the mys terious beauty, introducing him in tho same manner to the distinguished un do and aunt, adding all those details which had confounded and upset him during his own investigations. "This Is rich!" exclaimed Anguish. "Beats any novel written, I declare. Begad, old man, I don't blame you for hunting down this wonderful bit of femininity. With a curiosity and an admiration that had been sharpened so keenly as yours, I'd go to tho end of the world myself to have them satis fied." "I may bo ablo to satisfy but one curiosity. And maybe not that. But who knows of Graustark?" "Dou't glvo up before you'vo tried. If theso peoplo llvo in such a plnce, why, it is to bo found, of course. Any railroad guidebook cau locate this land of mystery. There are so many infer nal little kingdoms and principalities over boro that It Would take a llfotlmo to get 'em all straightened out in one's head. Tomorrow morning wo will go to ono of the big railway stations and make inquiries. We'll locate Grau stark, and then we'll go over and pluck the flower that grows there. AH you need, my boy, Is a manager. I'll do the arranging, and your little act will be the plucking." "Easier said than done." "She threw a Ulsa to you, didn't she?" "Certainly, but, confound It, that was because she never expected to see me ?Knill." "Same reason why you threw a kiss to her. I suppose." "I know why: 1 wasn't accountable." "Well, If she did It any moro wit tingly than you did she Is accountable, and I'd hunt her up and demand an ex planation." Lorry laughed nt his apparent fervor, but was glad that he had confided lu his energetic countryman. Two beads were better than one, and he was forc ed to admit to himself that he rather liked tlio Idea of company in the under taking; not that he expected to encoun ter any particular difficulty, but that he sa w a si range loneliness ahead; therefore he welcomed his frlend'B avowed intention to accompany him to Edelweiss us a relief instead of on an noyance. Ulltli late In the ulght they discussed the coming trip, Anguish dually startling him with a question just as he was stretching himself pre paratory to the walk to his hotel. "YV'hnt are you going to do with her after you find her, Gl'CU, old man?" Grcnfall's brow puckered, and he brought himself up with a jerk, puz zled uncertainty expressing itself in his posture as well as in his face. "I'll think about that after I havo found her," he replied. "Think you'll many her?" persisted the other. "How do I know'.'" cxclulmcd the wo man hunter savagely. "Oh, of course you don't know. How could you?" apologized Anguish. "May be she won't have you; maybe she is married?all sorts of contingencies, you know. But, if you'll pardon my lnquls ltlveness, I'd like to ask why" you are making tills wild goose chase half around the world?just to, havo another look at her?" "You asked me if I thought"? Here he stopped. "I take it for granted, theu, that you'd like to. Well, I'm glad that I've got something definite on which to base operations. The one object of our en deavors from now on is to exchange Guggensjoeker for Lorry?certainly no robbery; a charity, I should soy. Good night; see you In the morning." Tbc next morning the two friends took a cab to several railway stations and inquired about Grnustark and Edelweiss. "She was stringing you, old man," said Anguish after they had turned away from the third station. He spoke conimlseratlngl}\ as he really felt sor ry. "No!" exclaimed Lorry. "She told me tho truth. There is n Graustark, and she lives there. I'll stake my life on those eyes of hers." "Arc you sure she said It was lu Eu rope?" asked Harry, looking up and down the street as If ho would not have been surprised to see her in Paris. In his heart he believed that she and her precious relatives had de ceived old Gren. Perhaps their homo was in Paris and nowhere else. But for Lorry's posltlveness he would have laughed heartily at tho other's simple credulity or branded him a dolt, the victim of some merry actress' whim. Still ho was forced to admit he was not In a position to see matters as they appeared and was charitable enough to bide his time and to humor the faith that was lending them from place to place In the effort to find a land that they knew nothing about. Lorry seemed so sure, so positive, that he was loath to see his dream dis pelled, his ideal shattered. There was certainly no Graustark. Neither had tho Guggenslockers sailed on tho Wil helm, all apparent evidence to the con trary notwithstanding. Lorry had been in a delirium and had imagined ho saw her on the ship. If there, why was not her name In tho list? But that problem tortured the sanguine searcher himself. At last, in despair, after a fruitless search of two days Lorry was willing to submit. With the perverseness com mon to half hearted fighters Anguish at once protested, forgetting that he had sought to dissuade his friend tho day before. "We'll go to the library of Paris and take a look through the books and maps," he said. "Or, better still, let us go to tho postolllce. There! Why havo we not thought of that? What there is of Graustark they'll know in the postal service." Together they visited the chief post onlce, whore, after being directed to various deputies and clerks, they at length found the department in which tho Information was obtainable. In side of five minutes they were in pos session of facts that \ indicated Miss Guggenslocker, lifted Lorry lo x'ne sev enth heaven and put Mr. Anguish Into au agony of Impatience. Graustark was o small principality away off to tho east, and Edelweiss wns a city of some 75,000 inhabitants, according to the postal guidebook. Tho Americans could lenm no more there, so they went to naedecker's of fice. Here they found n great map, and, after a diligent and almost microscopic search, succeeded In discovering the principality of Grnustark. Then they looked at each other In dismay. "It's a devil of a distance to that lit tle red blot on the map," mused Lorry, pulling his nose reflectively. "What an outlandish place for a girl like her to live in," he continued. "And that sweet faced old lady and noble Uncle Cas par! Yo gods, one would think bar barians existed there and not such peo ple as tho Guggenslockers, refined, cul tivated, smart, rich I I'm more inter ested than over in tho place." "So am II I'm willing and ready to make tho trip, old man, if you aro still of a mind. It's a lark, and, besides, Bhe may not bo tho only pretty and gra cious girl there. We'vo had hard work to find it on the map, let's not stop till wo see Edelweiss on tho earth Itself." They made hasty preparations for tho journey. Anguish, romantic and full of adventure, advised the purchase of a pulr of pistols and a knifo apiece, maintaining that as thoy were going into nn unknown and mountainous re* glon they should be prepared for brig auds and other elements of danger. Lorry poohpoohed tho suggestion of brigands, but indulged his mood by buying some ugly looking revolvers and inviting tho prospect of something real ly thrilling in the way of an adventure. With their traps they were soon whirl ing through Prance, bound for a cer tain great city on the road to Edel weiss, one filled with excitement, eager ness and boyish zeal, the other har assed by tho somber fear that a grave disappointment was in storo for him* After all, who was Miss Guggenslocker ?brewer, baker, gardener or sauaag? maker? Traveling of course was pleasant at this timo of tho year, and the two Americans saw much that interested them along the way. Their Kreuch, especially Anguish's, was of great val ue to them, for they found occasion to uso it at all times and in all places, doth spoke German fairly well and took every opportunity to brush up in that language. Lorry remembering that the Guggenslockers used many expres Alis that allowed a preference for the Jptitonlo. 'The blltho Anguish, confl uent pnd in high feather, wae heart and soul In tho. odd 'expedition of love and talked incessantly of their recep tion by the faraway hostess, their im pressions nud tho final result. His camera and sketching materials were packed away with his traps. It was Iiis avowed intention to immortalize the trip by means of plate, palette and brush. At the end of two'days they reached a certain largo city, the hrot change, and then 700 miles to another. The dis tance from this point to tho capital of c ran star k was 200 miles or more, chief ly through mountainous lands. Some what elated by the cheerful informa tion there received, they resumed the Journey to Edelweiss, the city of vale, slope and park?summer, full and win ter. Qhanglng cars at tho end of the second day out, they sat back in tho dusty seats of their carriage and sighed with relief. "Unless we Jump the track this train will l^nd us In the city we ore looklug for," said Anguish, stretching out his logs comfortably. "I'll admit It has been a tiresome Journey, and I'll bo glad when we can step into u decent hotel, have a rub and feel like white men once more. I nm beginning to feel like theso dirty Slavs and Huns we saw 'way back there." "There's one thing certain," said Lor ry, looking out of the window. "The people and the habitations arc different and the wholo world seems changed sluce we left that station. Look at those fellows on horseback over there." "What did I tell you about brigands and robbers!" exclaimed Anguish. "If those fellows are not bandits, I'll lose faith in overy novel I ever read." The traiu rolled slowly past three mounted men whoso steeds stood like statues upon a little knoll to the right of the track, men nnd beasts engaged in silent. contemplation of the cars. The men, picturesquely attired and looking fierce, carrying long rifles, certainly bore an aspect that suggested tho brig and. When the guard entered tho car riage, Anguish asked in German for some information concerning the rid ers. "Dey're frontier police guards," re sponded the ft.an In English, smiling at their astonishment. Both Americans rose and shook hands with him. "By George, it's good to hear a man talk white man's language," cried An guish. "How do you come to be holding a job on this road? An Englishman?" demanded Lorry. Ho looked anything but English. "I'm not an Englishman," said the guard, flushing slightly. "My name's Sltzky, an' I'm an American, sir." "An American!" exclaimed Lorry. Sltzky grew loquacious. "Sure! I used to bo a sailor on a ? United States man-o'-war. A couple of years ago I got into trouble down at Constantinople an' had to got out of de service. After dat I drifted up dis way and went to railroadlu'." He hadn't exactly the manner of a man-o' warsman. "How long have you been on this road?" asked Grenfall. " 'Bout a year, I should t'lnk. Been on dls branch only two mouths, dough." "Are you pretty well acquainted In Edelweiss?" "Oh, I run In dere every other day? in an' out ng'in. It's a fino place?pur tlest you over saw In your life. Tho town runs right up tho mountain to the tiptop, where the monks are?clear up in do clouds. Dey say It snows up dere almost all do time." Later on from tho loquacious guard tho two Americans learned quite a good bit nbout the country and city to which they were going. His knowledge was somewhat limited along certain lines, but quite clear as to others. "Dls Graustark, 's fer as I know, is eeder a sort o' state or somcthln' be-, longiu' to de umpire, governed by its own rulers. Edelweiss Is de capital; de big guns of dc land lives dero. I've walked out an* saw de castlo where de princess an' de royalty hangs out. Do people speak a language of delr own, nnd I can't get next to a t'lng dey soy. But once in awhile you And some guy dat talks French or German. Dey've got a little standln' army of two t'reo t'ousaml men, an' dey've got de hottost uniforms you over did see?red an' black nn' gold. I don't see why do Unit ed States can't get up somcthln' foxy fer her soldiers to wear. Had a war over hero not long ago, I understand? somcthln' like ten or fifteen years ago. Dere's another little country up north of Graustnrk, an' dey got In a wrangle 'bout somcthln', an' dey tell mo In Edelweiss dat for 'bout a year dey fought like Sam Patch." "Which was victorious?" demanded Lorry, deeply interested. "I'm not sure. To hear do Edelweiss people talk you'd t'lnk dey licked do daylights out of do other slobs, but somehow I got next to do fact dat dem other fellows captured de city on' went after a slashin' big war indemnity. I don't know much 'bout it, an' maybe I'm clear off, but I t'lnk do Graustark army was t'rashed. Everyt'lng is pros perous now, dough, an' you'd never know dere'd been a wur. It's do most peaceable town I ever saw." "Did you ever hear of the Guggen slockers?" asked tho irrepressible An guish, and Lorry felt like kicking hlin. "In Edelweiss? Never did. Friends of yours?" "Acquaintances," Interposed Lorry hastily, frowning at Anguish. "You won't have any trouble flndln' 'em if dere anybody at all," said Sltzky easily. "De hotel people ought to bo able to tell you nil 'bout 'em." "By the way, what Is the best hotel there?" asked Anguish. "Dere's de Burnowcntz, one block north of de depot." The travelers look ed at one another and smiled, Sltzky observing the action. "Oh," ho said pleasantly, "dere's a swell Joint up town called de Hegengetz. It's too steep fer me, but maybe you gents con stand It. If you'll hang arouud do depot for a little while after wo get in I'll steer you up dero." "We'll make It worth your while, Sltzky," sold Lorry. "Never mind dat now. Americans ought to stick together, no matter where dey ore. We'll havo a drink an' 'at's all,-just to show wo'ro fellow countrymen." "We'll have several drinks, and we'll eat and drink tonight at the 'swell joint' you talk about," said Anguish. "Wo may drink dere, but I'll not eat dere. Dey wouldn't let a railroad guard Inside do fcedln* pen. Why, nothln' but royal guys cot dero when dey're downtown shoppln' or exposln' dem selves to public gaze." True to his word, when they reached Edelweiss late that afternoon Sltzky, their friend of uncertain origin, hur riedly finished bis work and Joined the travelers In the station. Lorry and Anguish were deeply Interested in all they saw?the strange people, tho queer buildings, the odd costumes and the air of antiquity that prevailed. Once upon the narrow, denn street they saw that Edelweiss was truly a city of the mountain side. They had expected something wonderful, but were not prepared for what they found. The cfty actually ran up Into the clouds. These was something so grand, so luv * probable, so unujLal JLu tbo spectacle confronting them, that they stared like cblldren, aghast and stupefied. Each find the startling Impression tbat i great buuidU dotted mountain was falling over upon ills bead. It was impossible to subdue tbo sensation of dizziness that the toppling town in spired. "I know how you feel," observed sitzky. Laughing, "I was Just de samo at first. Tomorrow you wnlk a little ways up de side of do mountain an' you'll see how much of do city dero is I on level ground down here. Dem build ill's up dere ain't more'n one-fiftieth ;>art of do town. Hey're mostly sum mer homes. It gets hot as blazes down hero in do valley in do middle of de summer, an' de rich ones movo up de mountain." "How In thunder do people get up to those houses?" demanded Anguish. "Mules," answered Sitzky specifical ly. "Say! See dut little old feller COmuV on horseback, wld do white uni form? Well, dal's do chief of police, an' de fellers behind him are police guards. 'At's old Dangloss himself. He's a peach, dey say." A short, grizzly faced man, attired In a white uniform with red trimmings, followed by three men similarly garbed, rode by, going in the direction of the station. Dangloss, as Sitzky had called him, was quite small in stature, rather stout, gray bearded and eagle nosed. Ills face was keen and red and not at all the kind to Invite familiarity. As he passed them the railroad guard of American citizenship touched his cap, and tho two travelers bowed, whereupon tho chief of polico gave them a most profound salutation, fair ly sweeping his saddle skirts with his white cap. "rollte old codger," observed An guish. "His company manners. Just let him get you in do sweat box if you t'lnk he's polite." "Ever been there?" "Well," a llttlo confusedly, "I pasted a Oraustifrk baggago smasher down in de yards two weeks ago, an' dey had : mo up. I proved de feller insulted a lady, an' old Dangloss let mo off, say in' I'd ought to have a medal. Deso guys are great on gallantry when la dies Is concerned. If It hadn't beeu fer dat, I'd be In de lockup now. Au', say, you ought to see de lockup 1 It's a tow er, wld dungeons an' all dat sort of t'iug. A mnn couldn't no moro get out 'n ho could fly up to de monastery. Dey're great on law nu' order hero too. Do princess has Issued strictest kind of rules, au' everybody has to live up to 'cm like as If dey was real gospel. I fought I'd put you next, gents, so's you wouldn't bo doin' nnyt'ing crooked here." "Thanks," said Lorry dryly. "We shall try to conduct ourselves discreet ly in tho city." Probably a quarter mile farther down tho narrow, level street thoy came to the bazaars, the gaudy stores and then the hotel. It wns truly a hostelry to in spire respect and admiration in the mind of such as Sitzky, for it was hug*, and well equipped with the modern ap pointments. As soon as the two Ameri cans had been given their rooms they sent for their luggage. Then they went out to the broad piazza, with its coir umns and marble balustrades, and looked for Sitzky, remembering their invitation to drink. The guard had re fused to cuts* the hotel with thorn, urging them to allow him to naniain on the piazza. IIo was not there when they returned, but they soon saw him. Ou t he sidewalk he was arguing with a white uniformed polico guard, and they realized that ho had been ejected from sacred precincts. They promptly rescued him from tho officer, who bowed and strode nway as soon as they Interceded. "Dcse fellers Is slick enough to see you are swells an' "I'm not," said Sitzky, not a bit annoyed by his en counter. "I'll bet my hend 'at inside ten minutes old Dangloss will know who you are, where you come from an' what you're doin' here." "I'll bet fifty bends he won't find out what we're doing here," grinned An guish, looking at Lorry. "Wrell, let's hunt up the thirst department." They found tho little apartment in which drinks were served at tables, and before they said goodby to Sitzky in front of the hotel, a half hour later, that worthy was in exceediug good hu mor and very much flushed In the face. He said he would be back in two days, and if they needed him for any purpose whatever they could reach him by a note at the railway station. "Funny how you run across an Amer ican in every nook and corner of the world," mused Lorry as they watched the stocky ex-man-o'-wnrsman stroll off toward his hotel. "If we can run across the Guggen slockers as easily, wo'H be in luck. When shall wo begin the hunt? To night?" "We can make a few inquiries con cerning them. They certainly are peo ple of importance here." "I don't seo the name on any of the brewery signs around town," observed Anguish consolingly. "There's evi dently no Guggenslocker here." They strolled through the streets near the hotel until after 0 o'clock, wondering at tho quaint architecture, the pretty gardens and the pastoral at mosphere that enveloped the city. Ev erybody was busy, contented, quiet and happy. There was no bustle or strife, no rush, no beggars. At 6 thoy saw hun dreds of worklugmcn on the streets, going to their homes. Shops were closed, and thero camo to their ears the distant boom of cannon, evidently fired from different points of tho com pass and from the highland as well as the lowland. "The toy army is shooting off the good night guns," speculated Anguish. "I suppose everybody goes to bed now." "Or to dinner," substituted Lorry, and they returned to the Hegengctz. The dining hall was spacious and beau tiful, a mlxturo of the oriental and the mediecval. It rapidly filled. "Who tho dickens can nil these peo ple bo? They look well," Anguish whispered, os if he feared their near est neighbors might understand his English. "They ore unquestionably of the class In which wo must expect to find tho Guggenslockers." Before tho ruenl was over the two strangers saw that they were attract ing a great deal of attention from the other guests of tho house. The wo men as well as the men wero eying them and commenting quite freely, it was easy to bcc .^Toward the end of the dinner several officers came In, and the Americans took particular pains to study them. They were cleanly built fellows, about medium height, wiry ?nd active. As a class the men ap peared to average 5 feet 7 Inches in height, some a little taller, some a little shorter. The two strangers wero over six feet tali, broad shouldered and athletic. They looked like giants among these Graustark men. "They're uot very big, but they look as If they'd be nasty In a scrap," ob served Anguish, unconsciously throw ing out his chest. "Strong as wildcats, I'll wager. The HIIMIIMl women are perfect, though. Hare you ever seen u smarter set of women, Barry?" "Never, never! A paradise of pretty women. I believe I'll take out nat uralization papers." When tbe two strangers left the din ing room they were conscious that every eye In the place was upon them. "We seem to be the whole show here, Oreo," said Anguish as they sat down at one of the tables In the garden* "I guess Americans are rare." "I've found one fellow who can speak German and French, and not one, ex cept our guard, who can talk English. That clerk talks German fairly well. I never heard such a language as these other people use. Say, old man, we'd better make inquiry about our friends tonight That clerk probably won't be on duty tomorrow." "We'll ask him before we go to bed," agreed Lorry, and upon leaving the brilliantly lighted gardeu they sought the landlord and asked If he could tell them where Caspar Guggenslockei j lived. Ho looked politely incredulous j and thoughtful, and then, with pro found regret, assured them he had never heard the name. He said he had lived in Edelweiss all his life and knew everybody of consequence in tho town. "Surely there must be such people here!" cried Lorry, almost appeallngly. He felt disheartened and cheated. An guish was biting his lips. "Oh, possibly among the poorer class es. If I were yon, sir, I should call on Captain Dangloss, the chief of police. He knows every soul in Edelweiss. I am positive I have never heard the name. You will find the captain at the tower tomorrow morning." The two Americans went to bed, one so dismayed by bis disappointment that ho could not sleep for hours. CHAPTER VII. XBJ9 LADY IN THE CAJUlLfcOE. THEY slept rather late In the morning, first because they were very much fatigued after their long journey, and second for tho reason that they had been una ble to woo slumber until long past mid night. Anguish stretched himself la zily in bed when ho heard Lorry's voice from the adjoining room. "I suppose we are to consult tho po lice in order to get a clew to your ' tharmer," he yawned. "Nice 'riends I you pick up on railway Journ si I'd I he nshamed." "Well, Harry, I'll confess I'm dis gusted. This has been the most idiotic thing I've ever done, and if you say tho word we'll get out of here on tbe flrst train?freight or passenger. Tho Guggenslockers ? pigs"? Mr. Lorry was savuge. "Not a bit of it, my boy; not a bit of It. We'll make a house to house can vass if the police fall us. Cheer up, cheer up I" "You go to thunder!" "Hold on! Don't talk like that or I'll go back on you In n minute. I'm hero because I choose to be, and I've more heart In the chase at this mlnuto than you have. I've not lost hope, j We'll find the Guggenslockers if we i have to hire detectives to trace 'em ' from tho United States to their very doorstep. We're going to see the polico after breakfast." After breakfast they did go to see tho Baron Dangloss. After some in quiry they found the gloomy, forebod ing prison, and Mr. Anguish boldly pounded on the huge gates. A little shutter Hew open, and a man's face appeared. Evidently he asked what was wanted, but he might ns well have demanded their lives, so far were they i from understanding his query. i "Baron Dangloss?" asked Anguish promptly. The man asked something else, but ns the Americans shook their heads deprecatingly he withdrew his face and presently swung open tho gates. They entered and he closed tho doors behind them, locking them in. Then ho directed them across the court j to an open door in the aged mass of gray stono. As they strode away from tho guard Lorry created consternation by demanding: 1 "How aro wo to talk to tho chief if ho doesn't understand us or we him? We should have brought an Interpre ter." "I forgot about tho confounded lan guage. But If he's real he can talk Irish." Lorry told him he wasn't fun ny. "Is this his excellency Baron Dan gloss?" asked Anguish, stepping Into a small room and stopping suddenly in tho presence of the short, fierce man they bad seen the day before. Tho American spoke In French. "It Is, gentlemen. Of what service can I bo to MM. Lorry and Anguish?" responded the grim little chief, polite ly rising from beside his desk. Tho visitors looked at one another In sur prise. 1 "If he knows our names on such short notice, he'll certainly know the Gug genslockers," said Anguish to his friend in English. "Ah, you are looking for some one named Guggenslocker?" asked the chief, smiling broadly and speaking excellent English. "You must not be surprised, gentlemen. X speak many languages. I heard last night that you were In quiring about ono Caspar Guggenslock er, and I havo racked my brain, search ed my books, questioned my officers, and I am sorry to inform you that thero is no such person In Edelweiss." "I was so well assured of it, Baron Dangloss," Lorry said. "Tho name Is totally unknown to mo, sir. May I ask why you aro searching for him?" "Certainly. I met Mr. Guggenslock er, his wlfo and his nieco last spring In the United States. They invited mo to come and sco them if I ever happened to be In this port of the world. As my friend and I wero near here, 1 under took to avail myself of their invita tion." "And they sold they lived In Edel weiss, Groustark?" ? They did, and I'l! humbly confess I did not know much of the principality of Graustnrk." "That is certainly complimentary, but, then, wo ore n Ilttlo out of the beaten path; so It is purdonable. I was at first under the Impression that you wero American detectives with ex tradition papers for criminals bearing tho name you mention." "Ohl" gasped Anguish. "We couldn't find ourselves If we should bo separat ed, captain." Tho grizzly bearded captain laughed lightly with them and then asked Lor ry if bo would object to givlug bim tbe full story of his acquaintanceship with the alleged Graustarkians. The bewil dered and disheurtened American promptly told all ho knew about them, omitting certain tender details, of course. As bo proceeded the chief grew more and more interested, and when at last Lorry came to tbe de scription of tbe strange trio be gave a sudden start, exposed a queer little smile for a second or two sud then wee as sphlnxllke as before. The ever vigi lant Anguish observed the involuntary ?tart and smile, quick as the chief had been to recover himself, and felt a thrill of triumph. To bis anger and impa- 1 Hence, however, the old officer calmly shook his head at tho end of the narra tive nnd announced that he was aa mucb lu the dark as ever. "Well, we'll search awhile for our selves," declared Anguish stubbornly, uot at all satisfied. "You will be wasting your time," said the chief menniugly. "Wo've plenty to waste," retorted the other. After a few moments they departed, Huron Dangloss accompanying them to the gate aud assuring them that he and Iiis meu always would be at their com mand. His nation admired the Ameri can people, he -warmly declared. "That old codger knows our people, and I'll bet a thousand on it," said Hurry angrily when they had goue some little distance down tho street. Then ho told of tho queer exposure Dangloss had unwittingly made. Lor ry, more excited than ho cared to shew, agreed that there was something very SU8picloU8 about tlds new discovery. They walked about the quaint town for an hour or two, examining the buildings, the people and the soldiery With deep interest. From the bend of the main street, Castle avenue, they could plainly see the royal palace, near ly a mile away. Its towers and tur rets, gray and gaunt, ran up among the green treetops and were outlined plain ly against the yellow bills. Countless houses studded the steep mountain slope, and many people were discerned walking nnd riding nlong tho narrow, ledgoliko streets which wound toward the sumndt, far up in the clouds. Clear ly and distinctly could be seen the grim monastery, perched at the very pinna cle of the mountain, several miles away. Up there It looked bleak and cold nnd uninviting, in great contrast to tho loveliness nnd warmth of the valley. Down below the grass was moist and soft, trees were approaching the stage where yellow and red tints mingle with the rich green, flowers were blooming, tho land was redolent of the sweet fragrance of autumn, the atmosphere warm, clear nnd Invigorat ing. It was paradise surmounted by desolation, drear and deadening. Wherever the tall, distinguished Americans walked they formed tho center of observation and were the cause of comment that bore unmistaka ble signs of admiration. They bowed pleasantly to many of those who passed them and received in return gracious and profound recognition. Military men saluted courteously, the women stared modestly and prettily, perhaps covet ously; ?hc merchants nnd citizens in general bowed and smiled a welcome that could not have been heartier. The strangers remarked the absence of ve hicles on tho main streets. There were pack mules and horses, human carriers, both male nnd female, but during tho entire morning they saw not more than six or eight carriages. Vehicles were used solely by tho quality aud as a means of transportation for their per sons only. Everybody, with the few exceptions mentioned, walked or rode horseback. Tho two friends were de lighted with the place, and Anguish ad vocated a sojourn of several weeks, even though they did not And the Gug genslockers, his object being to secure photograpjjs and sketches of the pic turesque people and the strange scen ery and to idle away some hours upon tho glittering boulevards. Grenfall, since ho was in the project so deeply, was so nearly reconciled ns to be exhil arated by the plan. They decided to visit the royal grounds lu the after noon, provided there was no prohibi tion, reserving a ride up the hill for the next day. A gendarme who spoke Ger man fairly well told them that they could enter the palace park if they ob tained u signed order from the chief steward, who might be found at any time in ids home near the gates. They were strolling leisurely toward the hotel, for the moment forgetting their quest in this strange, sunny land, when thoy espied a carriage, the most conspicuous of any they had seen. The white horses were gayly capari soned, tho driver and the footman be side him wore rich uniforms, the ve hicle Itself gleamed and glistened with gold nnd silver trimmings. A short distance behind rode two young sol diers, swords to their shoulders, scab bards clanking against their stirrups. Each was attired in tho tight red trou sers, shiny boots, close Atting black coat with gilt trimmings and the red cap which the Americans had noted before because of its brilliancy. Peo ple along the street were bowing deep ly to the occupants, two ladles. "Harry! Look!" exclaimed Lorry, clutching his friend's arm like a vise. "Hurry: Look!" exclaimed Lurry "Tl ?r" In tho cnrHipro on this side!" His . ohm u as i; and lr unMlny "Miss Gug liUngciiHlockor7" cried AugUlSb, "Yes, yes!" They bad stopped, and Lorry was grasping a garden wall with one hand. "Then it's funny nobody knows the name here. 8ho seems to be some one of consequence. Good heaven! I dOD't blame you! She's tho most, beau tlful" By tili? time tho carriage was ab most opposite and within forty feet of where thoy stood. The ladles?Miss Guggonsl.H ker's companion was young and almost as beautiful as herself?had not observed tho agitated two, but Lorry's face was beaming, his hat was off, nnd he was ready to spring to tho carrioge side at a moment's warning. Then the young girl at the side of the woman whose beauty had drawn a man half around the world saw the raid strangers nnd called hoi sowi ? u>ii s attention to them. Once u. >i Grenfall Lony and Miss Guggenslock er wero looking into each other's eyes (TO BB CONTINUED). Old Hickory. Strength for the weak; comfort for the strong; pleasant and barmlei-s in vlgoration for both. Rich and mellow, pure old Kentuoky Whiskey. On g%le at all dispensaries. Adv. Have you seen Williamson's new Jewelry Store)