Jacksonville post., December 17, 1910, Image 2

' And so Dreiberg Jjo longer appeals
“Ah! But they have violated tin, ' knew exactly where he lsue<l to go—
“And lor what reason?”
ire:!'.
li linei silently drew on Ills cont. to v >n ' You ouce told me that you
j No. 40. After all. v. ho v as the lady
loved it.”
’That dep'mds upon whet tor their ! in black, and why should he bother
-Ach So you have,olio too?”
■I am cursed with wanderlust, your
preset' e here it or Is uot a menace t>> himself about her? She probably came
“One W ll.lt?”
high ness.”
the
state.
If
they
are
here
<>n
private
"One
uevret.
”
Ì h ÌÌ;. - '■
from the back stairs of the palace.
"Y u promised to tell me what she
concerns which in nowise touch I And yet tlie chancellor himself bud
“Yes. But it’s Ike kind we can't talk
Is
like.”
Ebrenstein
it
would
be
foolhardy
to
about.”
, I
j been iu this place.
S . tdenly all his fear went away, all
J
declare war.”
”
l
understand.
Have
you
had
brea!;
A step? He trained Ills ear. But
bis trepidation. The spirit of reckless-
"What <!<> you advise?’ wearily.
fit st?“
n< ■ w! lch had vised him a little while
"Waft. In a day or so arrest them I even as lie did so his arms were
“
No.
’
under the pretext that you believe , grasped firmly and twisted behind his
“Neither have T. Let us go togeth- ago i gain empowered him. He was
afraid of nothing.
I hem to bo spies. If this invasion is back, and nt the same time s cloth was er.”
it. • shall I describe her?” he said.
harmless and they declare themselves wrapped round the lower part of his
There
wns
a
large
crowd
outside
the
—0
the matter can be adjusted In this face, leaving only his eyes and nose palace that night, w hich wns dear anil "I I av< seen only paintings and mar-
wise: Ignore their declaration and con­ visible. He was helpless, lie was starry. because of a great ball. A bio . and these are Inanimate. Have
you ever seen ripe wheat in a rain-
fine them a day or two In the city fighting against three.
Then one of the three whistled. A troop of cavalry patrolled the fence storm? That is the color of her hair.
prison, then publish the news broad­
Carriage
after
carriage
rolled
In
cast. Having themselves broken the minute or two after a dosed carriage through the gates, coming directly from There are jade and lapis lazuli in her
lie leaned toward her. “And
eye
letter if not the spirit of the treaty, came into tlie Krumerweg. and Car­ the opera.
I love her better than life, better than
they will not dare declare war. Every michael was literally bundled Inside.
And
close
by
the
sentry
box
Car
­
Ilis feet and hands were bound.
court In Europe will laugh."
michael saw Gretchen and her vintner. hope, and between us there is tho
FT^HERE is no need for you to be
The carriage began to move slowly. Carmichael could not resist stopping distance of a thousand worlds. So I
The duke laughed. "You are right,
One turn after another he counted, fix­ a moment. He raised his hat to must give up the dream and go away,
Herbeck. Ah, here Is the chief.”
JL worn out by holiday preparations
Ilerbeck read the letter in part to the ing as well as he could the topography Gretchen to the wonder of those near­ as an honorable man should.”
Neither of them heard the chancel­
chief, who jotted down tlie words, re­ of the town through which they were est.
if you make good use of your telephone.
peating aloud in a kind of mutter; "A passing. Once the road outside of
"Do you know where the American lor’s approach.
“And because I love her!”
The Beil telephone companies have found that just
mountaineer, a vintner, a carter, a Dreiberg was reached a fast pace .was consulate is?” he asked low, so that
set. At tlie Jugendheit barrier the car­ none but Gretchen and the vintner
Iler fan dropped to the floor.
butcher
and
a
baker.
You
-will
give
me
before Christmas the number of daily connections is
riage stopped. Presently there appear­ heard.
“Your highness,” broke in the cold,
their descriptions, your excellency?”
the highest for the year. The telephone has become a
ed at the door an old man dressed as
Herbeck rend the postscript.
“Yes,” said the vintner, blushing even tones of Ilerbeck, "your father is
n mountaineer. In his hand was a with shame. “I live above the agen­ making inquiries about you.”
necessity of the holiday season, because without it
“But you didn’t tell 1dm who”—
lantern.
Carmichael rose instantly, white as
cy.”
“
Why
should
he
know?
”
said
Her
­
most people would not have time to do what they have
“Pardon me, denr nephew— Fools!”
beck. glancing shrewdly at the duke.
“Good! I shall expect to see you in the frill in Ills shirt.
planned.
Ilildegarde, however, was a princess.
“His Ignorance will be all the better he broke off, swinging round. “He has the morning.”
tricked you all. This Is not he!”
But the vintner was determined that She gained her feet leisurely, with a
for the plot.”
Christmas cheer extends beyond the city limits,
Three astonished faces peered over he shouldn’t. He would be at work half smile on her lips.
“On» ts r.r big and powerful as a
and the universal Bell System helps to carry it
“Count, Herr Carmichael tells me
Carpathian bear. Look out,” warned the old man's shoulder. One was a In the royal vineyards on the morrow.
carter, another a butcher and the third
throughout the land.
“Tomorrow?” repeated Gretchen, to thiit he is soon to leave Dreiberg.”
Ilerbeck.
“Ah!” There was satisfaction in
u baker.
whom this byplay was a blank. “Why
‘And he is?”
Ilerbeck’s ejaculation. But there was
Carmichael, now freed, stretched should he wish to see you?”
The mountaineer.”
himself.
"Who knows? Let us be going. It a glint of admiration in his eyes as
And the vintner?”
®vTflE PACIFIC TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH CO
“Well?” he said, with a dangerous is half after 10,” he added, as if to put he recognized the challenge In Carmi­
“Oh, he is a little fellow and hasn’t
forward some logical excuse for leav­ chael’s. “We shall miss Herr Carmi­
grown Ids bite yet,” said Herbeck quiet.
“Herr Carmichael, the American con­ ing nt this moment.
Every Bell Telephone i» the Center of the System
chael.”
dryly.
Iler highness moved Berenly toward
sul!” The old man nearly dropped the
A man followed them all the way to
The duke laughed again,
the door. Carmichael waited till she
“I thank you, Ilerbeck. You have lantern. “Oh, you infernal block­ the Krumerweg.
Carmichael threw himself eagerly was gone from sight; then he stooped
neatly arranged * toe comedy. When heads!"
Carmichael’s anger dissolved, and he into tlie gayety of the dance. He was and picked up the fan.
the arrest Is uindw, give it as much
•
*•••*•
publicity as possible. Take a squad of laughed. All the mystery was gone. au accomplished waltzer, after tho
The entrance to the vast ducal vine­
soldiers. It will give it a military He saw how neatly lie had been duped. manner of that day, when one went
He still carried the note. This he gave round and round like some mechan­ yards was made through a small lodge
look.”
“No, your highness,” touching the to the lender of this midnight expe­ ical toy wound up. This would be the where the dtical vintner lived and kept
last affair of the kind for him. and he his books and moneys till such time as
papers which strewed his desk. “This dltion.
"Humph!” said the old man in a wanted a full memory of it. Between he should be required to place th«*i
will keep me busy well Into the even-
growl. “I thought as much.” lie whls- times he exchanged a jest or two with before the proper official. Upon the
Ing.”
pered to his com­ the chancellor or talked battles with morning following the ball at the pal­
The duke left the cabinet.
panions. “II err old Ducwitz. Thrice while on tho floor ace the vintner was reclining against
Ilerbock instructed the chief.
Carmi chael, I her highness passed him. But there the outside wall of the ggtes, smoking
"Begin with the mountaineer and the
shall have the was never a smile, never a glance. He his china pipe and generally at peace
vintner; the others do not matter so
honor of escort­ became careless and reckless. He with the world. He discerned a soli­
much.” Then Herbeck laughed. The
ing you back to would seek her and talk to her and tary figure approaching from the direc­
chief raised his head. He had not
smile at her even if the duke threw a tion of Dreiberg—a youthful figure,
Dreiberg.”
heard his excellency laugh like that
On the way it regiment in between. He saw Grum- buoyant of step and confident. Herr
in many moons. "Report to me your
all came back to bach in the gallery.
Hoffman was rather Interested. The
progress. Good luck to you!” said
“Now, what the devil Is the Dutch­ fouth paused at th* gate and Inspected
Carmichael with
Herbeck with a gesture of dismissal.
Copyright, 190fl. by the Bobb» Merrill Company
the vividness of man doing with a pair of opera •he old man highly.
Her highness found the duke wait­
a forgotten photo­ glasses?”
“Herr Hoffman, I want work.”
ing
In
her
apartments.
his frlen'd Carmichael stopped his
ICONT1NUED.J
Later her higliness stood before one
graph come upon
“So? What can you do?”
“
Why,
father,
”
kissing
him,
“
what
horse.
of
the
long
windows
in the couserva-
suddenly — Bonn,
The youth recounted his abilities.
me two were embarrassed.
“Ilerr Grumbaeh,” said Carmichael, brings you here?”
the Rhine, swift tory listlessly watching the people In
The little cavalcade directed its “her serene highness desires mo to pre­
“I have a letter to you also.”
“A little ldeu I have In mind,
and turbulent, a tho square. -Was that some one com­
“Let me see It.”
course toward the city.
drew
her
down
to
the
arm
of
the
chair.
sent you.”
towheaded young ing for her? She turned.
Hoffman saw it, but with starting
"We all have our little day dreams.”
"You have not been riding of into,”
Hana was stricken dumb.
It
was
Carmichael.
fellow who could
“Who does not. father?” She slid
eyes. There was. then, something new
she said.
She piled him with a number of
What an opportunity for scandal! under the sun. A picker of grapes rec­
not swim well,
Then she had missed him. Carmi­ questions—how many battles they had her arm round Ills neck.
his own plunge, She laughed Inwardly, The barons ommended by n princess!
“Herr Carmichael Is a fine fellow,
chael's heart expanded.
fought in, how many times they had bravo, witty, shrewd. If all Americans VINTNER? NOT MUCH! his fingers In the and their wives, the ambassadors’
"Du Heber Gott! You are Leopold
“I have ridden the same ns usual, been wounded.
are like him America will soon become flnxen hair and the hard fight to the wives and their daughters, would miss
ymr highness. only 1 have taken this
Iler highness’ mare grew restive and a force in the world. I have taken landing. All thia was a tale twice tcld. them both. And the spirit of deviltry Dietrich?"
‘•Yes, herr.”
road tor a change.”
began pawing
lay also upon her heart. She smiled
• Vintner? Not much!
“Ah!” She patted tho glistening neck
the road. She a fancy to him, and you know what
"How did you come by this letter?"
at the man and with her fan hade him
CHAPTER XII.
of her mare. So he had purposely
reined in quick­ they say of your father—no formality
“Her serene highness is patron to
bo
seatep
at
her
side.
HER FAN.
tried to avoid her? Why? She stole
ly. As she did with those whom he likes. Humanly
Gretchen, the goose girl, at whose re­
“
You
have
not
asked
mo
to
dance
to
­
so something lam right, but in the virtue of every­
n sly glance at him. Why were not
T was dawn when they began to night,” she declared.
quest tho recommendation was given
kings molded in this form? All tho
yellow
flashed day events in court life I am wrong.
pull up the road to Dreiberg In n
me.”
"I
am
neither
a
prince
nor
an
ambas
­
downward to the Ilerbeck has spoken of It, the older
kings she had met bad something the
carriage. The mountaineer bad sador.”
This altered matters. The two en­
ground. Grum- women speak of it. and they all say”—
matter with them—crooked legs, weak
been riding with the driver, The
tered the office.
“
But
you
have
danced
with
me.
”
I
"What
do
I
care
what
they
say?
”
bach hastened
ryes, bald, young or old, and daft
carriage stopped.
I
"Can you write?”
“Yes; I have been to heaven now
hotly. "Are you not the grhnd duke,
forward.
gaming tables and opera dancers,
“I shall not intrude, I trust?” said and then.”
“A little, herr."
locket," and am 1 not your daughter?"
the ono man among them all—at least
the old man, opening the door and get­
“Then write your name on this piece
“And do you eject yourself thus easi­
"You niimt ride uo more with Ilerr ting in.
her higli-
she had been informed that the king
of paper and that. Each night you
ly?”
lies;
Carmichael.
It
is
neither
wise
nor
nnxlously.
of Jugendheit was all of a man—had
“Not now," replied Carmichael.
“By turning myself out my self es­ will present yours with the number of
Is not bro- safe.”
politely declined.
“What Is all this about?”
pounds, which jvili be credited to you.
teem
remains unruffled.”
“Father!”
liighness,”
“I atn guilty of lose majesty,” ho sug­
“A trifle.” The old man thought for
You must bring it back each morning.
“
Then
you
expected
to
be
turned
Grumbaeh
He was up with his arms folding awhile. “Suppose you had a nephew out?”
gested.
If you lose it you will be paid nothing
Then he hand around her. “Child. It
1 Is only for your who was making a fool of himself over
"I shall not lock you up,” she said,
“As I have said, I am not a prince. for your labor.”
" oott !
her
ed
it
to
sake.
Listen
to
me.
a woman.”
and ndded under her breath, "as iny
Dietrich wrote his name twice. Still
I am only a consul, not even a diplo­
MUREI1.
gravely,
"You must be a princess. You must
“Nothing unusual In that.”
good father would like to. “Besides,”
Hoffman was not wholly satisfied with
mat,
simply
a
business
arm
of
my
“Thank you!"
highness put tlie steel your heart against the invasion
"Suplióse, though of good character, government, My diplomacy never as- his eyes.
she continued aloud, “I rather like to
set the court by the ears. Ah, but I lock'd Into a small purse which she of love unless It comes from a state she was vastly his inferior In station; cends above the quality of bops and
“Gottlieb,” he said to one of the men.
that marriage to him was merely a wines Imported. I am supposed to “take him to terrace 98. We’ll see
shall lead some king a merry life!” carried in her belt, touched the marc, equal or superior to your own.”
and
sped
up
the
road.
Carmichael
fol
­
"Yes,
father.
I
shall
not
ride
with
political contract. What would you
what sort of workman he is.” Ho
with n wicked gleam In her eyes.
lowing.
lihn any more.”
do?”
spoke to Dietrich again. “What is
"Frederick of Jugendheit?”
Grumbaeh
returned
to
tho
parapet
"Be a brave heart, and I shall engage
“I believe I begin to understand.
Gretchen to you?” For Hoffman knew
“Is it true that you have not heard
“Gott!” he murmured.
to find a king for you.”
“I am grateful for that.”
Gretchen.
yet? I have declined the honor.”
His face was ns livid as the scar
“I don’t want any playthings, fa­
“Your nephew is an ungrateful
“She Is my sweetheart, herr.” And
“Your highness?”
ther.” with the old light touch, and wretch. He knew nil along who I
there was no mockery In the youth’s
“This, of course, is ns yet n state on his head.
then
she
looked
him
full
In
the
eyes.
was,” went on the American. “I drag­
eyes as he suld this.
secret, and my reason for telling you
CHAPTER XI.
"1 promise to do nothing more to cre­ ged him out of the Rhine upon a cer­
“Take him along, Gottlieb.”
is not a princess’s, but n woman's.
THE WRONG MAN.
ate comment if. on the other hand, tain day, and he plays this trick!”
Terrace 98 was given over to small
Solve it if you can.”
ERBEOK dropped his quill, and you will promise to give me two years
“You? Carmichael, Carmichael, of
grapes. Thus many bunches bad to be
Carmichael fumbled tho reins blind­
there was a dream In his more of freedom.”
course; I should have remembered the
picked to fill the basket. But Dietrich
ly. “They suy that ho is a handsome
eyes.
He
sat
there
motion
­
The
duke
readily
assented
and
short
­
name as he wrote me at the time.
went to work with a will. Ills fingers
young man.”
less. rapt. And thus the duke ly returned to his suit rather pleased Thank you! And you knew him
were deft, and Ills knife was sharp,
“What hns that to do with It? The found him. He held a letter in his that there had been no scene—not that
the while?”
and by midsun he bad turned his sixth
Interest ho takes in bls kingdom Is pos­ hand and tossed it to Ilerbeck.
he had expected any.
“No. I recalled his face, but
basket, which was fair work, consid­
itively negative. There will be only
“I shall throw 10,000 men across the
Considerable activity was manifest time and. place were in the dark
ering.
ono king In Jugendheit, and that will frontier tonight.”
In the police bureau the rest of that this early morning. Here we are at
As Hoffman did not feed his em­
be the prince regent”
day.
"War again?”
the gates, What’s this? Guards?
ployees, Dietrich was obliged to beg
They were silent for a few minutes.
“Read that. It Is the second anony­
To return to Carmichael, he had never saw them nt these gates before.
from his coworkers. Very willingly
Finally the ambassador spoke.
mous communication I have received never before
himself with
After some trouble they passed the
they shared with him their coarse
“I havo some news for your high­ within a week. As tho first was truth­ resignations, concerned
to this hour he had guards.
bread and onions. He ate the bread
ness. I am about to ask for my recall.” ful, there Is no reason to believe this never resigned Up
anything he had set his
The mountnlneer got out quickly,
and stuffed the onions In his pocket.
The color ou her cheeks paled a one to be false.”
heart upon. So it was uot an easy closed thealoor. spoko a word to the
Once more the youth was alone. He
shade lighter.
Ilerbeck was genuinely startled.
matter for him to compose a letter to driver and slipped Into an alleyway.
set down Ills basket and laughed. Was
"Is not this sudden?’ she asked.
“What do you say to that?” tri­ the secretary of state resigning the
Carmichael arrived at the Grand ho­
there ever such a fine world? The
“I am essentially a man of action, umphantly.
post nt Dreiberg. True, he ndded that tel In time to see her serene highness,
very danger of It was the spice which
your highness. I am growing dull and
“This let them go quietly back to
I
he desired to be transferred to a sea­ accompanied by two of her ladles and
gave it flavor.
stupid amid these charming pleasures. Jugend belt.”
port town. France or Italy preferred. an escort of four soldiers, start out for
"I love her, I love her!” His face
I am wicked enough to wish for war.”
“No!" blazed the duke.
The high altitude in Dreiberg had af­ her morning ride. He waited till they
grew bright again, and the wooing
"
and BECAUSE I LOVE HER!
“Cherchea la femme!” sho cried.
“Are we rich enough for war?"
fected bis heart. However, In case had passed, then slunk Into the hotel.
blood ran tingling in his veins. “Am
“There is a woman?”
"What the devil is my army for If there was no other available post they The concierge gazed at him in amaze­ take In any wandering sailor, feed him I n thief, a scoundrelly thief, because
“Oh, yes!” recklessly.
not to uphold my dignity, Ilerbeck?”
would kindly appoint his successor at ment. Carmichael winked. The con­ and ship him home. I am also the of­ I have tlint right common to all men
“Then go to her, my friend; go to
“Rather let me reason. This is some ouce. It took courage indeed to face cierge smiled. He understood. Amerl- ficial guide of all American tourists.”
to love one woman? Some day I shall
her.” And she waved her crop over prank. They would never dare enter the matter squarely and resolutely. enner or Ehrenstelner, the young fel­
“That is no reason.”
suffer for this; some day my heart shan
his head ns in benediction.
“Your father"— He should have said ache. So be It!” •
Dreiberg for aught else.”
That she was not going to marry the lows were all the same.
He did not spenk, but caught up tho
“I have seen this writing before,” king of Jugendheit did not alter his
"Guards nt the gntes,” mused Car­ the grand duke.
Ills fingers were growing sore and
reins firmly. She did most of the talk­ said Herbeck.
“Ah. yes; my father, the chancellor, sticky and there was a twinge In his
affairs in the least. It was all hope­ michael as he soaked Ills hend and face
ing, brightly and gayly, but his ears
Tho duke struck the bell violently.
the
nmbnssndors
and
their
wives
and
less. He must go.
In cold water. “By George. It looks
back as he shouldered his eighth bas­
were dull for the undercurrent passed
"Summon the chief of police,” he
Some one wns knocking ou tlie door, as if my friend the vintner was In for daughters! I begin to believe that you ket and scrambled down to the man
by him. He was thinking deeply of said to the secretary.
have grown afraid of them.”
"A letter for your excellency,' saiil some excitement!”
who weighed the pick. He was be­
her.
"I confess that I have. I had an ad­ ginning his ninth when he saw Gretch­
“Will your highness leave the matter the concierge.
Gretchen! Carmichael stopped, his
Within n few hundred yards of tho in my hands?” asked the chancellor.
“If Herr Carmichael would learn tho collar but halfway around his throat. venture last night. Would you like en coming along the purple aisle.
gates Carmichael saw a lonely figure
"Herbeck, in some things you are secret of No. -10 Krumerweg let him Now, by the Lord, that should not be! to hear about it?’
"What a beautiful day!" said Gretch­
“Tel! me."
sitting on the parapet. He would have weak.”
nttlre himself as a vintner and be In He would wring the vintner’s neck,
en. with a happy laugh.
He told her.
recognised that square form anywhere.
“And in others I am strong,” smiled the Krumerweg nt 8 o’clock tonight." lie wns not in au amiable mood. Some
“Kiss me.*’
“Your highness, do you see that man tho chancellor. "I am weak when
"A veiled lady,” she mused. “What
This note was ns welcome to the re­ one hammered on the door.
“When you fill that basket.”
would you say if 1 told you that your
yonder on the parapet? We fought in there is talk of war; I aiu strong cipient ns the flowers in the spring.
Grumbnch entered.
"Not before?"
the same cavalry. He is covered with when peace is in the balauce.”
An adventure? He was ready, now
“You are augry about something.” he mystery is no mystery at all? I am the
"Not even a llttl* one,”’mischief in
veiled
lady.
And
the
person
I
went
to
Bears. Not one man in a thousand
"Is it possible, Herbeck, that you nud always.
said.
her glance.
would have gone through xs tint he did do not appreciate the magnitude of
"I shall need the costume of a vint­
“So I am. But you are always wel­ see was my old nurse, my foster moth­
Out came the knife, and the vintner
the situation?”
er. with whom I spent the happiest, plied himself furiously. Gretchen had
and lived.”
nor this evening,' ile said.
come.”
freest days of my life in the garret at a knife of her own, and she joined
"It is precisely because I do that I
“Is he an American?’
"You have overslept?”
"Oh. that will be easy,” affirmed the
Dresden. Pouf! All mysteries may be him.
"By adoption. May I present him! | wish to move slowly. Walt. Let the concierge.
“No; on the contrary."
police find out why they are here.
It will be the joy of his life.”
"Ton are disturbed. I'd like to know dispelled if we go to the right person
So It came about that Carmichael,
•There!” he said at last. "That’s
“Certainly. Bravo men Interest me.” I There will be time euough then to de­ dressed as a vintner, his bat over his what's going ou in that builet head of I So you are to be recalled?’
what I call work. But It Is worth It.
“I have asked for my recall, your
Grumbaeh rose, thinking that the! clare war. They have never seen her eyes, stole iuto the misty night and j yours.”
(VO BE OOBC1XUXD.}
riders were going to pass him. But I highness. Who knows ?’
took the way to the Krumerweg. He 1 “I have resigned the consulshlu.” • I highness."
THE/TELEPHONE AT CHRISTMAS-
R
By HAROLD MacGRATH
I
H