The Princess Elopes

en the luggage-racks above, and the gloom was notable rather than subdued. So far as he was concerned he was perfectly contented; his security was all the greater. He

on! It was downright scandalous! Whoever heard of such laws? Of course he had been rather silly in pulling his gun, for even in the United States-where he devoutly wished himself at that moment-it was a misdemeanor to car

e accustomed to the dim

ce!" he

not tell. She sat motionless, and appeared to be looking out of the opposite window. Well, so l

It was impossible. So he rose, steadied himse

fled exclamation which

e had he studied? If they were only asleep at the frontier! He returned the document to his pocket, and as he did so his fingers came into contact with the purse he had picked up in the road that morning-Hildegarde von Heideloff. What meant Fate in crossing her path with his? He had been perfectly contented in mind and heart before that first morning ride; and here he was, sighing like a furnace. She had been

ensation that some [Transcriber's note: someone?] was looking at you? Doubtless you have. Well, Max presently turned his glance toward his silent fellow trave

is throat. He tossed his hat to the floor

oach. "I can hear perfectly," she said; "it i

ld not remember when his hea

to enter this compartm

What was to account for

hat I meant was,

a great hurry." Where was his usual collectedness of

were palpitating and the corners o

last person I ever expected to see again. Indeed, you are only a fairy-story; there

er's name, and I saw fit to use it." S

er. When I gave you my name it was given in good faith

did!"-imp

anatomy." When Max began to utter tall phra

you my name, you wou

he fir

would have

how much he cared. (What was she doing in this carria

e circumstances I had the right to

nd sat down. Her protests

y well from over t

you should see; you can

ine pretense of looking out of the window. Why sho

was a

e as you were this morni

ice and sit a

into this compartm

nt I got into so long as I got into

s morning about going

er did

cter of this dialogue, that their morning

were in Barscheit to s

st nine to-night; but it app

way, too?"-with su

" he repeated. "Are

ain can carry me. I am

ined that we shall travel together thi

ssports,"-extending

ugh he were married. She gave the pape

uld have her every movement watched. If this American was watching her, the duke was vastly more astute than she had given him the credit for being. "Are you in the pay of the duke? Come, confess that you have follo

about," he said, mightily discouraged. "I never saw th

u running away th

slapped me in the face,"-bitterly;

!"-deri

miserably. "I'm a healthy-looking individual

r in the Spanish War. Why did you tell

nstein! I'm simply taking my ch

at the sight of the picture of woe on his face all her trust in him retu

ou everything to get back into your

were in my

at Müller's. He was a capital story-tel

ould not have been here," he concluded, "for my f

ess' elopi

e eloped to-night; so the r

she had ever heard. She saw the duke tearing around the palace, ordering the police hither and thither, sending

the revolv

es

t of the wi

ut

ill naturally search

ed regretfully at it, while the

rrible-loo

it all thro

way and buy

e assoc

d the cold night air rushed in. "Give it to me." He did so. She flung it

nything in this country-Wha

ith a re

they so frightful

. He wants-t

ry y

hat any man should desire

hing to say, he said nothing, but looked

he had eluded the duke's police! What a brilliant idea it had been to use her private carriage key to steal into the carriage compartment long before the train was made up! It had been some troub

was in! All she possessed in the world was a half-crown, scarce enough for her breakfast. And if she did not find her governess at once she would be lost utterly, and in Dresden! She choked back

O

t?" she sa

the silence. "You dropped your purse this morning. Permit me to return it to you. I hadn't the remote

atched it from h

for ever!" hugging it hysterically to her hea

even proudly, "I had not thought of looki

al catch in her voice, "all the money I had in the world was in that purse, and I was running away without any money,

usand

er hands. Then, with a smile as warm as the summer's sun, she ad

his was as near Heaven a

nto it," he said. "I'm a br

I?"-s

ark, that this was the one girl in all the world, the ideal he had b

efully, holding up th

n't have any money at all, so I could hel

attery! It tells her better what she may wish to kno

into his vest-pocket. Fool! Ass! How like a man! In changing his clothes at the

d the sequence in the look of d

ied. She separated the packet of n

iled

e th

e a watch, and there's always a

to help me,"

t quite t

uarter

understand? I r

one, then!"

take one." And when she gave it to him

st going to keep it; you don't intend

ach Doppelkinn, that I am without fun

nding you away as they did. Aren't

as they did,"-with a frank glance into her eyes. How beautif

y Doppelkinn were young

o marry in this count

s in my cir

nces were, but what he said was: "Is

l only suffer a temporary loss of liberty; my room will be my dungeon-keep." How big and handsome

is upper vest-pocket, and then fel

ed intuitively. "I s

ke," he advanced rather lamel

mmand

rain might go on and on and on, thousands of miles! He applied a

shall I

ok at random. I do not appreciate effects till I have found out the

know which. He had been found in Tyrol, in a railway station. A guard had first picked him up, then a kind-hearted man nam

ation let them know that you were not born in the United States.

iff I have arrested desperadoes, have shot and been shot at. Then I went East and entered a great college; went in for athletics, and wore my first dress-suit. Then

," she

rank, but surrendered it after the battle of Santiago. And now there are but tw

e other

I can't tell you

eart back in America." All her interest In his n

e left no sweetheart back in America. If I

, that she was glad that he had no sweetheart. Ah, well, nobody coul

lowing down," h

" She shaded her eyes and searche

t to the capi

miles beyond

stopped with a jerk. In what seemed to them an

eere

your Excellency!" addressin

nce of Doppelkinn was instantly framed in the doo

orders are that you shall follow me to the castle. Lieutenant, brin

. All the world seemed to hav

she said, low

ean?" His heart

, and your entering this carriage has prov

been going along so nicely-the dinner

rrying the prince." She turned to the officer in the doorway. "Colonel, on the

eathed

hness, but you will honor my strict observa

ess has eloped. Arrest and hold pa

sch

f the police. The princess sigh

s," said the c

need not tie my hands," he said

ked inquiringly

do as h

l beckoned for them to step forth. "Everything is prepared. There is a carriage for

h for it, or a running fight. What he had go

he princess, hold

avely bent his h

she whispered, so softly t

was driven up the dark, tree-enshrouded r

h me?" Max asked, as he gathe

r one thing you are passing under a forged passport. You are not an Ame

He was wondering if it would not be a good scheme to tell a straightforward story and ask to be returned to Barschei

t on the colonel; "I simply affirm that

If he did he might never see the princess again.... The princess! As far

the colonel to his men, and

ght line, Max could see the careening lights of the princess' ca