The Princess Elopes

d with European life is the

the dinner at Müller's. I was dressing when Max e

ba-has to cross the sea, and is, in some unaccountable manner, weakened in the transit. There are worse cigars in Germany than in France, and I wouldn't have believed it possible, if I had not gone to the trouble of provin

id I, strugglin

over at the custom house

y. A Havana, and one

ll with the dinner. So, if you don'

to Müller, at half-pas

He knew where t

ne couldn't see the way to the door when the students started in to "clean up the place," to use the happy idiom of mine own country. There were marble tables and floors and arches and light, cane-bottomed chairs from Kohn's. It was at once Bohemian a

. In America it would have been the fashion; but in the capital of Barscheit the women ate in the restaurant

o many unwritten laws, and you were obliged to observe these with all the fidelity and attention that you gave to the enameled signs. Only the military had the right to request the orchestra to repeat a piece of music. Sometimes the lieutenants, seized with that gay

there was a case of Doppelkinn's sparkling Moselle. I may as well state right here that we neither heard our national anthem nor drank the vinta

ed around, and if Max hadn'

hey swarmed about me like so many young dogs. Truth to tell, none of them was under twenty, and two or three were older than myself. But to them I

ht easily have been brothers. Ellis was slighter; that was all the difference. I gave him his pape

h Doppelkinn,

Dresden whom I wish to

ood luck

rom the ten-yard line. (But where the deuce was Max?) I took a little flag from my pocket and stuck it into the vase of poppies, and the boys clapped their hands. You never realize how beautiful your flag i

bottle of light wine. Usually there were five chairs to the table, but even if only two were being used no one had the right to withdraw one of the vacant

ntly and inquired what right it had in a public restaurant in Barscheit. Ordinarily his question would not have

hat flag in this country, and I am accredited with certain privileges, as doubtless

t the fellow's table sat Lieutenant von St?rer, Doppelkinn's nephew and heir-presumptive. He was,

the fear that the officers might ruin

?) Laughter rose and fell; the clinkle of glass was heard; voices called. And then Max came in, looking as cool as you please, though I coul

epped over to the officers' table and plucked forth the vacant chair. For a wonder the officers appeared to give this act

s?" I asked as Max s

livious of the probable storm that was at that moment gathering for a

as run away, and they believe that she has ridden toward the Pass in a closed carriage. T

more or less familiar with the

o Doppelki

d gi

ho is ill," went on Max, feeling the importance of his news. "They traced her there. From the steward's the carriage w

St?rer had risen and was coming our way. He stopped at Max's side. Max looked up to receive Von St?rer'

orrified, for I knew his tremendous strength. If he showed fight, Von St?rer would calmly saber him. It was the custom. But Max surprised me. He was the coolest among us, but of that

vously. The American had ignored his insult. Presently he r

nd that?" he aske

of those with me, he tranquilly pulled out a murderous-looking Colt and laid it beside his plate. He went on

y took down their sabers and made a bee-

to his hip-pocket and gave

ried, when I found voice for m

downs this half," he replied smartly. "O

produced his passports and tick

for?" Max ask

ave your hide. Take them and get to the station as quickly as you can. And for t

n. A beggar walks up to me and slaps me in the face for nothing

other; to take out a revolver in Barscheit, unless you were an officer or had a permit, was worse than an insult; it was a crime, punishable by long imprisonment. They could accuse him of being either an anarchist or a socialist-red, coming to Barscheit wit

gasped; "why did

is' papers, otherwise you stand pat for a heap of trouble, and I can't hel

ere to study!

nstein; it is not a matter of a man's courage, but of his common sense. Take the tickets and light o

ce without punching that beggar's head?"-i

ing valuable time. Those officers have gone for the police. You have

ow we got him there. He sputtered and fumed and swore, as all brave men will who feel that they are running away in a cowardly fash

hree years; refer to me by telegraph if there is any question as to your new

till it melted away into the blackness beyond the terminus covering; then we, I and my fellow diners, went soberly into the street. Here was a howdy-do! Suddenly Ellis let out a sounding laugh,

heir search for the man with the gun. They would first visit the consulate and ascertain what I knew of the affair; when they got through with the

t the grand duke was having troubles of his own. He was pacing wildly up and down in his dressing-room. Clutched in his fist was a crump

ing desperate. Do not send for me, for you will never

deg