TWO COMMON PEOPLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 303, 19 December 1912, Page 10

TWO COMMON PEOPLE.

By REX COLVILLE,

CHAPT—R TIL THE BRAVE AND THE FAIR. _____ "___i_—ian hobbled ou the—m of a aer~a it to a capaenous arnr-c*_ir, into —hkh he sank with a savage grrmt of pain, the servant hastening to wheel _pot—»• —tair to snpport his injured legHe __—c no effort to co_c«_l his disgust at seeing his features thus duplicated in a man with a shabby suit, and throughout Sir Henry's explicit unfolding of the scheme, the ruler of PlestichBresner kept a disparaging eye upon his suggested "u-dersOTciy. When the exAmbassador ceased speaking, he addressed Chatter—>n _ith very grudging coar—sy-"Yatt-sre certainly like mc in feature and fejnn, Mr Cl—tterton," he said in a cnerulcms i, compte——ig vo'tc. " JDo you fanev yourself capable of undertaking this missionf* "'Capable of being a target?" asked Chat—-tan, nonchalantly. The Prince flushed. ""S ou mistake mc. If it —ere merely a <jue?stion of possible assault, I—l myself—would drive about in an open carriage, injured as 1 am. It is not as a protection to myself—far from it—that you are rejjuired. For cer—in reasons of State, into which 1 cannot expect you to enter, it is the reverse of advisable that—that—l should appear burs de combat." - I e_pect your leg's painf_!," suggested Cha—arton mildly. "It is, of course:*' was the irritable reply, ''but P-t"*s are to bear pain with fortitude." -•Tnthe back of the leg. I think?'' .;___ I was shot from behind —a cowareCv a—'" " How tiresome'" Chatterton stretched himself. He knew all he wanted to know of this despotic prince; he was eager for a—ion. . • _ I consent to your -temporarily unpersona—ng mc," -went on Prince Maximilian, with a elignity that made the comer- of Cm—terton's mouth twitch omi_<-_-.-V and elicited a sympatheuc cough from Sir Henry Haven'ord. "there are one or two points upon which 7. must insist. Firstly, that in every respect you cemdact yourself in a manner suh—ble to the exalted position into which you find yourself thrust—— Chatterton smiled, ""Do just what you yourself would do?" 5 he ineprired, meaningly. , The Prince frowned. Ton cannot judge what I should do," was the stern ""From h-arsay only. No doubt the n€-rspape-s exaggerate.*' Tire- He. I'm a much maligned man. •"Vejry H—■»*-. Please cut your instructions as short as possible, as Sir Henry has already outlined my duties, which, as far as I can see, consist chierny in evadbrg, or psdnfaily stopping, bullets and knives i-iended, for you. and pe«snadine a certain American heiress to «imV_arr__e contract with y<>urself. I %_3 w_ing to do this for the fee offered. Ia there anything else?" Prince M——-ilian threw hun a glance of disfavour. "The spirit in which you -appear to be entering upon your duties by no means commends itself to me,* he said shcrtlv. "This is no mission to be undertaken Eght-heartedly and in a spirit Ghatterton's mirthful M*s rested for a moment upon the red wig. auburn beard and highwayman s mackintosh that still adorned the wntin Tht Prince bit his lip and shot a savage glance at Sir Henry: an attention that was rewarded by the ex-Ambassa-dor with a pleasant. enMuragmg nod -"With regard to the negotiations witn the lady, whom I purpose honouring by raising her to my exalted potion, Went on Prince Max. ignoring further reference te the unfortunate articles of nT-te disguise, "you will pleas* understand that you will not be«Ded upon to exercise, in any way, those un doubted charms of manner and—er— deportment, which you seem to possess in so veny marked a degree The mat TerU one, purely and simply. KwOl bTnecessary for you to appear "In your clothes? Oh, no: I shall ask c_. Henry to advance mc fifty pounds for the purpose of buying a new pair of bSotT and. perhaps, a collar or two "T w_s not -omg to suggest anything so Is that you «Jaunt -™ar=elf in mv apparel," exclaimed tae __£ was about to say it will -Tnecessary for you to appear to Jfe van Camp and her mother » the light of one conferring, not seeing' -favour. It is only the hun-li-ting _g_Z of 'ready cash." I believe you _!?_£__* compels mc to break loose ftom *n the noble traditions ot my __jro_t Houee, and consent to an alh __ c Twith a commoner-lie as though taking a nauseous dranght— "and, withal, an American.' -"Gradofs condescension, vanned diatterton, who had been scarcely listeni_2 to —— inflated harangue. f«B is.*" agreed the Prince, for the first time evincing cordiality. Chatfcexfcon got up. "Where are you supposed to be staying?" he asked casually. . :*-At the Superb. 1 have a suite oi roo_6 there.*' "Then I shall, of course, stay there in your place?" ;Sir Henry nodded. "All the expenses wfll be defrayed," he said with a genial nod- •The Prince's valet has bejen telephoned for, and is probably waiting below at the present moment. He will conduct you to the hoteL He knows n_thing of has master's misfortune; he ■was not ■_._. him when—ah —the reYoJver -went off and the Prince with it." '•"Very •veHf re__arked Chatterton, __s_ng up bis battered hat, at tie sjght of -__—hi the Prin<*e tuined away pained eyee; "wSI you write mc out a cheque for the fifty p—mele —or ?" "Notes./* -greed Sir Henry amiably, passing over a crisp I—tie sheaf, "and •will you just sign this agreement, which also e__bodie>s a receipt," Prince Maxim"lran's understudy ' scrawled his tag—-tare at the foot of the sheet of paper with a laugh and a nourish. "There's only one other thing." he remarked lightly. "I suppose the Prince ! w_l lie close while I am putting things j straight for him." ; "I shall remain here,"' announced • Prince Max with alacrity. j Chaiteirton smiled. ' "Hidden ?"" he asked gentry. _-sL_?___** ba ** M g* ance -** X* physic_ counterpart. Prince Max. : J \

"One mome—t,** rejnaiked C——tea±on. "Supposing—just supposing I find my duties suddenly curtailed by—ah.— 4 bullet in the front of mc, more accurately aimed than the one to which Prince Maximilian extended a samewhat grudging hospitality? Supposing, in fact, 1 die; —a nrartyr to the spirit of reformation?" -"Well?" askcri the Prince grimly. "WeU. how -would that affect your" "With pleasure," was the vindictive reply. "I should let it be known that an impudent impostor had be»n guilty of the heinous offence of impesr-onating mc for his own wicked ejneis, and that he had justly reaped the harvest of his deception. The criminal would be arrested and hanged, and a revulsion of feeling in my favour would immediately t=et in. It would appear that JProvidence had interfered to prchteot mc. On the whole. I should be deilighted; I should become a re———tic figure in the public eye —the darling of every superstitious person in Eng—nd. And as there is no more superstitions edase of people in the world than your —.ealistic reformer—vol—, tout!" With an etxpression of spiteful triumph, the Prince bowed with mock deference, and a moment later the cxmdoor closed behind'him. Scarcely, however, had the tapestried curtain fallen into place than the door through which Chatterton and the Major had entered the ex-Am.ba_sador*s sanctum opened hurriedly. Sir Henry .sprang to his feet with a gesture of annoyance; such unceremonial entrance violated the most stringent rule of the exch_dve Emergency Agency. But rules and regulations were as nothing to Mrs. Van Camp when bent on attaining her objert. She had brushed aside all ejifficulties -with that marvellous assurance of a determined woman who hegrtatee not to exploit her own sex as a lever to the gaining of an end in view, and the protesting underlings of the Emergency Agency had wilted before hex coonpelling eye and crumbled beneath her impetuous rush. The manner of her entrance was one long crescendo. In her handa she held an early edition of an evening paper. There was panic in her flashing dark eyes. "Mrs. van Camp!" exclaimed Six Henry. He breathed a little hard. Another moment, and she would have seen two Princes! Chatterton had turned to face the i strenuous visitor. It was fche lady of the white motor! His gaze flew over her ample shoulder—ah!—there she was, standing in the doorway, tentatively hant-ting to enter! The'girl with the rebellious month and grey yearning eyes! the girl with the pate gilt hair! the girl —by Heavens! Miss van Camp! his destined fiancee by proxy! Mrs van Camp's Voice rose as she surged forward, "Sir Henry! Major Chavarard' this awful news in the paper!" She was evidently short-sighted, for only now did she catch sigh. c f Chatterton whose vivid blue eyes were fixed over her fur-swathed shejulders"Prince Max!" she cried, and tottered scat_ed! J ' "Madame," laughed Ciatterton, stotmed to pick up the. fallen paper,' "I am in the most robust hearth." He handed the newspaper to Sir Henry with a meaning glance. The ex-Ambas-sador ran his eye over the sheet. ''What an extraordinary canard!" he smiled. Pushing forward a chair, he waved an inviting hand to the youn-er lady. " «» ; •'Miss van Camp, pray sit dovtn. I f ear you have been unneceesia:rily a_r_—L" | The girl came forward slowly. From s drooping hand dangled the black furstole she had discarded. There was' nothing of alarm in her face; indeed, there was an unmistakable sneer on her lips. Her great grey eyes rested upon Chatterte)n in passing in a curiously speculating regard. He_- brows were drawn together in puzzlement. "I won't 3it down, thank you," she said, in a low-pitched, clear voice, pronouncing each word with a pretty distinctness. "My mother was upset by the news in the paper, and insisted upon my accompanying her here. It seems there was no rause for anxiety." "What does the paper say?" asked Chat terton. A contemptuous smile flitted across her lips. "It says—oh! read it out, please, Sir Henry, for I am sure I could not give full dignity to the recital of so momentous an occurrence." With twinkling eyes, the e_———_gador complied. "An extraordinary report, -which we give for what it may be worth, -became current this morning to the effect that Prince Ma_——— M, of Plestich-Bresner, was shot at, and wounded in the calf of the right leg, as he was seen entering No. 999, Victoria Street. Our informant adds that His Highness was wearing a red wig, an auburn beard, and an enveloping caped-eloak at the time. This report ie (juite unconfir—led." As Sir He—ry ceased reiading, Mrs. van Camp emitted- a startled shriek and pointed hysterically to the writing table. The eyes of the others followed her finger. There" on the table lay the incriminating disguise! Sir Henry rubbed bis hands together in feigned amusement. "Yes, yes," he said, in jocular tone, there are the comic articles of disguise;— but here is the Prinre unwounded! Cannot you see the silly __s—ke an overanxious reportea- has made? One of my servants, whom I employ on occasions in a secret capacity, was returning to. this office in that e>xtraordi_ary make-tfp; a zealous reformer fancied he recognised the Prince beneath the d_guise, and shot at him. The servant is now in the next room cursing his wound." Sir Henry took a few steps and epkeed his hand on Chatterton's shoulder. "The Prince of Plestich-Bresner would scorn so paltry a subterfuge" he announced proudly. Mr 3. van Camp's eyes were moist with emotion and restored" faith in her future son-in-law. Even her daughter had lost something of her uncompromising attitude. Chatterton was laughing gaily, if a little awkwardly. "Can you imagine mc in a red beard and wig!" he asked. Miss van Camp looked at him coldly. "If the story had been true," she replied with a shrug of her shoulders, "you would have been the laughing-stock of Europe, and I " "Yes, your" "I should have laughed with them." ; Chatterton.- smQe became broader. "Instead of which we can afford to laugh at them/ he- said, lightly, "and an excellent opporl—rity will occur at I—__. jit is a little late, but Mrs. van o__p, jwonld you and jot— daughter -do mc the ! honour of lunching _i{_. _ t m - ..feotel?" *