urney. Anguish, romantic and
full of adventure, advised the purchase of a pair of pistols and a
knife apiece, maintaining that, as they were going into an unknown
and mountainous region, they should be prepared for brigands and other
elements of danger. Lorry pooh-poohed the suggestion of brigands, but
indulged his mood by buying some ugly-looking revolvers and inviting the
prospect of something really thrilling in the way of an adventure. With
their traps they were soon whirling through France, bound for a certain
great city, on the road to Edelweiss, one filled with excitement,
eagerness and boyish zeal, the other harrassed by the sombre fear that
a grave disappointment was in store for him. Through the glamour and the
picturesqueness of the adventure there always crept the unconquerable
feeling that he was on a fool's errand, that he was committing a deed
so weak and brainless that it was sure to make him a veritable
laughing-stock when it became known. After all, who was Miss
Guggenslocker--brewer, baker, gardener or sausage-maker.

Traveling, of course, was pleasant at this time of the year, and the
two Americans saw much that interested them along the way. Their
French, especially Anguish's, was of great value to them, for they found
occasion to use it at all times and in all places. Both spoke German
fairly well, and took every opportunity to brush up in that language,
Lorry remembering that the Guggenslockers used many expressions that
showed a preference for the Teutonic. The blithe Anguish, confident and
in high feather, was heart and soul in the odd expedition of love, and
talked incessantly of their reception by the far-away hostess, their
impressions and the final result. His camera and sketching materials
were packed away with his traps. It was his avowed intention to
immortalize the trip by means of plate, palate and brush.

At the end of two days they reached a certain large city,--the first
change, and then seven hundred miles to another. The distance from this
point to the capital of Graustark was two hundred miles or more, chiefly
through mountainous lands. Somewhat elated by the cheerful information
there received, they resumed the journey to Edelweiss, the city of vale,
slope and park,--summer, fall and winter. Changing cars at the end of
the second day out, they sat back in the dusty seats of their carriage
and sighed with relief.

"Unless we jump the track, this train will land us in the city we