“i HEDWIG AND THE CROWN PRINCE WAIT IN VAIN FOR THE RETURN OF NIKKY. Synopsis~The crown prince of Livonia, Ferdinand William Otto, ten years old, taken to the opera by his aunt, tires of the singing and slips away to the park, where he makes the acquaintance of Bobby Thorpe, a little American boy. Returning to the palace at night, he finds everything in an uproar as a result of the search which has been made for him, The same night the chancellor calls to consult the boy's grandfather, the old king, who is very ill. The chancellor sug- gests that to preserve the kingdom, which is threatened by plots of the terrorists to form a republic, the friendship of the neighboring kingdom of Karnia be secured by giving the Princess Hedwig in mar- riage to King Karl of that country. Countess Loschek, lady-in-waliting to Princess Annunciata, Hedwig's mother, is In love with King Karl for her marriage. Karl. The messenger is attacked dummy letter substituted. Captain Hedwig, Hedwig, who loves by agents of the terrorists and a Larisch, unaware of the substitu- CHAPTER VL m—i— Two Prisoners. | Herman Spier had made his escape with the letter. He ran through tor- | tuons byways of the old city, under arches into court yards, out again by doorways set in the walls, twisted, doubled like a rabbit. And all this with no pursuit, save the pricking one | terror. But at last he halted, looked abou$, perceived that only his own guilty conscience accused him, and took breath. He made his way to the house in the shadow of the park until, an letter buttoned his coat, and, finding the lurked in the shadow of the park until an hour later, Black Humbert himself ap- peared. He eyed his creature with cold an- r.- “It {is a marvel,” he that such flight as yours brought the police in a pack heels.” “I had the letter,” Herman sulkily. “It was necessary it.” of now inside doors closed, sneered, ha not at your RB Pr < replied to save ““ You were to see where Niburg took the substitute.” But here Herman was sneer. “Niburg!” he sald, well enough that he will stitute tomight, or any strike hard, my friend.” The o« they entered street. In the niece, daughter of a kept the bureau, answers f after nine o'clock, when the doors were | bolted, admitted the various occupants | of the house and gave them the tiny tapers with which to light themselves upstairs, softly when they entered, “All right, girl. You may go,” Humbert. “Good the one to “You know eno sub- nelerge growled, an the house of milk «1 the hel ahsence She was sewing and singing said to bath." Herman gone, the girl! nod. concierge night gave you eaid, : When locked “And the tre: He rubbed together ns Herman produced the letter. Heads close, they examined it nader the lamp. Then they glanced at each other, “A ciplber” said the shortly. “It tells nothing. “Code !" And struck the paper with hairy fist, “Everything goes wrong. and she the door behind her. Spier a was the now," said, a look at! sure.” | his hands concierge | a I sent him off I” the two, Humbert furnished evil and strength, but it was the pallid clerk who fur- nished the cunning. a suggestion “rt jut Now, as between is poss id help.” Are you mad?” He knows codes. It was by means of one we caught him, I have heard that all these things have one basis, and a simple one.” The concierge considered. Then he “It is worth trying,” he ob- “Adelbert? “The other. rose, served. He thrust the letter into his pocket, » two conspirators went out into There, on a ledge, and one he lighted, the draft in the hol- great hand. Then he led * to the top of the house. three rooms. One, the Herman Spier's, a poor ing at that, Next to it was old Adel At the extreme end of the nar- oorrid in a alm blocked by old furniture, was another room, a of attic, with a slanting fold tapers, from Here =e, wns were 1's. row ORt » Ty s passage sort ng sure that old Adelbert did not hear them, they went back to this ] which the concierge unlocked. » the room was dark. The taper little. As their eyes became tomed to the darkness, the ot lines of the attic stood revealed, a junk room, piled high with old trunks, and corner a bed. ck Humlsget, taper in hand, ap- bed. Herman remained uear the door. Now, with the candle r, the bed revealed a man lying on it, and tied with knotted ropes; a ) n, with sunken and desperate eyes. him, a chair, were the fragments of a meal, a bit of broken bread, some cold on which grease had formed a firm coating. Lying there, nd sleeping again, in or Bl: proached Ie the nen cheeks young ma Jeside soup, sleeping and waking young Haeckel, ne time of his majesty’s secret serv- i and student in the university, had lost track of the days. He knew not how long he had been a prisoner, ex- cept that it had been eternities, Twice a day, morning and evening, came his Co sort, and allowed him, not out of mercy, but because it was the pleasure that for a time he should live, to move about the room of a committee's limbs. The concierge untied him, and stood back. “Now,” he said. But the boy-—-he was no more—Ilay st. He made one efforeto rise, and fell back. “Up with you!" said the concierge, and jerked him to his feet. He caught the rail of the bed, or he would have fallen, “Now--stand like a man.” He stood then, facing his captors without deflance. He had worn all that out in the first days of his Im- prisonment, “Well? he sald at last. “I thought “Right, my cuckoo. But tonight 1 | i “pA Cipher,” Said the Concierge Short. ly. “It Tells Nothing” That blond devil interferes, and now this letter speaks but of blankets and | loayes !" The bell rung, and, taking care to | thrust the letter out of sight, the con- | clerge disappeared. Then ensued, In the hall, a short colloghy, followed by a thumping on the staircase, The concierge returned, But seeing that Haeckel was sway- some He can do nothing for us in this state.” He drank the brandy eagerly it came, and the concierge poured him a second quantity, What with weak- ness and slow starvation, it did what no threat of personal danger would have done. ance, Not immediately. hard, when the matter was first broached to him. But in the end he took the letter and, holding it close to the cafdle, he examined it His hands shook, his eyes burned. The two terrorists watched him. Brandy or no brandy, however, he He glanced up suddenly. “Tell me something about this,” he said. “And what v '!1 you do for me If T decode 117” The concierge would promise any thing, and did. Haeckel listened, and knew the offer of liberty was a lie, | But there was something about the | story of the letter itself that bore the { hall marks of truth, | “You see,” finished Black Humbert { cunningly, “she—this lady of the court | —is plotting with some one, or 80 we i suspect. If it is only a laison—!" He spread his hands. “If, as Is pos- sible, she betrays us to Karnia, that | we should find out. It is not,” He ndded, “among our plans that Karnia | should know too much of us.” The brandy was still working, but the spy's mind was clear. He asked | for a pencil, and set to work. { all, if there was a spy of Karl's in the | palace, it were well to know it. He | tried complicated methods first, to find that the body of the letter, after all, was simple enough, By reading every tenth word, he got a consistent mes- | w hich the concierge had railed, | special words for certain regi- | ments. These he could not decipher, “Whoever was to receive this,” he said at last, “would been In possession of complete of code have data He Crumpled Up in a Heap. army, equig 11, and the loca- tion of } Probably you and your band of murderers have already.” oe ie ment and yYarious regi nts, & concle And for “l1 eannot titionus, of course,’ Black Humbert scowled. said. “You tell us only a part!" “There is nothing else to tell, as I have written here, the ends: ‘I must see you at once, "- ¢ nodded, no whit ruf whom was it inten: 7? envy. he address is fic- “So he Rave, writer Let me know where, The brandy was getting In its work well by that time. He was feeling strong, less, ut he was cunning, too. He “And in return for all this, he demanded. “I have done you a service, friend cut-throat.” The concierge stuffed letter and translation Into his pocket, would you have, short of liberty. “Alr, for one thing." He stood up and stretched again. God, how stroeg he felt! “If you would open that ace cursed window for an hour—the place reeks.” Humbert was In high good humor In spite of his protests. In his pocket he held the key to favor, aye, to a plan which he meant to lay before the com- mittee of ten, a plan breath-taking in {ts audacity and yet potential of suc- cess, He went to the window and put hig great shoulder against it, Instantly Haeckel overturned the candle and, picking up the chair, hurled it at Herman Spler. He heard the clerk go down as he leaped for the door. yawned, what 7" | | i cierge had stumbled past the bed. hefore, seconds away. He flung himself against the doors { to the street. But they were fastened by a chain, and the keg was not in the lock. He crumpled up in a heap as the concierge fell on him with fists like flails, Some time later, old Adelbert heard in sound in the corridor, and peered out. Humbert, assisted by the lodger, Spler, was carrying to the attic what | appeared to be an old mattress, rolled up and covered with rags. In the morning, outside the door, there was a darkish stain, however, which might have been blood, * . » - * - * At nine o'clock the next morning the chancellor visited the crown prince, He enme without ceremony, Lately he had been coming often. He liked to | come in quietly, and sit for an hour in the school room, saying netaing. Prince Ferdinand Willlam Oto feund | these ocenslons rather trying “I should think,” he protested once to his governess, “that he would have something to do. He's the chancellor, isn't he?” The king had passed a bad night, and Haeckel was still missing. chancellor's heart was heavy. The chancellor watched the prince, as he sat ut the high loboriously writing. It was the hour of English composition, Ferdinand William Otto was writing a theme, “About dogs,” he explained. seen a great many, you know, else crown I could My pen sticks in the paper.” He wrote on, and Mettlich sat and watched. He caught Miss Braith. waite's glance, and he knew what was in her mind, For nine years now had come, once a year, the painful anni. versary of the death of the late crown prince and his young wife. For nine years had the city mourned, with flags And grief the old queen draped in black, for nine years had the day of Ol destinies of the kingdom. fn new sit the they « uation. The anniversary nfronted The boy was older, would not be pos- from him the the procession the with again, It conceal und observant, Hi t rnificance of ing through streets ! i to one could not contr to lle had been rigorous upbring- of an age to re- m chancellpr sat and ited, and fingered his heavy watch They ne boy. Truthfulness the rules of his And he was now i 8 y Ld rn the Ferdinand Will then hed wit} Pr his attention to the it. Then, fit looked up. *) of it? ‘hancellor, shall be honored, highness,” Not did “hig! o am Otto put fay I read he demanded you of ne the chancellor ss Beas” “my child.” Prince Ferdinand William Otto read 1, with dancing hould like to ght" he said might ask my grandf: “1 see no reason why you she have a dog,” the chancellor ol “Not one to be kept at the stables, Otto explained. nlou own a dog’ wistfully, ) wf ither f« tho Tr On« werved. he time, a bed” ut here his hands. the chancellor threw up Instantly he visualized all the objections to dogs, from fleas to nd he put the difficulties w ” No mean speaker was the ~ellor when so He was rabi into char minded. a mu logic and reasoning. He gpoke at length, even, at the end, rising and pacing a few steps up and down the room. But when he had concluded, when gulped, and sald: “Well, I wish I could have a dog!” by changing the subject. dering this morning, as I crossed the park, if you would enjoy an excursion Could it be managed, Miss Braithwaite? “I dare say,” sald Miss Braithwalte dryly. “Although I must say, If there is no improvement in punctuation and capital letters—" “What sort of excursion?" asked his royal highness, guardedly. He did not care for picture galleries. “Out-of-doors, to see something in- teresting. A real excursion, up the river.” “To the fort? I do want to see the new fort” As a matter of truth, the chancellor had not thought of the fort. But like many another before him, he accepted the suggestion and made it his own, “To the fort, of course,” said he, And see the guns?” jut this was going too fast, Nikky, cared to, she too. But luncheon! It was necessary to remind the crown prince that the officers at the fort mess. There was a short parley over this, and it was finally settled that the officers should serve luncheon, but that there should be no speeches, “Then that's settled,” he said at last, “I'm very happy. This morning I shall apologize to M. Puaux.” During the remainder of the morn. ning the crown prince made various excursions to the window to see if the weather was holding good. Also he asked, during his half hour's intermis- sion, for the great box of lead soldiers that was locked away In the cabinet. “I shall pretend that the desk is a fort, Miss Braithwaite,” he sald. “Do you mind being the enemy, and pre. tending to be shot now and then?” But Miss Braithwaite was correcting papers, She was willing to be a passive enemy and be potted at, but she drew the line at falling over. Prince Ferdi. nand William Otto did not persist. He wag far too polite, Bat he wished in «tL his soul that Nikky would come. Nikky, he felt, would die often and hard. But Nikky did not come, At twelve o'clock, Prince Ferdinand William Otto, clad in his riding gar- ments of tweed knickers, puttees, and belted Jacket, stood by the school room window and looked out, inner windows of his suite faced the court yard, but the schoolroom opened over the place—a bad arrangement surely, seeing what distractions to les. sons may take place in a public square, what pigeons feeding in the sun, what bands with drums and drum majors, what children flying kites, “I don't understand {t,” the crown prince sald plaintively, “He {8 gen- erally very punctual, Perhaps—" But he loyally refused to finish the sentence, The “perhaps” was grievous thought, nothing less that Nikky and Hedwig were at moment riding in the ring and had both forgotten him. Prince Ferdinand William Otto con- It was of gold, and a together, “To Ferdinand William Otto from union.” “It's getting rather late,” he ob- Miss Braithwaite looked doubt she something has det: sald, with unusual “You might work the your Cousin Hedwig. Then Captain Larisch comes, you ¢ have a part of your lesson.” Prince Ferdinand William brightened. The burnt wood graph frame for Hedwig was light, And yesterday, os sg for the escapade of the ds with an or at Ness, an {ito ph his pun y bet ut away inality. tfit was produced, ifteen min Prince Ferdl- m Otto labored, his royal tongu Put, abos the of burning, his face He was rald, that he ha een tos on one side, nrotrud i rua a ed. wke wistful, afraid, gain. “I hope Nikky is not IL” once. “He smokes a great man) rettes,. He says he kpows bad for him." “Certainly 4d | forgotten they are ba . Which is a violent tine on the will kill i.” The reference was unfortunate. “I wish I might have a dog.” ob- served Prince Ferdinand William Otto, Fortunately, at that Hed- came in. She came trifle although that un- and “she also unan- moment, 4 ib 1 passeq wig a § tantly defiantly, noticed, came ' ! And she stood inside the door and stared at the prince. “Weli!” she sald. “Is there to be no riding lesson “I don't know. come.” “Where ig he?” Here the drop of nicotine got in its deadly work. ‘I'm afraid he is HL" said Prince sald he cigarettes, and" “ls Captain Larisch lI?" Hedwig looked at the governess, and lost some Nikky has not smoked Miss Braithwaite did not know, and said so. “At the very least,” she went on, “he should have sent some word. I do pot know what things are coming to. Since his majesty’s illness, no one | sheet fron and steel, adorned with de Jected greenery that had manifestly been out too soon in the chill air of very early spring. A wonderful possibility presented itself. “If I see Bobby,” he asked, “may 1 stop the carriage and speak to him?” “Certainly not.” “Well, may I call to him?” “Think it over, Miss Braithwaite, “Would grand- father like to know that you had done anything so undigoified 7” He turned to her a rather desperate pair of eyes. “But I could explain to him,” he said. “I was in such a hurry when 1 left, that I'm afraid I forgot thank him, 1 ought to (really. He was very polite Mise Braithwal and said nothing, on something o« | must remember, Otto,” she sald Ami id | kings, and our sort of governu {is possible, isn’t it, that he sent your being of the ruling | Why not let things | “We were 3 inand William n a small { “I don't think it would make any y suggested your tr Suiwy thank in to me. te gat still in her seat just then. But later: curred to her. ° this—this rican chi be as they very friendly, Otto 1 | ference,’ But the round o seed was ¢ the his ywn in f young mind, g quick fruit. It the crown Bobby first. He bench, peering ove Was the crowd. Prince eaw bh “There he “There “lie Otto on up straight Braithwaite, “May I } “Otto I errible vol Tey 3 - ’ But a dreadfu | i : «a | with an air of relief you." Upon the box the man beside kept his hand on the mevo word,” sald Hedwig, frowning. wy don't understand it. He been eo late before, has he?” np quickly. After a and the crown prince took off his rid- ing clothes, He ate a very small luncheon, swallowing mostly a glass of milk and a lump in his throat. And afterward he worked at the frame, for an hour, shading the hearts carefully. At three o'clock he went for his drive. The horses moved sedately. Beppo looked severe and haughty. A strange ian, In the place of Hans, beside Beppo, watched the crowd with keen and vigilant eyes. On the box be tween them, under his hand, the new footman had placed a revolver. Beppo sat as far away from it as he dared. The crowd lined up, and smiled and cheered. And Prince Ferdinand Wil liam Otto sat very straight, and bowed right and left, smiling. Old Adelbert, limping across the park to the opera, paused and looked. Then he shook his head. The country was Indeed come to a strange pass, with only that boy and the feeble old king to stand between it and the things of which men whispered behind their hands. He went on, with his bead down. As they drew near the end of the park, where the land of resire towered, Prince Ferdinand Willinia Otto search. ed it with eager eyes. How wonderful it was! How steep and high, and al luring! He glanced sideways at Miss Braithwaite, but it was clear that to her It was only a monstrous heap of “There He 1s!” He Said. ‘carriage turned back palace. » * toward the Late that afternoon the chancellor had a wisitor., Old Mathilde, his servant and housekeeper, showed some curiosity but little excitement over it. | She was, In fact, fuintly resentful The chancellor had eaten little all day, and now, when she had an omelet ready to turn smoking out of the pan, must come the Princess Hedwig on foot like the common people, and de mand to see him. Sn — Nikky has an exciting inter. view with King Karl and finds himself In a serious predica. ment as a result of his foolish undertaking. Read about this development in the next install. ment. (TO BE CONTINUED) Stone Church Without Mortar. Although built early in the Christian era without mortar, a stone church in Jreland still is in excellent condition,
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