By All Rights Reserved ALLE am a eae TAMA AAA AAA Yaa Synopsis.—I'rince Fer Livonia, grandfather, the Karnia. Captain is unaware of plots of the king, in order to marringe of Princess Hedwig reb Nikky Larisch, P attach the els because rince Loschek, love with threat Ikarnia, ened by the mmittee of will ill, {to Hho Silt bows to the king, f duty an ith carnival as the time for who is very d when the a king's ds sense o 1oya would kidna ae the throne of a republic. His’ kingdom, ges for to King Karl of attach she 18 formed for ori N Lt rin serve garran Otto's an in is inless nee and the ax 2 to between love $ torn hout Nikky Wit mtrol, The ts king. Karl support into « rrorists vii prince, CHAPTER XIV—Continued. a} Gre bent cle over the derman, the King’ The table concierge ser “Doctor Wel physician, is one of 1 “The stin 8 whispered. king res now only because of His body is lants aca commiitee n, soldier’ 3 discovery sat wi and nursing to keep 3lack Hum ¢ + to start and filli war 1hert, adly, grew 104s Doe. past matters in to the cause, that, if he had the late wife, he had cerned in it. His thin, with anxiety. It ind he could not w “We should have had the child, yoansted the “and nuch bother. had been, wn country. matter which his v gathered murdered actually and COn- not prince been closely old flesh crept bad business, ithdraw, crown ais was a too” saved un- ierge, hée th No ee on war dd Hae i Adelbert n. He (less because And at la forward on dropped. He Pilloted the Veteran Among the Graves. “And what was but a Judged him, “1 caught “1 have sald it. had names, that matter, “Then he Adelbert. The conclerge shrugged his shoul lors, “Of course,” he sald briefly. *Ior a time he was kept here, in an upper room. He could have saved Himself, if he would, We could have used him. But he turned sulky, re fused speech, did not eat. When he was taken away,” he added with une tiog, “he w then?” boy. “Ie mis he gasped. Perhaps you Joys are reckless.” him,” sald the concierge. He knew much, He places, dates, For he confessed.” is dead?” quavered old even He rose and mnsulted a dlver wateh, “We can go now,” he said. “The committee likes prompt- ness,” { They left together, the one striding | t with long steps that sur- prisingly light for hi ize, the other, ! » who walks | rt, wl who walk.” ou were Lie in his i that and the concierge to haste the | i us ty. ng him orntly and sur “Here 1 mrade,” he ust com- inst leader ‘pause « ver your “It is a forma all m Adelbert w back. “I do not | t as other men. | dre =, of he same, amiliarity ¥ you where | , “recently field, right enough ut gows caorruptio in a or until g1 St. calls in Then, realizing out over which bert crossed himself, “Only a hand know ing place,” boasted the and a few others, Only we may with the mittee face to “You must have great influence,” rved old Adell “1 control the guilds, He who today can sway labor to his will is power- | ful ; powerful, comrade. Labor is the great beast which tires of car- rying burdens, and f» hut now learning | its strength.” “Aye,” said old Adelbert. “Had 1 been wise, 1 would have joined a guild. have kept my place at the opera. As it is, I stood alone, and they put me out.” “You do not stand alone now. Stand by us, and we will support you. The epublic will not forget its friends.” Thus heartened, old Adelbert bright- Why should he, an sweat at the thought of Great changes required herole measures, It was because he was old that he feared change. He stumped through the passag without urg- and stood erect and with shoulders while the bandage was re nothing, iel perhaps eat his erop.” the he meaning of the | ds trod, old Adel iful meet- “i meet face.” this Herge. Cone Rg COILx © ob- | wert timidly. very 8, soldier, blood? ow ay ing. moved. He was rather had been longer than Olga in comprehending His old eyes at first saw little but the table and its candles in thelr gruesome holders. But when he saw the committee his heart failed. embodied before him, was every- had loathed during all his and loyal years—anarchy, murder, treason. His face worked. The cords in his neck stood out like thing he The concierge was speaking. For voice had lost its bravado, and “hls is the man of whom word was | sent to the committee,” he sald. “1! ventured to ask that he be allowed to come wre, because he brings ine formation of value.” “Step forward, comrade,” sald the A7/44555550498043500 040000 YVAN AVY yaa leader. “What is your name and oc¢- cupation?” “Adelbert, pation, excellency. As to occu- for years I was connected with Twenty years, excellency. Then I grew old, and another—* His volee broke, “What is the information that brings opera, Suddenly that eyes, old | force and “1 cannot, excellencies find I cannot.” He collapsed his Adelbert wept, terrible d the way from ran his cheeks. I" he cried. tears of pr down and table the NCross on them, hi under his committee stirred, canght him chair, the into arms old uniform. and the brut: ders ved The cierge wrist, “Up with you! clenched teeth, this? Would you But old shook con- ally by the ter he from is sald, “What stup play death? Adelbert was beyond his head “I cannot,’ muttered, his face hidden, Then the concierge unl folded his arms tis che idi ty fear, erect and st. “He ACTO I 3} Th Gude LR “It Is There,” He Said Thickly. can be in- mtrance is concealed at Our reports or of the s and it, and For here good © followed mdition. it follows the ‘wall ‘hen it oes to the palace itself,” “Into the palace?” “By a flight of stairs, to a door in the roof. which locked, he opened, h him. the tower, As it night, he could not see clearly, the roof at that point is flat.” “Stand up. Adelbert,” said the sharply. true?” “It is true, excellency.” “Shown a diagram of the palace, could you locate this door? Old Adelbert stared around hopelessly, It was done now. a mile in thereabouts line tum inside This was having was leader fa him Noth- would change that. He nodded, When, soon after, a chart of the palace was placed on the table, he in- dicated the location of the door with a trembling forefinger, “It is there,” he said thickly, “And may God forgive rue for the thing I have done!” CHAPTER XV. King Karl “They love us dearly!” sald King Karl The chancellor, who sat beside him in the royal carriage, shrugged his shoulders, “They have had little rea- son to love, in the past, majesty,” sald briefly. . Karl laughed, and watched the crowd, He and the chancellor rode alone, Karl's entourage, a very modest one, following in another carriage. There was no military escort, no pomp. It had been felt unwise, Karl, paying ostensibly a visit of sympathy, had come unofficially, The chancellor was not so ealm as he appeared. He had lined the route from the station to the jmince with hik mea; had prepared for every contin. gency so far ag he could without calls i i | i { { | iag out the guard. As the carriage, drawn by its four chestnut horses, moved slowly along the streets, his eyes under their overhanging thatch were watching ahead, searching the crowd for symptoms of unrest, Anger he saw in plenty, and suspicion, BScowling faces and frown- ing brows. But as yet there was no disorder. He sat with folded arms, magnificent in his uniform beside Karl, who wore civilian dress and looked less royal than perhaps he felt, And Karl, too, watched the crowd, feeling its temper and feigning aa in- difference he did got feel. Los- chek had been right, He did not want trouble, More than that, an age now to crave popularity. of the measures which had made Olga than this, the smiles of 80 he watched and talked of | indifferent things, . “It is ten years here,” he observed, crowd. I have “but there are ® since ange “We Save built no great buildings” 1 bluntly. maj v, for building!” Thut being a closed road, speak, Karl tried another crown prince must be quite lad,” he ed, “He wi babe In but frail, I thought.” is sturdy now.” The into watchfulness. I see the Prince other attempt, how us no money BO “The i] experiment i8 0 arms, the “He relapsed “Bef Karl n, ore 5% made an I to tell me things. I woul prospect is at lea her.” I'he “it might | she feels about st not disagreeable chancellor was nhea He gray not li d. It had co muttered mustache » crowd Th » was trouble hits ne, r all. nd his 3 oN top i a8 the ele ¢ ¥ HOMe- hen, ! The ng beh ane k« ”. of his of two rowd. Kar- ir national em madly A babel of and forth, of through to h uga nging back Mine hing of of the hen at last 3 sird dau nbla ort nce of yn revolvers noved ahead. at there had be ere has been erceive, after all, rreat change “One » many by few, Rgjesty But Karl only ra In his rooms, Journey, p across the mount railroads rl reflected or ww ised his eyebrows, removing the dust of hi the autor where day n the situation. iy, one i of it restless olutionary, was.l desirable han the pre sent peace af prosperity f Karnia, nd unrest was conta He might oo position, He gl of them ath. Ais vO would some meet portion Kg RIOUS, himself in a difficult anced about his rooms, Hubert had In one Prince met a murder, Karl reflected grimly. But when he arrived for tea in the irchduchess’ white drawing room he was urbane and smiling. He kissed the band of the archduchess and bent teeth, sinile stiffened. The countess came forward, curtsied, and as he extended his hand to her, touched it lightly with her lips. They were quite cold. For just an instant their eyes met, It was, on the surface, an amiable | and quiet tea ‘party. Hedwig had taken up her position by a window, and was conspicuously silent, Behind her were the soft ring of silver against china, the countess’ gay tones, Karl's suave ones, assuming gravity, as he inquired as to his majesty’s health; the Archduchess Annunciata pretend. ihg a solicitude she did not feel. And all forced, all artificial. “Grandmother,” Hedwig whispered from her window to the austere old bronze figure in the place, “was it like this with you, at first? Did you shiver when he touched your hand? And doesn’t it matter, after a year?” “Very feeble,” said the archduchess’ voice, behind her, “but so brave—a lesson to us all” “I1e has had a long and conspicuous career,” Karl observed. “It is sad, but we must all come to it. I hope he will be able to see me” “Hedwig!” said her mother, sharp “your tea Is getting cold.” Hedwig turned toward the room. Listlessness gave her an added dignity, a new charm, Karl's eyes flamed as he watched her, Even her coldness appealed to him. He had a feeling that the coldness was only a young girl's armor, that under it was a deep- ly passionate woman. The thought of i i seeing her come to deep, vibrant life in his arms thrilled him. When he carried her tea to her, he hent over her, “Please!” he sald "Try to like me. I" “I'm sorry,” Hedwig sald quickly. “Mother has forgotten the lemon.” Karl smiled and, shrugging his shoulders, fetched the lemon, “Right, now?’ he inquired. “And aren't we going to have a talk together?” “If you wish it, I dare say we shall.” “Majesty,” said Hilda, frowning into her teacup. “I see a marriage for you.” She ignored her mother's scowl, and tilted her cup to examine It. “A 'marri 1” Karl joined her, and nge that fate hould be confined in go small a com- A happy marriage? Which am rounds, “Strange my 9 Yes, be looks rather leaf, may you.” “The long yellow it Hippy. you shocked 11 jut when 1 Shocked?” think,” & te Hilda, grinning, “that “Delightful “And we “Hilda!” cried iy “Do stop are talk him beyond his think, she when they felt but he and resentful rid of Nikky, and by his own fire to break her first. Af had of the When t crown pr deep get then to warm He might h ter that manner Karnia smiled ave many thron ‘ queens He mustache, tha [#4 He almost announced. Dervousis en pring in, rather hands thrust in hi was over, w Was came 8 tre ¥ A Babe! of Noise, of Swinging Back and Forth. He was very shiny with soap and water and his hair was still damp from parting. In his tailless black jacket, his long gray trousers, and his round Eton collar, he looked like a very anxious little schoolboy, and not royal at all Greetings over, and having re quested that his tea be half milk, with four lumps of sugar, he carried his cup over beside Hedwig, and sat down on a chair. Followed a short silence, with the archduchess busy with the tea things, Olga Loschek watching Karl, and Karl intently surveying the crown prince. Ferdinand William Otto, who disliked a silence, broke it first. “I've just taken off my winter flan nels,” he observed. “I feel very smooth and nice underneath.” Hilda giggled, but Hedwig reached over and stroked his arm. “Of course you do,” she said gently. “Nikky,” continued Prince William Otto, stirring his tea, “does not wear any flannels, Mise Braithwaite thinks he is very careless.” King Karl's eyes gleamed with amusement. He saw the infuriated face of the archduchess, and bent toward the crown prince with earnest. ness “As a matter of fact” he smald “since you have mentioned the sub ject, 1 do not wear any either, Your ‘NMkky' and I ssom most surprisingly a to have the same tastes—about various, things.” “Do you like dogs?’ inquired the crown prince, much interested. “Dogs! Why, yes. I have quite = number of dogs.” “f should think it would be nicer to have just one dog, and be very fond of it. But I suppose they would eat a great deal, Do you believe In love at first sight? “Otto!” sald the tremely shocked, He turned to her apologeticn! was only trying to find out how things he and agreed at he explained. “Nikky believe at first sigl He says It | kind of because you think out, 7” archduchess, ex- ly. many Nikky about,” » in love it, the only love isn't u only feel real love, y 3 a thing Yo it.” The “You see!” she sald “Bat it | dooct served, ber 1 bending forward archduchess met Karl's eyes. “ oun d nee at gitting nave no fool He Wouia incista ered rable taste, &Hirrov this The « ence A circle, scene long « inner w She saw head jut she saw more, was herself half mad rkings of hi the very turn of his jaw. and Ad : Jealousy, She knew him well. She had self, for years, held him by holding herself dear, by the very di Mculty of And pow this indiffer white-faced girl, ho m ght be indeed, for the taling, but whe would offer or promise no love, was rousing him to the instinct of posses sion by her very indifference. He had told her the truth, that night in the mountain fon. It was Hedwig he wanted, Hedwig herself, her heart, all of her. And, if she knew Karl, he would move heaveh and earth to get the thing he wanted, She surveyed the group. How little they knew what was in store for them! She, Olga Loschek, by the lifting of a nnger. could turn their smug superi- ority into tears and despair, could ruin them and send them flying for shelter to the very ends of the earth, But when she looked at the little crown prince, legs dangling, esting his thin bread and butter as only a hun- gry small boy can eat, she shivered By what means must she do all this! By what unspeakable means! . * * » - her- o ww ® * Karl saw the king that. evening. a short visit marked by extreme formal ity, and, on the king's part, by the keen and frank scrutiny of one who is near the end and fears nothing but the final moment. Karl found the meeting depressing and the king's eyes disconcerting. Countess Loschek sees » chance for revenge. The next instaliment gives the exciting details,
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