The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23

We had determined to take the ladies |
directly to the palace. and to leave |
them there. under the charge of Gott-
fried Johannes while we stormed the
castle of Cunigunde, and rescued his
majesty. ! had not forgotten, by any
means, this all important enterprise;
and though there was no longer neces-
sity FOR such momentum as we had used
in the pursuit of Won Rabenstein, l
whrled the carriage along AT a very re-
spectacle speed.
My intimacy with Valeska was rem
dered closer, more confidential and
more amicable by the delightfully."- cozy
and agreeable situation in which we
now found ourselves.
why is it," said l. chat you were so
unaterably opposed to the generals
suit? .-The match would be a brilliant
one for almost any girl Can it be that
you entertained a prior affection for
some one else?'
mo, your majesty"
DO you mean to tell me, Frauein
Valeska, that you have never been in
love?"
Il did not say that, your majesty"
Then you confess. child, that you
| are in love with some one?'
hung her head. and a very rosy hue
mantled her lovely cheek and perfect
neck.
"Valeska, fair one, tell me, does not
| the insensibe clod return thy affec-
| tion?"
| Il do not know your majesty she
| answered, family. He might, per-
| haps, if things We're different. He is so
| immeasurably removed from me Us
wealth and rank that 1t is, aias! impos-
| sible for him to think of me-"
But suppose. girl, that all his rank
and power had vanished; that he had
| suddenly became poor and humble,
would you love him still?"
Il would love him though he were
| beggar," cried Valeska, with enthusi-
asm.
After we had set down Valeska and
| her aunt at the palace, and just as we
| We're preparing to start upon our ad-
venturous expedition, / was handed a
note by Gottfried Johannes. 1t was
| from my prime minister Count Won
| Lowenkopf and read as follows: THE
| enthusiasm of the troops is unprece-
| dented. The chamber has already
granted the tax. Your minister for for
| eign affairs has concluded a settle
| ment of the Won Dunkelheim affair
| with the Lusatian envoy upon the most
| favorable terms, without paying him a
| gulden, and the beer is not all gone
yet. Long live your majesty
l naturally felt somewhat elated at
| the success of my stratagem and was
| little proud that l had shown such
| genius in affairs of government. Mount
| ing once more the box of our matchless
| coupe, / set free the electric fluid and
| in few minutes we had arrived al the
| house in the Sendlinger strasse op-
posite the Church of st. Johannes; the
house which we had so much reason
to suppose was even now the prison of
the unfortunate monarch
| Muller was for breaking into the
house through some window in the rear.
Yes" said l. 'and get four years
for burglary. l know way worth two
of that"
The sill of the house door was but a
few inches above the level of the side
walk. The wheels of our carriage had
pneumatic tires. and, projecting beyond
the wheels, in front of the vehicle, there
was a sort of rubber buffer or bumper
of great solidity. l gave the guiding
wheel a slight twist to the right the
coupe shot oblquely across the street,
| passed over the curb, traversed the
sidewalk and crashed against the
heavy door. The effect was all that l
wished for. The door fell inward in
| splinters; screams came from the in
terror of the mansion, and the pedes-
trians who We're upon the street began
to hasten toward the scene. l got
down from the box and was just in
time to meet the enraged Cunigunde in
the doorway. Her wrath was inde
scrbable and her vocabulary complete
| and ornate. Behind her commanding
and wildly gesticulating figure l caught
a glimpse of a familiar but somewhat
pale and emaciated face. 1t was un-
doubtedly that of the poor captive
king.
Madame" said l. taking off my hat,
your house is on fire. The flames are
eyen now coming through the roof.
| This is the new chemical engine. Get
| together at once your valuables and
jewels, as We are about to flood the
house"
A moment she was resolute. Then
she turned and rushed into the back of
the house. | opened the door of the
coupe, made a dash into the hallway
for his majesty, and dragged him
toward the entrance. Tc my surprise,
| he resisted my good oftices,s so that | was
obliged to use considerable force. He
now began to fight and struggle like a
madman, and at the same time showed
such strength that | began to despair
of getting him out before Cunigunde's $
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