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

thing was in readiness for his majes-
tvs reception, and that there were no
loiterers in the rear passage way-so
that we might bring him into the palace
incognito and without occasioning any
publicity or scandal.
then ran the carriage around to the
private entrance, and waited for Muller
to come down. Several minutes passed
and he did not appear. got down from
the box, and looked into the window of
the coupe. ] could not see very dis
| tinctly; SO | opened the door, To my
astonishment, the vehicle was empty.
His majesty had jumped from the car
riage while it was in transit, and had
escaped. This then, was the outcome of
| all my heroic endeavors
While l was thinking how foolish he
| had been several forms closed around
| me out of the darkness. TWO men
| seized my arms, and one of them cried:
| I'm the name of the king"
| What am | arrested for?" | asked.
For high treason" said he.
| They now took me into the passage,
| led me up several stairways and
| through any number of corridors, and
| at last brought me into a large and
brilliantly lighted chamber. AT the fur
ther end of it We're several officers, in
| gorgeous uniforms. One man alone
| among them, was seated
| Your majesty" spoke the officer who
had arrested me, this is the man
Let everyone withdraw" said the
gentleman who was sitting. Il would
be alone with the prisoner"
| | now knew that he who spoke was
the king To say that was astonished,
confounded and dumbfounded, does not
do justice to it. For the king was no
other than my quondam Secretary Null
Ter.
| had never experienced such a trans
formation, upheaval and reversal, in my
life before. All the day, my feelings
| and my imagination had been upon an
| heroic plane. | now found that | had
been nothing more than the plaything
of the king, and that my achievements
instead of being heroic, inclined rather
to the ridiculous
| I recollected how / had patrOniZed
Muller, and ordered him about, and |
| wondered what he would now do to me
| for it.
After the apartment had been cleared
| of all but his majesty and myself, he
| looked at me graVely for a moment or
| two and then began to laugh, just as
he had laughed upon the coupe. ! was
not so much veXed about it now, as
| was then | took it for a happy auguHy.
Herr Perkins" said he, at length,
when he had laughed until he was pur-
pie in the face, you are most excel
lent young man and you mean we'll,
| but | cannot laugh like this all the
| time. | would die of it. Were ii not
for this / would keep you always near
| me in the palace. a it is, you may ask
of me any reward you will, for the hon
est efforts you have put forth in my be-
half and for the amusement you have
| given me-.
Il would like to ask your majesty
| first" said /, Ito be so kind as to give
me an explanation of the supposed re-
semblance between Herr Won Dunkel-
helm and your majesty?'
THE explanation is, he replied, that
| Won Dunkelheim is the worst liar in
| all Europe. He lied about the resem-
| Dlance, and the terrible mauling which
| you gave him but half hour since was
| his lust reward. Have you, however,
nothing to ask for but explanations?
/ was silent for | dared not ask for
| the very thing | wanted most.
| 1T is we'll that J know what you
want" said the king. Il see that | will