The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-06-30

NIe uSIo VA aDISuus WIN, WIN NAkSe
wounds, cEroalc rheumatism and al.
most rs little Aoney rs he had ten
years before, found It no easy matter
to make both ends meet"
One by II he had to part with all
the little knickknnckS which he had
treasured up 80 lOng-the silver mount
cd pistols presented to him by Junior
officers OF his regiment, the trldglaSs
which he had used during his last cana
paign and the ivory handled hunting
knife which had been given to him hy
an Austrian prisoner to whom he had
shown some Kindness, Even his watch
had to be sold at last. But, although
in this sore strait, he could not bring
himself to part with the chain which
had been n gift to him from his wife
not long before her death.
There was stlll. however, ono hope
left for the poor old man. King Fred.
erlck was now back again IN his palace
ut Potsdam, nenr Berlin; and. having
by this time begun to get the affairs Of
his Kingdom into some sort of order
again, he was not so overwhelmingly
busy as he had been before. Perhaps
some help might be got from him, and,
Mt all events, 1t was worth while to
try.
Tapfermann's first Idea was to draw
up Il memorial stating his ease and
send 1t to Frederick himself; but he
then remembered that It would have to
pass through several hands before
reaching the king and might possibly
never reach him at all. In any ease
he could not afford to wait long for an
answer. being almost down to his last
penny as It was, 50 he finally determln.
ed to present himself ut the palace and
see what would become OF lt.
The very next morning. accordingly,
the major smartened up his worn and
faded uniform az we'll as he could, and
concealed the absence OF his watch by
fixing the chain in It's usual place and
keeping It there by attaching TO n
end of it the memorable "tlattened bull
LETT Of Torgau, which he had preserved
US Il souvenir ever since. Then. tax.
Ing his stick In his hand, he set out for
Potsdnm.
He had to do the whole nine miles on
foot, the hire Of Il horse being far be.
y0nd his means. poor fellow. and when
he reached the palace he was heated
and covered with dust and altogether
a very strange figure to appear at q
kings levee. rs the scornful glances Of
the smart officials plainly told him.
Among these there was one mean
and malicious fellow, Hugo Won Wake.
nitz by name, who held the post Of
chamberlain Of the palace, and, being
MORALLY Jealous OF every one whom
the king seemed inclined to favor, and
more especially Of Frederick's old OH.
GERS, always did his best to keep them
away from the royal presence. 1t hap
pened by Ill luck that just as Major
opened his uniform to al.
just his chain (Which he had got out Of
place In the course Of this long march),
the chamberlain, looking down from
one Of the windows, saw what no was
about.
The courtier's quick eye detected at
a glance that the chain had Il bullet In
stead Of u watch attached to Il, and, far
from plying the old warriors poverty,
any true nan would have done, this
splteful rogue ut 0nce resolved to get
Of him by putting him to open
shame before the whole assembled
company.
And It really seemed a. II clrcum.
stances themselves had c%onsplred to
aid his cruel project, for when the king
made his appearance his first remark
was:
"My watch must surely be wrong. for
| had no idea that 1t was anywhere
near my hour for receiving visitors.
Wakenltx, what says your watch"
Most unfortunately, your majesty,
mine has just stopped" answered the
but | sec this worthy
officer here %(glancing at Major TAPER.
MANN has brought his along with him,
md he will doubtless be able to tell
your majesty the true hour"
The splteful tone and look Of the
speaker did not escape the shrewd
king; but. before he could make any
the stout old major, drawing
himself up proudly. answered FredGr-
lexis lhqulring glance by holding up
the useless watch chain and the fiat
tened musket ball which hung to II 20
every M could SOC them.
At the sight OF the tlattened bullet
and the sound of the old warriors
voice tho recollection Of his rescuer on
the field of Torgau flashed back upon
the kings memory In u moment, and
one glance at the brave old mans
dress and at tho malicious
grin upon tho face of tho chamberlain
sutllced to toll him tho whole story,
"llere IL u watch for you, my old
'omrNde, which viii tell you the right
line" said Frederick, taking off his
,wn watch and handing II to the ma,
|or, land that you may have'a chance
II using II In my service | give you u
,lace In my household from this day
and as for you, you rascal" no
udIoI nnatInu n tappIhIa lnaI; MT tina