The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31

pairing IL 20 ON his way, but it is the best
| can do. Suppose, he exclaimed, suddenly,
as If struck with an idea, suppose you
travel the road I have just left until you
reach the town of Pearbutton, where the
Countess lives with her three daughters.
she knows most everything and. very like
~, could tell you how to reach Cordelette
RMS seemed to the Princes and Studi-
much the best thing to do and so, after
rev words, in which they thanked the trav-
eler, and after he had told them more about
tue road to Pearbutton, they parted. But
not, however, before the Princes had bought
the donkey and piled their treasure and bag
gage on his back, leaving the little traveller
10 set OFF on foot with very snug sum Of
purchase money in his pocket. Then, taking
turns at leading the donkey which they at
once named Ajax, the Princes and the
schoolmaster headed toward the path
through the woods and were soon lost to
sight.
But how strange are the accidents of lifel
Ahey had not been gone an hour before
great procession of people, mounted on swift
horses and led by King Homojy and Hi
Malig, came dashing over the plain and
made straight for the tower.
For there had been odd changes in King
domoJys palace. In the first place, good
Queen Guddiehoo. who still grieved deeply
and felt the loss of her sons in spite Of the
many years that had passed since she had
seen them, declared at last that they should
be set free no matter whether the prophecy
was fulfilled or not. The King, too, longed
for his sons, and agreed that the masons
who had built the tower and, therefore,
Knew how to break through its walls, should
be sent to take the Princes and Studmuch
out Of their prison. Besides, King Homojy
was tired of the worries and cares that fell
to him as King of a great land like Null
realm and wished to 60 into the candy shop
business, which business was much followed
by the people of Nulrealm. Candies and
sweet things were sold by the carload in
that country, just as wheat and corn are
sold in our own.
Have you forgotten the prophecy"
asked Hi Malig, when the King told him
that he was bent on having his sons set free.
The Chief Counsellor and Astrologer Extra
ordinary did not want them to come back
by any means, as he feared the King would
neglect him for the Princes.
"Oh, never mind the prophecy" said the
King, 'let my sons do as they WILL | am
sure they will turn out to be fine princes,
and do nothing but that which is right and
proper"
So, with this HI Malig was forced 10 be
content, and when he learned that large
party led. by King Homojy was to set out at
once, he begged to go along, for he wished
TO be among the first to tell the Princes they
were free and thus find favor with them.
when the procession halted at the foot of
the tower the masons brought their tools
and without the loss of a moments time he
gan hammering and breaking away, while
hing Homojy and Hi Malig ran around
glaneing upward and shouting to attract the
attention of those whom they thought to be
within. For hours and hours the masons
toiled, until they succeeded In making hole
large enough for man to crawl through.
ana then one by one the eourtiers slipped
In, and swarmed up and down the tower.
each wishing to be the first to bring the good
news to the Princes, that it might In the
future reflect to their credit Among tho
courtiers. you may be sure, was Hi Malig.
who outdid all the others In searching the
corners and poking into the closets Rnt
soon the courtiers began to stare blanklv nj
one another. for, of course. as we know tho
Princes and the schoolmaster were not 10 he
found.
BLESS met" exclaimed King Homoty.
who had managed to squeeze through the
hole. ~ do believe they have escapedr'
However, the search was renewed and the
same ground gone over again.
eyes, they are gone" said HI MaIie
But there is one thing certain" he added.
nodding his head toward the breakfast ia
BILE, they have not been gone long-the
food on the table Is quite fresh"
II think they must have gone this morn
ing put In the Marquis Of sugarstlcks
And have gone to Cordelette," said the
King, Frightening up, for he had been much
cast down at not finding his royal sons, and
feared some evil might have befallen them.
"Perhips we passed them on the way"
Hearing his words, everybody scrambled
out OF the tower as quickly as possible-that
is, everybody except Hi Malig who had be.
come fatter than ever as the years rolled by.
and who got himself wedged In the hole in
a most uncomfortable way and had to be
taken out by the masons. The courtiers
and masons were soon mounted on their
horses, and at thecommand of the King the
procession swept over the plain In a whirl
wind of dust and returned to Cordelette.
ITO be continued.)