The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-25

the way to riches for king is by tax
alton. He knew the people pretty we'll
too. He was pretty sure that they
lacked the spirit to rebel.
In the northwest, among the honest
folk, a man wandered on foot from
house to house. He discovered all the
little grievance He found out how to
remedy them. Who was this man? Was
he a revolutionist? Was he a traitor
to the King?
After awhile this man and the peo
pie began to hold meetings-meetings
which were peaceful but intense. The
kingdom was small, and he canvassed
it from start to finish.
On the night before the coronation
a man, in the gathering dusk, APP
preached the palace. He looked up to
ments had been. Cadoudal had left
these rooms intact and had installed
himself upon the other side. Was
this a man, this thing that glided
through the darkness? 1t he were,
he had strange methods, for suddenly
he passed apparently into the midst
of a solid stone wall.
Inside a lonely sentinel was pacing
a deserted corridor. AS this sentinel
reached a dark corner, something
brushed against him, and swept along
the passage. The sentry shivered. He
knew not what it was, but he knew
one thing, and that was that it is not
a pleasant business, keeping watch
outside the chamber of a king who no
longer lives.
An hour afterward he was relieved,
but the patrol caught his arm.
What is that?" said the patrol. Is
suing from underneath the door of the
apartment of the dead King was a thin
streak of light. They stood notion
less for an instant. and then with
common impulse, pushed onward to-
ward the room. Then had not been
mistaken. There was light within the
room. They listened. but they heard
no sound. Suddenly one of Them
holder than the other, tried the door.
1t yielded to his touch, and the cor
ridor Immediately was lit up with a
white glow. The men outside looked
on and gasped with fear
For there inside the late King
room, stood a silent figure SOL
EMMY arrayng itself in the coronation
robes of the late King. And the figure
was not the figure of Cadoudal the
new and living King. The men turned
from the room and fed incontinently
down the corridor.
The next day, in the huge cathedral
glare of artificial lights, the cynosure
of all eyes. The crown had been lifted
into the air, and was about to descend
when suddenly there swept up the
aisle a figure clothed in flowing dra-
peries like those of Cadoudars, and by
a gentle but not undignfied push, this
figure stood in Cadoudals place, and
the crowd descended on the figures
head.
Cousin Cadoudal," said the figure,
this is our crown and our coronation
day. You had best stand aside"
Suddenly the crowd caught sight Of
the figures face.
The King!" it cried, the King-a
mlracle-the Nesurrected King-our
King"
Cadoudal shuddered. For in the
voices of the crowd he heard the death
knell of his hoDes-his reign, he
knew, had ended.
One man, however, man from the
Northwest-struggl through the
crowd and stood before the two Kings.
Hold" he cried, that man is not a
king-he is David Stransky-David
Stransky of the peoples party
The figure turned upon him. MY
name" it said gently but yesterday
was David Stransky Then l was one
of the people. 1 am one of the people
yet. BY the grace of God l shall al
ways be one of the people. But I was
Stransky only because 1 wore the outer
garments of David Stransky. because
officially I bore his passports. David
Stransky was a better man than L."
He paused. "a year ago to-day, my
people, my cousin CadoudaPs men en-
tered the apartment of the King and
killed, not the King. but David STRAINS
ky. 1 did not, could not know the
danger. 1 did what Stransky told me
to. and he persisted in my place. If 1
had but known-if 1 had but under
stood. But now you know. And the
man, who was cast without the cour-
tesy of Christian burial into that pit
that night was Lieut. David Stransky,
of the Kings household" He drew
his hand across his eyes. Then he re-
sumed.
my people, David Stransky once
was a traitor-a traitor to the King
because he was the friend of the peo-
pie. 1, the King, imbued with the idea
that the King could do no wrong. 1
was the friend of myself, the King,
but I was the real traitor-a traitor
of the people. David Stransky, trail
tor to the King, friend to the people,
lived to some purpose, died to some
purpose. For it is through David
Stransky. and through none other that
my people and 1 have become one.
l am the King, the resurrected King,
but the King only in name. Hence
forth l am the servant OF my people
and my people and l are the servants
of the State together"
Then there arose a mighty shout.
1.-THE KING" cried the multitude, the
King! Long live the King!"
Some hours later Cadoudal stood as
David Stransky had stood some years
before, within the chamber of the
King.
Cousin Cadoudal," the King said,
would you rather go to Jail, or would
you rather go back TO the people? You
can have your choice"
Outside the crowd shouted. Ca
doudal shuddered. I'm go to Jail, .
he said
The King rose and touched a button
in the wall. A secret door opened
"Cadoudal," he said, year ago you
sent half dozen men up through this
passage into the chamber of the King.
For what purpose you know too well.
This passage leads to safety. You
know where it comes out. But I'd
"a ther he a good MANY things than be