The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

ernment. 1t will be the purpose of nv
government to study, during the follow
ing days, the sentiment OF the people
Of Quelparte, and if ii is found that an
alliance with Russia such as we have
signed tonight is displeasing to the
people Of Quelparte, Russia will imme-
diately withdraw from the agreement
and remove the officials whom your
King has appointed to high Office
With such words NJ. Grouchy paved
the way to throw Quelparte over to
Japan when the lease Of Port Arthur
was announced.
had entered the room without at
tracing attention, and 1 stood by the
door listening to the Russian s.words.
1t was clear that the news brought by
my Cossacks had put all in good cheer.
and that the funeral was to come of as
proposed. beginning day after to-mor-
, row. 1 had been blinded by the brill
liam; light in the room. and the scene /
have described came to me slowly, and
no other picture has stayed with me
save one-so perfect in detail and color.
Totally unbalanced as 1 must have
been by fatigue. lid desperately
drugged with wine, remember turning
from the bright light and wishing that
1 could, after all, tell Ivan Oranoff the
truth. But even as 1 reached helpless
ly to the wall for support, the hilt Of
my sword went changing against it
and every face in the room looked my
way.
l believe the King himself recog-
nized me first or at least saw me first;
he rose and pointed the fire-tipped end
Of his cigarette toward me. The cabi-
net arose, and NJ. Grouchy ceased his
remarks. OF these things 1 am a little
uncertain. but I am not at all uncertain
as to Colonel Oranoff. / knew well
enough ! was late-later than / should
have been without telegraphing him
the reason of my delay at such a time
as this. 1 also knew that my report
should have been to him, not to the
cabinet or the King. The man drew
himself slowly to his feet and leaned
over the table upon his hands heavily
as I came swaying through the long
room.
I had not dressed for the occasion,
and my bedraggled appearance and un-
steady department evidently added lus-
ter to the heroic role l had suddenly
chosen to assume. The King put his
cigarette in his mouth and began puff
ing and clapping his hands. His no.
bles, mimicking him in everything on
peril of their lives. took the cue and
applauded me vociferously, and 1 stag
gered on to the foot of that throne"
Il could not have gone another yard
for the Kings crown), receiving an
ovation rather than the thrashing
deserved.
THE temple of Ching-ling has been
destroyed. / hear" said the King, dip
lomatically. Then he laughed and
drew at his cigarette.
Yes, Sire" 1 answered, glad to find
I could talk if / could not walk, "the
temple of GAing-ling has been de-
stroyed-" Then 1 added. eager to boil
ster up my string of lies with one un-
doubted truth. 1T was burned to the
ground and lies in ashes"
"Ah." sighed the King of Quelparte,
with admirable affectation; and then,
just as 1 was opening my mouth he
turned to Prince Ting evidently not
wishing his cabinet should guess that
Lynx Island was to pass into the hands
Of the Russians), saying:
Orders must be issued to all our sa-
cred temples regarding the danger
from fires and the removal Of all COM
bustibles to a safe distance, and let it
be known that no temple destroyed by
accidental fire shall ever be rebuilt
The wine on my empty stomach was
at once my friend and my foe. 1t
gave me strength, especially of sight
l felt Oranoffs eyes on my back, and
broke out for fear could not speak at
all soon:
General Ling was burned with the
temple"
Ling lost" echoed the King, holding
his head sideways to avoid the smoke
of his cigarette Faithful Ling; he
was such a man as kings need-some-
times" He leered significantly toward
Oranoff as he said the words.
This King was no novice and no fool,
and he had pretty wit all his own.
He has a son in the army, Sire"
said, keeping my promise to old Ling
most Unexpectedly, "as faithful as his
father; / pray you to remember him."
The King instantly turned to Prince
Ting and said:
Appoint Kim Ling to his fathers
former office as secret guardian of the
Queen"
holes in my back and hurried on with
my wretched story, for. as the King
lived now had to hold one eye shut
to keep from seeing two of him.
And / knew the strength the liquor
gave me was all the strength l had.
Colonel Ii was lost. too" / mur-
INJURED. holding desperately to the car
pet to keep from falling off the floor.
LII LOST" spit out the King of Quel-
parte, suddenly; this affected him. 1T
must have been a sudden fire."
TT was, Sire. God knows II was sud-
den, but" and here the King broke
IN again with another. gay laugh and
cut off the words which were on my
parched lips.
Il could not hold TO the carpet any
longer, and so with happy sigh let
go and went out into space.
Accidental fires are sudden some
times" heard the King laugh But /
was too far away now to answer. 1
heard much cheering, which sounded at
great distance, but 1 could move
neither hand nor foot, nor lip to tell