The National tribune., 1906-09-13

1.-THE King would never forgive It,"
stammered.
Are we women? Who cares for hi;
forgiveness
The clock licked so times, and so and
| 70 times, as stood iii thought. Then
suppose a look came over my face
for old Sapt caught me by the hand
crying:
You'll go?"
Eyes, I'll CO." said I, and turned my
eyes on the PROSTATE figure Of the King
on the floor.
Tonight" Sapt went on in a hasty
whisper. I'VE are to lodge in the palace
The moment they leave us you and
Will mount our horses-Fritz must stay
here md guard the Kings room-and
ride hoe at gallop. The King will be
must ride back with me to Strelsau,
and you ride as II the devil were behind
you to the frontier"
I took It all in in a second, and nod
ded my head.
! There's chance" said Fritz, with
his first sign of hopefulness.
| ''If escape detection" said l.
'If we're detected" said Sapt, 'I'll
send Black Michael down below before
go myself, so help me Heaven! Sit in
that chair. man."
I obeyed him.
| He darted from the room, calling,
| Josef, josef" In three minutes he
was back, and Josef with him. Tho
latter carried jug Of hot water soAn
end razors. He was trembling as Sapt
told him how the land lay, and bade
him shave me.
Suddenly Fritz smote on his thigh:
| But the guard! They'll know,
they'll know!"
| Pooh! We shan't wait for the guard.
Well ride to Hofban and catch a train
| there. When they come the bird IL be
| flown"
But the King?"
"The King will be in the wine GEL
lar I'm going to carry him there now. i"
| 'If they find him ?"
'"They won't. How should theyi Jo-
sef will put them or"
But"
Sapt stamped his foot.
| "We're not playing" he .roared. "My
God! don't know the risk? II they do
find him he's no worse off than if he
isn't crowned to-day in Strelsau"
So speaking, he flung the door open.
and, STOPPING, put forth a strength did
ret dream he had. and lifted the King
in his hands. And as he did so the old
woman. Johann, the keepers mother,
lstood in the doorway. For a moment she
I stood. then she turned on her heel,
without sign of surprise, and cIattered
down the passage.
HAS she heard?" cried Fritz.
'Tll shut her mouth" said Sapt
grmly. and he bore off the King IN his
arms.
For me, I sat down in an armchair.
and as I sat there, half dazed, Josef
clipped and scraped me till my mus
tache and imperial were things of the
past and my face was as bare as the
Kings. And when Fritz saw me thus
he drew long breath and exclaimed:
by Jove, we shall do it!'
1t was 6 o'clock now, and We had no
time to lose. Sapt hurried me into the
Kings room. and I dressed myself ia
the uniform of a Colonel of the Guard,
finding time, as slipped on the King s
boots to ask Sapt what he had done
with the old woman.
She swore she'd heard nothing" said
he; but to make sure / tied her legs
| together and put handkerchief in her
mouth and bound her hands, and lock-
ed her up in the coal cellar, next door
both, later on
Then 1 burst out laughing, and even
old Sapt grimly smiled
Il fancy" said he, that when Josef
tells them the King is gone they'll think
it is because we smelt n rat. For you
may swear Black Michael doesn't ex-
pect to see him in Strelsau to-day"
| / put the Kings helmet on my heal.
Old Sapt handed me the Kings sword,
looking at me long and carefully.
THANK God. he shaved his beard"
| he exclaimed.
"why did he?" asked.
Because Princess Flavia said he
graZed her cheek when he was gra-
ciously pleased to give her a cousinly
kiss. Come, though, We must ride"