Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-13
cAprER ~.
The King Keeps His Appointment.

knew not. I awoke with start and q
SILVER; my face hair and clothes dripped
| water. and opposite me stood old Sapt. q
| sneering smile on his face and an empty
bucket In his hand. On the table by him
| sat Fritz Won Tarlenheim. pale as a ghost
and black as q crow under the eyes.
leaped to my feet in anger.
Your joke goes too far. sir!.' cried.
Tut. man. we've not time for quarreling.
Nothing else would rouse you. It's 5
o'clock"
"I'n thank you. Col. Sapt-' began
again. hot In spirit, though was uncom-
| monty cold in body.
"Rassendyll." interrupted Fritz getting
down from the table and taking my arm.
look here"
The king lay full length on the floor. His
face was as red as his hair and he breathed
heavily. Sapt. the disrespectful old dog.
kicked him sharply. He did not stir. nor
was there any break in his breathing.
saw that his face and head were wet with
water. as were mine.
Fritz.
He drank three times what either Of you
did," growled Sapt.
I knelt down and felt his pulse: 1t was
looked at one another.
WAS 1t drugged-that last bother
asked in q whisper.
Il don't know" said Sapt.
I'VE must get a Doctor
There's none within ten miles, and
thousand doctors wouldn't take him to
Strelsau today. know the look q. It. He'll
not move for six or seven hours yet"
but the coronation!' / cried in horror.
Fritz shrugged his shoulders, as l began
to see was his habit on most occasions.
I'VE must send word that he's ILL.," he
said.
Old Sapt. who seemed as fresh as daisy,
had lit his pipe and was putting hard at It.
IF he's not crowned today" said he, "I'n
lay a crown he's never crowned"
But, heavens. why?"
THE whole nations there to meet him;
half the army-aye, and Black Michael at
the head. Shall we send word that the
kings drunk?"
That he's ILL.," said I, in correction.
"Ill!" echoed Sapt. with a scornful laugh.
They know his illnesses too well. He's
been ill before!'
Well: we must chance what they think"
said Fritz, helplessly. ''T'll carry the news
and make the best Of it,
Sapt raised his hand.
Tell me-" said he. do you think the
king was drugged?"
II do" said T.
And who drugged him?"
THAT damned hound. Black Michael"
said Fritz between his teeth.
Aye" said sapt. that he might not
cOIu0 u Dc CTOWHcu ftdSScuuyH mere
doesn't know our pretty Michael. What
think you, Fritz-has Michael no king
ready? Has half Strelsau no other candi-
date? AS Gods alive man, the thrones
lost II the king show himself not in Strel-
sau today. I know Black Michael
I'VE could carry him there" said I.
And a very pretty picture he makes"
sneered Sapt.
Fritz Won Tarlenheim buried his face In
his hands. The king breathed loudly and
heavily. Sapt stirred him again with his
foot.
1.-The drunken dog!' he said. But he's an
Elphberg and the OF his father, and
may rot in hell before Black Michael sits
in his place!
For a moment or two we were all silent:
then Sapt. knitting his bushy gray brOws,
me:
LAS a man grows old he believes in Fate.
Fate sent you here. Fate sends You now to
Strelsau."
I staggered back, murmuring. Good
God"
Fritz looked up with an eager. bewildered
gaze
"Impossibler' murmured. 81 should be
Its a risk-against a certainty" said
sapt. IF you shave I'll wager you'll not
be known. Are you afraid?'
Come, lad, there, there; but it's your life.
you know. II you're known-and mine-and
Fritzs here But If you don't go swear to
you Black Michael will sit tonight on the
throne. and the king lie in prison or his
grave"
1.-THE king would never forgive It,"
stammered
Are we women? Who cares for his for
giveness?"
The clock licked fifty times. and sixty
and seventy times. as I stood in thought.
Then I suppose a look came over my face,
for old Sapt caught me by the hand, cry
.voru .n,"
YES, I'll co." said I, and turned my
eyes on the PROSTATE figure Of the king
on the floor.
per- I'VE are to lodge in the palace. The
moment they leave us you and will mount
our horses-Fritz must stay here and guard
the kings roOm-and ride at a gallOp. The
king will be ready-Josef will tell him-and
he 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 nodded
my head:
There's chance" said Fritz, with his
first sign Of hoDefulness.
IF escape detection" said I.
IF we're detected" said Sapt. I'm send
Black Michael down below before go my
self, SO help me heaven! Sit In that chair,
man."
l obeyed him.
He darted from the room. calling. Josef
JOSEF In three minutes he was back. and
of hot water, soap and razors. He was
trembling at 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
knowr'
pooh, We shan't wait for the guard.
Well ride to Hofban and catch a train
there. When they come the bird II be
flown"
but the king?"
THE king will be in the wine cellar. I'm
| going to carry him there now"
IF they find himT'
They won't How should they? Josef
| will put them on.
But
Sapt stamped his foot.
Were not playing he roared. MY
| God! don't know the risk? II they do
| find him he's no worse OF than II he ISM (
| crowned today in Strelsau."
| So speaking. he flung the door open and,
| STOPPING, put forth a strength I did not
| dream he had. and lifted the king in his
| hands. And as he did so the old woman.
| Johann the keepers mother, stood in the
| doorway. For q moment she stood. then
| she turned on her heel, without sign OF
| surprise and clattered down the passage.
| Has she heardT' cried Fritz.
] "IH shut her mouth said Sapt grimly,
and he bore OF the king In his arms
| For me I Sat down In an armchair and