Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-04-10

| CALCULATIONS on the marvellous success
OF our wild risk. but his whole bearing
was eloquent of satisfaction. The tri-
umph. aided perhaps by good wine.
had made n new man of Fritz.
"What day for you to remember"
he cried. Cad. I'd like to be king
for twelve hours myself But. Ras-
sendyll, you mustn't throw your heart
too much into the part. don't won
der Black Michael looked blacker than
ever. You and the princess had SO
much to say to one another"
| "How beautiful she isr' l exclaimed.
"Never mind the woman" growled
Sapt Are you ready to start?"
"Yes," said /, with a sigh.
1t was 8 o'clock, and at II l should
be no more than Rudolf Rassendyll.
remarked on 1t in joking tone.
you'll be lucky" observed Sapt
grimly, IF you're not the late Rudolf
Rassendyll BY heaven feel my
head wabbllng on my shoulders every
minute you're In the city. Do you
know, friend. that Michael has had
news from Zenda? He went into a
room alone to read it. and he came
out looking like man dazed."
I'm ready" said 1. this news max
ing me none the more eager to lnger.
Sapt sat down.
IL must write us an order to leave
the city. Michael's governor. you
know, and we must be prepared for
hindrances. You must sign the order"
my dear colonel. I've not been
bred forger!"
Out OF his pocket Sapt produced a
piece Of paper.
| There's the kings signature" he
said, land here" he went on after
another search in his pocket. lis some
tracing paper. III you can't manage a
Rudolf in ten minutes. why-I can"
| "Your education has been more com
prehensive than NINE" said l. you
write It,"
And very tolerable forgery did
this versatile hero produce.
snow. Fritz" said he. "the king
goes to bed. He Is upset. No one is
to see him till . o'clock tomorrow.
You UNDERSTANDING oneT
| Il understand" answered Fritz.
michael may come and claim i'm
mediate audience. You'll answer that
only princes OF the blood are entitled
to It,"
'sThatll annoy Michael" laughed
Fritz.
"Y0u quite understand asked Sapt
again. "If the door OF this ropm is
opened while we're away you're hot to
be alive to tell US about It,"
81 need no schooling. colonel" said
Fritz. a tribe haughtily.
Here, wrap yourself In this big
cloak" Sapt continued to me. land
put ON this fiat cap. My orderly rides
with me to the shooting lodge tonight"
''There's an obstacle" I observed.
1.-The horse doesn't live that can carry
me forty miles"
"Oh, yes, he does-two OF him; one
here. one at the lodge. Now are you
readyr'
I'm ready" said 1.
Fritz held out his hand.
SIN case" said he. and we shook
hands heartily.
Hang your sentimentv growled
Sapt. Come along"
He went not to the door. but to a
panel in the wall
"In the old kings time" said he. 81
knew this way we'll"
| followed him, and we walked, as j
should estimate. near two hundred
| rIa An A M na Than
we came to a stout oak door. Sapt I'M
locked 1t. We passed through and
found ourselves In quiet street that
ran along the back of the palace gar
dens. A man was waiting for us with
two horses. One was magnificent
bay, up to any weight; the other "A
sturdy brown. Sapt signed to me to
mount the bay. Without n word to
the man we mounted and rode away
The town was full of noise and merri-
ment, but we took secluded ways. Ny
cloak was wrapped over half my face:
the capacious fiat cap hid every lock
Of my telltale hair. BY Sapt's direc-
lions / crouched on my saddle and
rode with such round back as | hope
never to exhibit on horse again.
Down long. narrow lane we went
meeting some wanderers and some
roisterers. and as we rode we heard
the cathedral bells still changing out
their welcome TO the king. IL was
half-past q and still light. At last we
came to the city wall and to a gate.
Have your weapon ready" whis-
| pered Sapt. 1--WE must stop his mouth
II he talks"
put my hand on my revolver. Sapt
hailed the doorkeeper. The stars
fought for us. A little girl OF fourteen
tripped out.
please. sir. fathers gone to see the
king"
"He'd better have stayed here" said
Sapt to me. grinnlng.
But he said I wasn't to open the
gate. SIR"
did he. my dearY' said sapt. dis
mounting. "Then give me the key"
The key was in the chiId's hand.