New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-10
THE KINGS BARGAIN |
Continued from page 8


No one will answer HIM. and he'll 20 away
Presently he will come again. There viii
be no answer Night will come on. and ind
him there knocking, knocking. At last he viii
become frightened and call the Others They
will burst the door open. and-find YOU and me
on the floor here We shall have died 10 save
the country from dlshOnOr- It's the only way %
Prince Karl drew long breath, staring INTO
the King exPresslonless face Presently he
moved past HIM and began TO walk uerVllIsv
back and forth from one side of the room %
the other After awhile he dropped again into
the arm chair and covered his face with his
hands.
After pause tbs King stirred behind t.1l
at grows late. Kan" said he Do we
trade, you and - Do we trade
The younger man lifted his hands u q little
weary gesture Of defeat saying. Oh you have
me-
The pistol dropped Gathering from the Kings
hand and he pressed his hands over his ewes
He was shaking. who had been So calm s1sk
ing like a man in an ague fit. But after tine
he pulled himself together and came across the
room. He said
What IS the most sacred thing ia ch.s
world TO YOU, Karl All, / have He
went TO the fireplace opposite the western
windows. There was high mantel there and
over it hung the portrait Of stern looking
man in roval robes-the late King Tus, be-
Meath the gold frame of the portrait. held in
place by two pegs driven into the wall rested
a sword. II was not weapon OF ceremony.
inlaid with gold and inCruSted with Jewels =
looked as If 1t had seen hard service.
Our fathers sword. said the King the
sword he won Traumland's freedom with 4
man couldn't swear anything lightly or falsely
on that sword. could he, II he should-,he
hell he would 60 10 would pay him out, [ think
No We are our fathers sOns-we cOuldnt sTear
falsely on his sword He took the weapon
down from its supports and held II very re,er-
emily IN his two hands And he turned @ The
man IN the chair. Karl come here
The lad rose 10 his feet and came forward
" Put YOUR hands between mine on the sword
Karl said the King, and swear thar Won viii
never COuntenance organized gambling i-
Traumland, that YOU VIII night against DO CoH
and as long as YOU live and that as far As lies
in Your power. as King YOU will forbid -
I-Swear, said Prince karl.
He remained standing where he was V--
bent head and dOwucast ewes. but rhe N,Cg
replaced the sword and went back across the
room. He unlocked the door and returned Oh
the great writing table and seated himself
behind II. He made q little whimsl-4 -1w
and gesture toward his brother.
His Majesty Karl Wilhelm O-t1. King q
Traumland-Marchen'" he said: and the 4l
gave a little inartiCulate CIV
Afterward he seemed 20 wish o. say some
thing. but IL was obviously difficult Tor a.r o.
speak He Stamuered: Louis III don
want YOU 20 think / behaved Ike a-a5s
blackguard about all this. l don't want
20 think I've worked against You. --or
Only they-Iarnau and-and HllA0-- well
| feel rather
MY dear Kari said the King. I CHERISH
no resentment whatever-no almost SIS
one sensation at the moment Is that
speakable. incredible relief Presen1lv -
dance and sing. bat for a little while saH...-
Ike % be alone
The other SAID hurriedly. YES ve, Ee
of course. I'll 90. Wen talk atou- WAYS
and means and all that, LATER on. He we--
quickly 20 the door. as # he w-- glad O. be-
released. and So out of the room