Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-27

send Black Michael down below before
I go myself. so help me heaveni Sit
IN that chair. man."
] Obcyed him.
He dartcj from the room. calling.
Josef. JOSEF Tn three minutes he
was back. and Josef with him. The
latter carried a jug Of hot water. SOAP
and razors. He was trembling as Sapt
told him how the land lay and babe
him shave mc
suddenly Fritz smote on his thigh.
"But the guard. They'll knowi
They'll know"
"Po0hl We shau't wait for the guard
Wen ride to I1foau and catch a train
there WAca they come the bird n.
be flown"
"But tlc kiu-y
"The kin- VIII Dee in the wine cellar.
I'm going 90 carry him there now"
"If they nuI hmE"
They won't. now should theyfI
JOSEF VIII uut them oG'
"BuC'-
Sapt stamped h.s foot
We're not IlJyuo." ne roared.
Don't ] know tlc r.sEG II they DO
End him hos no worse OF than IL he
isn't crowned today IN SueIsau."
SO speaking. he flung the door open
and. stoop.ng. put forth strength /
did not dream Pee 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 a
moment she stood. then she turned on
her heel without a sign OF surprise and
clattered down the pa sage.
HAS she hoardt" cried Fritz
9TH shut her mOuth- said SAINT
grimly, and be bore OK The king ln his
arms.
For me. I sat down in an armchair.
and as 7 sat there. half dazcd. Josef
clipped and scraped me am my mus
tache ana 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 aud exclaimed:
'3y Jove. we shall do it"'
II was O'Clock now. and we had no
time 90 lose. Sapt hurried me into the
kings room. and ! dressed myself in
the uniform of colonel Of the guard.
finding time as I slipped on the kings
boots 20 ask Sapt what he had done
with the old woman.
"Shc swore she'd heard nothing"
said hc. "but 20 make sure 1 tied her
legs together and put a handkerchief
In her mouth and bound her hands and
locked her up i'm the coal cellar next
door 10 the king. Josef ii look after
them both later on"
Then ! burst ont laughing. and even
old Sapt grimly smiled.
Il fancy" said be, that when Josef
tells them the king is gone they'll think
IL IS because we smelt a rat For you
may swear Black Michael doesn't ex-
pect TO see him In Strelsau today"
put the kings helmet on my head.
Old Sapt handed me the kings sword.
looking at me long and carefully.
Thank God, he shaved his beardF
he exclaimed.
''Why did heF" l 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"
els all safe here?"
"Nothing's safe anywhere" said
Sapt, but we can make II no safer"
Fritz now rejoined us In the uniform
Of a captain in the same regiment as
that 10 which my dress belonged. In
four minutes Sapt had arrayed himself
in his uniform. Josef called that the
horses were ready. We jumped on their
backs and started at a rapid trot- The
sue OF IL be?
The cool morning air cleared my
head. and / was able TO take In ali
Sapt said 10 me. He was wonderful.
Fritz hardly spoke, riding like q man
asleep, but Sapt. without another word
for the king began at once to instruct
me most minutcly in the history or my
past life, OF my family, OF my tastes.
pursuits. weaknesses, friends, compan-
ions and servants. He told me the Ell
quette or the Ruritania court, promis-
ing to be constantly at my elbow to
point out everybody whom l ought to
know and give me hints with what de-
gree OF favor to greet them.
by the way" he said, you are a
Catholic. supposeT
"Not l." / answered.
lord, he's hereticg' groaned Sapt
and forthwith he fell to a rudimentary
lesson in the practices and observances
OF the Romish faith.
Luckily" said he. you won't be
expected TO know much, for the kings
VIGOROUSLY lax and careless about such
matters But you must be as civil az
BUTTER 20 the cardinal. We hope 20
win him over because he and MIchae!
have . Standing Gparrei about their