Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-03-13

In rough, strident tones:
"Why, the DEVILS In it, Shave him.
and he'd be the king
The idea seemed whimsical enough
for a dream. by the sacrifice of my
heavy mustache and carefully pointed
imperial | was to be transformed into
a monarch. ! was about TO kiss the
princess again when | arrived very
reluctantly at the conclusion that |
was awake.
| opened my eyes and found two men
regarding me with much curiosity.
I Both wore shooting costumes and car
ried guns. one was rather short and
very stoutly built. with a big, bullet
/ shaped head, a bristly gray mustache
and small pale blue eyes. trlfie blood
shot The other was Il slender young
/ fellow of middle height. dark in com
plexion and bearing himself with
grace and distinction. | set the one
down as an old soldier the other for
a gentleman accustomed TO move in
good society. but not unused to mill
tary life either. 1t turned out after
ward that my guess was a good one.
The elder man approached me. beck
onng the younger to follow. He did
so. courtcously raising his hat. rose
slowly TO my feet.
Hes the height. too!' ! heard the
elder murmur as he surveyed my six
feet two inches of stature. Then, with
a cavalier touch of the cap. he adj
dressed me:
"May l ask your nameT
"As you have taken the first step in
| the acquaintance, gentlemen" said l,
with a smile, suppose you give me
lead in the matter of names"
The young man stepped forward
with a pleasant smile.
'This," said he, sis Colonel Sapt and
am called Fritz Won Tarlenheim. We
are both in the service of the king OF
Ruritania."
bowed and, barring my head, an
swered:
81 am Rudolf Rassendyll. l am a
traveller from England. and once for
year or two I held a commission from
her majesty the queen"
Then we are all brethren Of the
sword" answered Tarlenhelm, holding
out his hand, which took readily.
"Rassendyll. Rassendyll"' muttered
Colonel Sapt. Then a CLEAN Of intelli-
gence fitted across his face
by heaven" he cried, you're of the
Burlesdons.'
"My brother is now Lord Burlesdon,"
said /.
Thy head bewrayeth thee" he chuc-
kled pointing to my uncovered POLL.
"Why, Fritz. you know the story"
The young man glanced apologize
ally at me. He felt a delicacy which
my sister-iI-law would have admired.
To put him at his ease l remarked,
with a smile:
"Ah, the story is known here as well
as among US. it seems"
Known cried Sapt. "If you stay
here the deuce man in all Ruritania
will doubt OF tor a woman either"
/ began to feel uncomfortable. Had
realized what a very plainly written
pedigree | carried about with me !
should have thought long before | Wis
tied Ruritania. However, was In for
IL now
At this moment a ringing voice
sounded from the wood behind us:
''FTitz Fritz. Where are you. man,"
Tarlenheim started and said hastily:
Its the kingI'
Old Sapt chuckied again.
Then young man jumped out from
behind the trunk of a tree and stood
beside us. AS looked on him utter
ed an astonished cry. and he, seeing
me, drew back in sudden wonder. Saw
ing the hair on my face and a manner
of conscious dignity which his position
gave him. saving also that he lacked
perhaps half an lnch-nay. less than
that. but still something-of my height.
the king of Ruritania might have been
Rudolf Rassendyll and l Rudolf the
king.
looking at one another. Then | barred
my head again and bowed respectfully.
The king found his voice and asked i'm
bewilderment:
Colonel Fritz-who is this gentle
man?"
was about to answer when Colonel
Sapt stepped between the king and me
and began TO talk to his majesty In a
low growi. The king lowered over
Sapt. and as he listened his eyes now
and again sought mine. l looked at
him long and carefully. The likeness
was certainly astonishing. though |
saw the points OF difference also. The
kings face was slightly more fieshy
than mine. the oval OF its contour the
least tgile more pronounced and, as
fancied. his mouth lacking something
OF the irmness Cor obstiEacy) which
was 10 be gathered from my close shut
ting lips. But for all that and above
all minor distinctions the likeness rose
striking. salient, wonderful.
Sapt ceased speaking. and the king
still frowned. Then gradually the cor.
ners of his mouth began to twitch. his
nose came down (as mine does when
laugh, his eyes twinkled. and. behold.
he burst into the merrlest 1T OF ire