The Jasper news., 1908-02-11

steadlly into the gray eyes. which per
sistently scrutinized him as II seeking
to read the cause Of his visit n
There came another instant's pause,
and the king with a gesture invited
him to be seated. The guard dis
creetly withdrew and closed the dooi
of the cabinet.
Bevins continued II must apologize
for intruding upon you; but / have
journeyed long way to deliver mes
sage which permits of no delay"
I'm an official capacity then?a
queried the monarch dryly.
Yes, official and friendly. I was
chosen for this mission not only be.
cause of our known friendship, but
nor the reason that could explain Ger
tain events to you better than any
man living"
The king nearly forgot the distrust
which he had felt first, and almost
yielded to the impulse to drop all cere.
mony and ask his guest for an expla.
nation then and there. He half rose
and grasped the arms of his chair. His
lips opened to interrogate, ard then.
his life's training and restraint re.
suming their hold, his tongue gave a
dry click, and he again assumed pos.
ture of repose. 1t was difficult to as.
sumo an air Of complacence when
every instinct of king and man called
before him for the unraveling of the
skein of events and the story of the
fate of the British fleet. He yelled his
curiosity, his emotion and his excite
ment behind a mask Of polite reserve.
But what was coming next? His Wis.
itor, who had hesitated, now went on.
This is no time nor place for me to
say what l have to; but as an ennis.
sary of my government am asked 10
induce you, your prime minister and
the first lord of the admiralty to grant
me private audience"
The king, impatient, curious and
anxious, was yet relieved by what he
heard. There was nothing very un.
usual in a request for a private audi
ence under such circumstances, and
he had hope that from 1t would come
elucidation of all which he most
wished to know. The morrow then
would at least bring some ease Of
mind and some relief from uncertain.
ty. Before he could reply the voice re-
sumed:
THE audience must be granted to.
night"
Tonight, tonight" The sovereign
forgot his aplomb, leaned his bbdy to-
ward his companion, and thrust his
chin forward. There had been some
thing in the use of the word must
and the astonishing declaration that
the interview should be conceded at
once that aroused little spark of re-
sentiment. And yet he was filled with
a curiosity akin to anger.
The admiral was quick to read his
royal hosts annoyance, and hastened
to ccnciliate. Your majesty, as your
friend l ask you not to misconstrue
anything may say. am asking as a
favor that l be allowed my own timo
and way-yes, that even may be per-
mitted to suggest the conditions of the
meeting. Believe me, 1t Is for the
best"
The king was motionless and speech
less for what seemed a long time,
From his viewpoint Of head of ma.
ton and bound to maintain its dig.
nifty, and a man with mans ankle.
ties and anxious to learn from a
friends lips the story of the last
months secrets and disasters, he was
considering what was best to do.
In an oddly ,repressed tone he an.
swered with another tentative ques-
ton. "As a friend received you in
my box, and now ON this same basis
ask you If this communication ol
yours is so important and urgent that
it cannot take its due course accord
ing to official custom?"
Beyond official ways, your majesty
imperative and urgent" was the re-
sponse; otherwise should not have
chosen this unusual method of ap
preaching you, nor asked for such an
unusual audience In such haste and al
such an unseemly hour"
(To BE CONTINUED)
nj