Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-08-07

"Pu send up my card"
another meeting all our plans. all our
precautions. may be in vain. He
searches for her to offer his crown"
The prince listened and did not smile
as he went out.
He had hidden the chancellor await
his return In the salon Of the royal
| suit, which was always kept at his
disposal when he appeared in the
neighbOrhoOd. as he often did since
purchasing the hunting lodge Il few
miles out Of KrOnburg in the forest
Other foreign royalties or lesser
princes from the provinces occasional
ly occupied the apartments also, and
this handsome royal hiGhness Of today
was not the only one whom the chan
cellor of Rhaetia had visited there. He
knew by heart the rich purple hang
ings in the salon, with the double
wolf head OF Rhaetia stamped in gold
| at regular intervals on the velvet, and
he slckened Of their splendor now as
the moments dragged and he remained
alone.
When half an hour had passed he
could no longer sit still on the purple
| velvet sofa. but began walking up and
down. his hands behind him. scowling
at the full length oil painted portraits
| Of Rhactia's dead rulers. glaring a
question into his own eyes In the long,
gold framed mirrOrs-a question he
hov sv{y hIo
swered In the way he wished
Three-Quarters Of an hour had gone
/ at last, and still the chancellor paced
| the purple drawing room. and still the
prince did not come back to tell the
news.
Had the young man failed? Had
that siren upstairs beguiled him. as she
had beguiled one stronger and greater
| than he? Was 1t possible that she had
lured the whole secret Of their scheme
from the prince and then induced him
| to leave the hotel while her arch ene-
my fumed in the salon. awaiting his
| return?
But. no: there were quick footsteps
outside the door. The handle was
turned. At least his royal highness
was not traitor.
As the chancellor had confessed, he
was growing old. He felt suddenly
very weak. His lips fell apart, trem-
bling. yet he would not utter the words
that hung upon them.
Fortunately the prince read the ap-
peal in the glittering eyes and did not
wait to be questioned.
| "Well. I've seen the lady and had a
talk with her." he said in q voice
which was. the old man felt. somehow
different In tone from what 1t had been
an hour ago.
"And is she the person ypu have
knownr"
Eyes, she's a person I have known.
It's-it's all right about that plan Of
yours, chancellor. She's going with me
to the lodge"
Heaven be praised! 1t seems al
most too good to be true. When does
she goT'
AT once-that is. as soon as she
can get ready. She will dine with me,
and my equerry will stop behind and
eat the dinner had ordered here"
Magnificent! Then she will go with
you alone? Nothing could be better.
The presence of the alleged mother as
chaperon would be q drawback"
"Oh. no chaperon Is needed for us
two. The-er-mother remains at the
hotel with a LA companion they
have. who Is i'll. 1t was-er-somewha
difficult to arrange this matter. but
don't think the plot l have In mind
now will fail. provided you carry
through your part rs smartly as i
have carried mine"
You may depend upon me. Your
royal highness is marvellous Am l to
understand that the lady goes with
you quite Of her own free WHIP"
"Quite. fatter myself that she's
rather pleased with the invitation. In
q few minutes I and the .air damsel
Will be spinning away for a drive in
my red motor - you know, the one
which 1 always leave Mt the lodge, to
be ready for use whenever choose to
pay flying visit. l shall keep her out
until it's dark to give you plenty of
time. but before starting I'll telephone
to my chef that. after all. I shan't be
away and he must prepare dinner for
two"
II also will send telephone mes
sage" said the chancellor.
ITO LeopoldT
| Yes, your royal highness. This time
there will be no uncertainty In my
words to him. They will strike home,
and even II he should not be intend
Ing to come to Kronburg tonight they
Will bring him."
you are sure you know where to
catch the EMPEROR?
He'll telephone me from Felgarde
when he has found those he sought are
not there. as he will. and must be at
my house to receive and answer his
message. 1t will soon be time now"
Every we'll; all that seems to arrange
itself satisfactorily" said the prince.
"Our motor drive can be stretched out
for an hour and half. The lady will
then need to dress. Dinner can be
kept back till half past s. II It would
suit your book to break in upon US at
the table. My dining room isn't very
grand, but 1t has plenty of light and
color and wouldn't make a bad back
ground for the last act Of this little
drama. What do you say. chancellor?
I've always thought that your success
as a stage manager Of the theater of
nations was partially due to your eye
for dramatic Effects"
sSuch effects are not 10 be desniae.1