The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-06-11
CONTINUED from last Issue.)


tain events 10 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.
and grasped the arms of has chair His
lips opened to interrogste, and then.
his life's training and restraint re-
Stunning their hold. his tongue gave &
dry click. and he again assumed pos.
ture OF repose. II was difficult to as.
sumo an air Of complacence when
every instinct OF king and man called
out 10 him TO ask impetuously the one
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 10
say what / have TO: but as an ennis
sary OF my government | am asked to
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
~ hal bona that FROM, ~ would romo
calculation OF all which he most
wished to know. The morrow then
would al least bring some ease of
mind and some relief from uncertain.
~. Before he could reply the voice re-
sumed:
night"
Tonight. tonight" The sovereign
forgot his aplomb. leaned his body to-
ward his companion. and thrust his
chin forward. There had been some
thing in the use Of the word must"
aud The astonishing declaration that
the interview should be conceded at
once that aroused little spark OF re-
sentiment. And yet ne was nlled with
q curiosity akin to anger.
the admiral was quick 10 read his
royal hcst's annoyance. and FASTENED
to conciliate. Your majesty. az your
friend | ask YOU not TO misconstrus
anything may say. / am asking as .
favor that be allowed my own time
and way-yes, that even may be- per
mitted 10 suggest the conditions of the
meeting. Believe me. It is for the
best"
The king was motionless and speech
less Tor what seemed 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
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 il this communication OF
yours is so important and urgent that
it cannot take its due course accord
ing TO official custom 90
Beyond official ways, your majesty.
imperative and urgent" was the re-
sponse; otherwise should not have
chosen this unusual method OF APP
preaching you. nor asked for such an
unusual audience in such haste and at
such an unseemly hour"
To summon king, prime minister
and the highest official OF the earth's
most mighty navy TO a private inter
view at midnight, Even in times like
dent; but this man came as friend
from the land OF silent terror which
threatened to conquer the world, was
undoubtedly In deadly earnest. and
was a means of information between
what had actually happened and what
was to come.
Time viii not wait. even for
kings" quoted the monarch with
some underestimate Of bitterness. and
from his guest came the whispered re-
turn:
No time cannot wait, even for
kings"
The monarch slowly settled back into
the hollow depths Of his chair and, as
| II seeking a moments respite to re-
view the situation. looked upward at
| The haaglngs Of his box and then out
toward the garish lights Of the stage.
| The hush Of expectancy over the house
| had reached a climax Of intensity. and
| the master OF ceremonies in a rauoous
voice was shouting toward the roof in
| deliberately prolonged tones: sAre--
you-all-ready? From somewhere
| above them came a faint response,
| YES" and thea with speed gathered
| by its long flight through the ali
| there came flashing comet.like from
high above an extended splotch oil
white, the sound OF a sharp splash
| and burst Of applause as the event
OF the evening" a high dive, was con
| summated. Neither occupant of the
royal box paid any attention to this
feat Bctils remained in an attitude
| OF expectancy. waiting for the kings
next words. The success or failure
| of his enterprise might depend upon