The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-06-05

favor that l be allowed my own time
and way-yes, that I 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 a ma,
ton and bound to maintain its dig.
nifty, and a man with a 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.
tion. Gas a friend l received you in
my box, and now on this same basis
I ask you IL this communication OF
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.
spouse; otherwise l should not have
chosen this unusual method of ap
preaching you, nor asked for such an
unusual audience in such haste and at
such an unseemly hour"
To summon a king, a prime minister
and the highest official Of the earth'a
most mighty navy to a private inter
view at midnight! Even in times like
these it seemed preposterously impu.
dent; but this nan came as a 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.
Thine will not wait, even for
kings" quoted the monarch with
some undesirable of bitterness, and
IRON his guest came the whispered re-.
tdrn:
NO, time cannot wait, even for
kings"
The monarch slowly settled back into
the hollow depths of his chair and, a.
If seeking a moments respite to ros
VAOW CAC oAIu0L1Ou, iOOhCO upWhlOs oh
the hangings 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 raucous
soice was shouting toward the roof in
deliberately prolonged tones: Are
you-all-ready?" From somewhere
above them came a faint response,
YES" and then with speed gathered
by its long flight through the air
there came flashing comet-like from
high above an extended splotch Of
white, the sound of a sharp splash,
and a 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. Bevins remained In an attitude
Of expectancy, waiting for the kings
next words. The success or failure
Of his enterprise might depend upon
them, and in this light they seemed
of almost tragic consequence.
What do you propose?" the ruler
asked, again facing the admiral as
though there had been no lapse of
time; and the other, relieved by this
sign of assent, .gave an involuntary
and deep-drawn sigh of relaxation.
'If. your majesty will be 80 kind, I
think it best that l should meet you in
the palace within an hour after your
departure from this theater. That
will give leeway for the other gentle
men to respond to the summons and
be there at the appointed time"
The band struck up God Save the
King" in token of the closing of the
performance, and from where they
were they could see. the audience
standing, in total ignorance of the
presence of his majesty and unaware
OF the fact that a momentous inter.