The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-06-10
CHAPTER xl.
A kino IL Lost,


Of anxiety and nights OF alarm, the
king Of England sought relaxation. A
period OF disaster had reached its cul-
mination where nothing much worse
might be predicted Germany had
other occupations than those OF aggres.
sion. and was now distraught in its
effort to find the missing ruler. from
whom no word had been received and
OF whom no information had been oh,
tanned. The American dread had been
sonnolent for days. and the first grief
for the loss OF the great British feet
had lost its poignancy and was be-
coming only bitter recollection TO be
calmly discussed and speculated upon.
After weeks OF storm and stress there
had come a lull in which England
waited for winds more kind.
London had lived so long in misery
that IL had become Gallons, hardened,
and enveloped in an air OF gloom, con
ditions resembling those Of that period
of terror which overspread II In the
great plague. but which led men by
work and pretense OF gayety to seek
forgetfulness. Once more the music
halls opened, the theaters made their
announcements. signs appeared on the
boardings and old habits began in a
sort Of half-hearted way to resume
their sway.
In this epoch OF abnormality the at
mosphere Joined and sent upon the
huge city June fog. which settled
down In the night. adding its black
ness to that of the hour And through
ii in quest of relaxation rode Eng
lands king. On leaving the palace he
had no definite plan or destination;
but the glare of the theaters lured and
beckoned insistently to their wealth OF
light and entertainment. and he
yielded.
His coming was unheralded, and at.
tention was attracted to the presence
only when the manager. following
time-established custom. which for
babe the turning Of ones back upon a
king. preceded him with steady bows
TO the royal box and took his place
beside the equerry while the visitor
entered. The hippodrome was to be
honored. Within the box the royal
guest seated himself behind the par
TALLY drawn curtains. where he could
look out upon the bizarre performance
and feel himself near a throng OF per-
sons. There was some satisfaction at
least in mere proximity 10 companion.
ship.
With languid interest and half alb
sorption he glanced over the program,
paying but small attention to what 1t
contained. a herd of performing ele-
phants galloped clumsily round in the
ring below. obeying the shrill, nervous
shouts Of woman clad in red tights
and then sedately marched out
through an aperture by the side of the
stage when the act was ended.
man clad in an ill-htting dress suit ev.
identity the heritage from some prede-
cessor. came TO the trent Of the stage
and began an ornate. rambling, and
ungrammatical speech. announcing
some wonderful exhibition which was
about to take place. The monarch.
suddenly aware Of the voice. caught
only the last words declaring Il to be
the great event of the evening" and
leaned back in his cushioned chair, his
mind again reverting to the vicissi.
tudes OF government.
His reverie was disturbed by a con.
versation taking place at the door OF
his box The gentleman was very
insistent that ii should be delivered
at once, otherwise | should not have
brought il" he heard the manager OF
the theater say apologetically.
rs there no place In the world
where can remain undisturbed?" the
king muttered YEARLY, and then called
aloud: Send that note in. whatever
il may be"
With salute his equerry handed
him the message. which he idly held
in his hand for a few moments before
opening #. looking half abstractedly
out OF his hox 10 where a man was
being hoisted aloft and through an
opening in the arched roof above.
More or less ndiffcrentiy he tore open
the envelope and Withdrew a card. at
Nhi'h Nv WIN a PuNIicu ifOnHf
as II doubling his senses Surely this
could be no jest Upon IT was
scrawled:
Admiral Robot Bevins OF the
United States ncly desires brief
audience with his majesty upon mat
ters which can be discussed in per
son only. II permissible, may he en-
Joy the secluslon OF his majesty's
box?"
Through the kings mind passed a
succession of questions What could
this mean? Would anyone dare per.
petrate joke OF this character, and 10
so who would have the temerity?
Was IL not an absurdity THAI Admiral
Bevins should be here this night In a
London theater when his country was
at war and had practically thrown the
gauntlet into the lists of the civilized
world? II was IMPOSSIBLE! But he
would send for this individual who
by his paltry ruse would infringe upon
the privacy OF king and see for him
self what sort OF fool he was
n INT 4