Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-10-07
CHAPTER VIII.
THE SOCIALISTS.

separated itself into n hundred
flames before the gaze of the
a amazed Hermann. You said
he was dead.' he gasped to Grumbach.
$50 am to the world, to you and to
all who knew me-" quietly.
"Why have you returned? The duke
will hang you"
Perhaps am fool, perhaps l am
willing to pay the penalty Of my crime.
At least that was uppermost. l have
learned that her highness has been
found. and the rope Is not made that
will fit my neck. Will you denounce
me. brother:"
81"
"Why not? Five thousand crowns
still hang over me-"
"Blocd money for me? No, Hans"
Besides, l have made a will. At
my death you will be rich"
"Rich?"
Eyes. Hermann. l am worth 100000
crowns"
Hermann breathed with effort.
But riches are not everything"
Sometimes they are little enough"
Hans agreed.
''Oh. why did you do it,"
'IIave l not told you, Hermann?
There is nothing more to be added"
Then, with rising passion: Nothing
more now that my heart is blistered
and Scared with regret and remorse.
God knows that l have repented and
repented. ! went to war because
wanted to be killed. They shot me
here ard here and here, and this saber
cut would have split the skull Of any
other man. But it was willed that
should come back here"
MY poor brother! You must fly.
The chancellor is suspicious"
Il know that. But since you. my
brother, failed to identify me certainly
his excellency will not. And you will
not betray Ee when tell you that I
have returned principally to find out
whence came those thousand crowns"
"Ah! Find that out. Hans: yes. yes"
Hermann began to look more like him.
self. But what was your part?"
Mlucs WIS W It'll MucIc Hi
highness and her nurse were to be at
certain hour of the day. nothing
more. My running away was the ex-
preston Of my guilt; otherwise they
would never have connected me with
the abduction"
Hans rose.
''Hans. have you no other greeting?"
Hermann asked. spreading out his
arms
The wanderers face beamed. and
the brothers embraced.
You forgive me. then. Hermann"
"Must | not. little Hans? You are
all that is left me of the blood. True,
l swOre that If ever l saw you again
should curse you"
And what has become of the prin-
cipal cause-Tekla:
Bah! She is fat and homely and the
mother of seven squalling children"
what world! To think that TEX
Ia should be at the bottom Of all this
tangler'
A rap on the door startled them.
Hans slowly opened the door. Car
michael stood outside.
"Ah, captainr' Hans shook Car
michael by the hand and drew him in
to the room.
Hermann passed into the hall and
softly closed the door after him. It
was better that the American should
not see the emotion which still illu-
mined his face
whats the good word. captain" IN
Quired Hans.
Carmichael put in a counter query.
What was your brother doing here?"
Il have told him who am"
WAS it wise?"
Hermann sleeps soundly. He will
talk neither in his sleep nor in his wax
ing hours. He has forgiven me-"
For what?" thoughtlessly.
THE time for explanations has not
yet come. captain"
Pardon me, Grumbach. But came
to bring you the invitation to the mill
tary ball."
The broad white envelope emblazon-
ed with the royal arms fascinated
Hans. not by its resplendency, but by
the possibilities which it afforded.
THANK You. 1t was very good of
you"
1T was a pleasure, comrade. What
do you say TO an hour or two at the
Black Eagle? Well drown our sor-
rows together"
The Black Eagle was lively. as usual.
and there were some familiar faces.
The vintner was there, and so was
Gretchen. Carmichael hailed her.
This is my last night here. Herr
Carmichael" she said
Somebody has left you q fortuneY'
There was jest in Carmichaels eyes.
Yes" replied Gretchen. her lips I'M
smiling. The poor lady who lived on
the top floor OF my grandmothers
house was rich. She left me a thou
sand CROWNS"
And what will you do with all that