Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-04-13
I'm all attention."

w A<ll WdAL " COuS01L you dOOdt -
this: The king has asked me to accept
the titles of old Hugo and to take my
place at court
Courtney drew out his cigarette case,
he selected one and slowly lit it. 1
knew his way and waited patiently.
..And Lotzen and the crown ?'' he said
presently.
do you care for the whole story"
asked.
Yes; let me have it ALL And. set
Ting back in his chair, he closed his
eyes and prepared to listen.
Then L told him everything of the
meeting with the king in his library,
repeating as well as / could remember
Frederick's exact language, describing
his attitude toward me and his evident
desire in the matter
1T seems to me-, he said, 1.-THE mat
ter is wholly one of personal inclina-
ton, with no obligation upon you to de-
eide it upon any other basis. There
fore the first question is simply this:
Which do you prefer to bean Ameri-
can officer and citizen or a Valerian
archduke?"
THAT is just what I don't know"
said 1.
.'Wel1, would it be any easier to an
L
for the crown?''
'"That complexities it even more,
think"
He looked at me hard for moment.
I knew he was thinking Of the prin-
cess, and shook my head.
Better look at it only on the first
proposition" he said, IAN American
officer or an archduke'"
IF 1 accept" said I. at shall play for
all the stakes"
You have lost several hours of sleep
tonight, my dear major, very needless
ly,'' he said You know quite well
you will accept Frederick's offer.'
do you advise me to acceptT de-
manded.
do you fancy I would advise you to-
do anything elser'
you say that as my best friendr' Il
persisted
81 do And more, I urge it. And
then" he went on" you can throw #
all over and come back to US IL you get
tired of your new job"
But I'm too old to learn q new pro-
fession," objected
"a new profession7' he questioned.
nodded. 1.-THE profession OF being
| an archduke."
ball." he laughed, you will have very
| little to learn"
1 cannot say If a good nights rest
had anything to do with 1t, but when
I awoke my mind was made up, and
was ready to give answer to the king.
1t CHANGED that Courtney and met at
| breakfast-the American customs as to
meals prevailed at the embassy-and
had the room to ourselves, possibly be-
cause we were very Late and the day
was very charming.
WELL" said he, 'I see you've made
your decision Which gets 1t, Valera
| or American"
Behold prospective archdukei'
said I.
He arose and, hand over heart, bow
ed low. "I salute your royal highnessi''
| he said
"Nonsenser' exclaimed. Don't be
| ridiculous" and turned to my mail.
The letters lay face downward of
course, and 1 opened them In their or
der without bothering to examine the
superscriptions. Presently I came upon
one sealed with blurred dab of green
wax. Rather curious, 1 turned it over.
1t was unstamped and was marked,
Personal and important" I did not
know the handwriting; but, then, Lady
| Helen Radnor's was the only one In all
| DornlitZ L could have known.
Here" said to Courtney, sis let
ter marked personal and important"
I tossed 1t over.
He glanced languidly at the envelope,
then picked it up quickly and scruti-
nized it sharply. Then he motioned
for the servant to return it to me.
1 knew he had recognized the writ
| ing and that it called for more respect
| than a careless fling across the table.
broke the seal and drew out the let
ter. 1t bore the royal arms over the
word Dornlitz. Beneath It read:
My Dear Cousin-His majesty has told
me of the meeting in the library this
| morning. know I have no right to med
| die. but won't you please accept and come
| We shall welcome you with all hearts.
| Come, Armand! lDEHRA-
1 read it slowly a second time and
then a third time. wondering the while
| whether 1 should show It to Courtney
i You know who wrote this?'' asked.
81 know who wrote the address,
''Then know the note Also" said I.
and read it to him.
His face was quite expressionless as
I read, but at the end he gave the
faintest nod of approval 'If that does
not hold you to the task you are he
stopped. -'You ought to be proud to
be her cousin he ended.