The Winslow mail., 1914-10-17
One must deny, deny.

| SdSO SACepC-
Could it be that they had been de-
ayed? Could it be that they had had
to drop for repairs and were still un,
| captured? Could it be that even now
while this fool babbled they were over
there among the mountains heaving
their deadly charge over the side Of
the aeroplane?
| Strange hopes began to lift the tail
of the Slavic fox again.
| What was the man saying? One
must talk to him, anyhow, until one
| knew. at any moment the little brass
door behind him might open with the
news Of Brissago blown to atoms
Then it would be delightful relief to
| the present tension to arrest this chat
terer forthwith. He might be killed
perhaps. What?
The king was repeating his observa-
| ton. "They have ridiculous fancy
that your confidence is based on the
| possession of atomic bombs"
King Ferdinand Charles pulled him
self together. He protested.
"Oh, quite So" said the ex-king;
quite sov'
"What grounds?"
The ex-king permitted himself a ges-
ture and the ghost of chuckle. Why
| the devil should he chuckle? "Practt-
cally none," he said. "But, Of course,
| with these things one has to be so care
| full"
And then again for an instant some
| thing like the faintest shadow of de-
| rision cleaned out Of the envoy's eyes
| and recalled that chilly feeling to K:n2
Ferdinand's spine.
Some kindred depression had come 10
Pestoyitch, who had been watching the
drawn intensity Of Firmin's face He
came to the help of his master, whO
he feared, might protest too much.
"a searchT' cried the king. "An en-
barge on our aeroplanes"
"Only as temporary expedient,"
said the ex-king Egbert, while the
search is going on"
The king appealed to his~council.
"The people will never permit it,
SIRE" said bustling little man in a
gorgeous uniform.
you'll have to make 'e1n," said the
ex-king, genially addressing all the
councillors.
King Ferdinand glanced at the closed
brass door through which no news
would come.
when would you want to have this
search?
The eX-king wasradiant 1--WE couldn't
possibly do it until the day after to-
morrow" he said.
"Just the capital?"
Where elSe?" asked the ex-king still
more cheerfully.
"For my own part" said the ex-king
conhdentfally, Il think the whole busi-
ness ridiculous. Who woukl be such a
fool as to hide atomic bombs? Nobody
Certain hanging if he's caught; certain
and almost certain blowing: up if he
isn't. But nowadays l hare to take
orders like the rest of the world. And
here l am
The king thought he haG never met
such detestable geniality He glanced
at Pestovitch, who nodded almost i'm.
perceptibly. 1t was well, anyhow, to
have fool to deal with. They might
have sent diplomatist. 'Of course, "
said the king, II recoF nize the over
powering force-and a kind of logic
in these orders from I61issago."
Il knew you wond.'' said the ex-
king, with an air of II lief, land so let
us arrange
They arranged wfnl a certain in.
formality. No Balkail aeroplane was
to adventure into th he air until the
search was concluded; and meanwhile
the fleets of the we rid government
would soar and circle lin the sky. The
towns were to be pl;acarded with of.
fers of reward to any one who would
help in the discovery os' atomic bombs
''You will sign that" said the ex-
king.
"Why?"
ITO show that we aren't in any way
hostile to you"
Pestovitch modified "Yes'' to his mas
ter.
And then you see," said the ex
king in that easy way of his. well
have a lot or men here, borrow help
from your police and run through al
your things, and then everything will
be over. Meanwhile if l may be your
guest"-
WRen presently Pestovitch was alone
With the king again he found him in
state OF jang1ing emotions. His spir
it was tossing like wind whipped
sea. One moment he was exalted anC
fun of contempt for "that ass" and his
s9lrch; the next be was down In phi
Of dread '"They will find them, Pesto
witch, and then he'll hang u.s."
Hang us"
The king put his long nose into his
councillors face. THAT gTinning brute
wants to hang u.s." he said. "Anc
hang us he will if we give him shad
ow of a chance"
But all their modern state civtliza