The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-03-14

olatt. 1t al a summary of the long
column that followed, and merely stat
ed that Prince Leopold, of a certain
Balkan state, the identity of which l
shall conceal under the name of
Pennsylvania, was to be crowned king
on the following Monday.
You have followed the events which
led up to this, of course" said my
companion.
Not with much interest" 1 an.
swered.
Well" said Nikolai. II will explain
them to you. AS you are doubtless
aware, Pennsylvania has played a long
and unhappy role as champion of the
eastern Christians against the Turks.
After five centuries of subsection, she
achieved her independence in 1878. A
prince from the native stock was chos-
en- to rule the people. Unfortunately
their many wars and Instructions
had unsettled their habits and six
months ago, his son was driven from
the throne and a republic established.
This proved disagreeable to Rus
STA and Austria. A threat of war,
which followed, induced the parlia-
ment to submit to the appointment of
a new prince, Leopold, a scion of a
petty German state. As a salve to his
subjects, who hate him vehemently, he
is to be made a king, and he arrived
in Cheskaf, the capital, yesterday eve
ming, for the first time in his life. On
Monday he will be crowned in the
~ Ia aHral with Soma 1fft1D nprnnNnnu
and strongly guarded, for riots are
feared, and, if the mob gets hold of
him, his life will be endangered"
What is your scheme?" | asked.
Nikolai took up the paper and read
aloud:
THE new crown, with the orb,
sceptre, and complete royal regalia,
has arrived from Paris at the kings
residence in Cheskaf, where until the
coronation they will be displayed each
day to his majesty's future subjects"
You are not going to steal the
CROWN" l cried.
Il am going to take the next train
to Cheskaf and have a look at it,"
Nikolai replied enigU atically. Are
o going to accompany me?"
That evening we were speeding over
the vast Hungarian plains. At noon
next day our train steamed into Ches-
KAT station. We engaged apartments
at the best hotel and, that same after
noon followed the multitudes into the
pelace, to the room where the regalia
we're Oh exhibition.
Here we encountered our first dis
appointment, for the statement con-
corning the orb and scepter proved
incorrect. There was neither. There
was however, a magnificent crown,
fresh from the Paris jewelers., stud
,ded with pearls, diamonds, rubies, and
sapphires; it's value, Nickolai whis-
pered to me, must have been close up
on a million and a half in American
dollars. Beside it lay a few of the
kings decorations, but of trivial value.
THE crown alone is worth the at
tempt" said Nikolai, planting himself
In front Of it until moved on by the
sentries. There we're at least a doz-
en- of these Germans, from Leopold's
own principality, and they formed the
butt of much testing and scurrilous re-
marks among the native visitors, who
evidently bore them no good will.
The crown was placed within a case
of strong plate glass. Around this
ran an iron railing, and the whole was
enclosed in a network of tough, ex-
ceedingingly fine steel wire. Even had
the sentries been absent it would
have been difficult enough to get at
our booty. Nikolai admitted defeat
when we had returned to u hotel.
Then for heavens sake let US re
Uurn TO Vienna" ! exclaimed. The
thing, as you say, is impossible
AT least we'll see the coronation"
Nikolai answered. Who knows but
that may yet become a king. have
dong wished to be. Once l nearly
was, but that He paused. Did
you ascertain which was his ma1esty's
apartment" he asked.
He laughed when l replied CURLY.
81 did" he said. 81 gathered its To-
-caIity from some remarks let fall by
on of the Pennsylvania chamber
1ains, who was abusing the German
sentries. Pennsylvania is almost iden-
tical with French; Rome was the par
emit of either tongue. The apartment
overlooks the inner courtyard, 80 that
to reach it one must pass through
the palace. One cannot enter from
the street."
"In heavens name, what is in your
mind?" l cried,
Leopold is still unmarried" said
NIkolai thoughtfully. That immense
iy Lightens our problem. l hate to
deal with women; they're apt to
scream. Besides, one cannot well
break into a princess apartment-at
Least, not if one is a gentleman. Good
night, Summers"
And he strolled off to bed, leaving
me a prey to suspense during the en-
tire night.
The first moment that l clapped
eyes on him the following morning he
began again:
"The daily paper says that the ar
rangements for tomorrow's coronation
are completed" said my companion
-The crown has been taken to the