Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-23


carefully nursed-but to move him
would be madness"
Queen Hortense struck her hands to-
gether. What can / do? What can
do?" she demanded. and the doctor
with all his devotion to the house OF
Bonaparte. to suggest a way out. III
he stays he will will be taken-they will
execute him. II he goes he will die on
the way" M cried in an agony of in
decision. Doctor. tell me. think for
mellow can / save him 2"
INC the doctor stood silent. suffer
ing with the impotent desire to help
her. Tiff only the Austrians might
think that the prince was gone" he
stamrnered, and hated himself for the
utility of the words. But the queen
stood with a hand half lifted. arrested.
Her blue eyes were alive with the ross
ing and weaving of swift ideas and then
with q catch of her breath she laughed
at him like a pleased child. Doctor,
You are q very clever man." she said.
Together we are going to save the
prince"
The vivacity OF the schoolg.., OF
Madame de Campan flashed for a mo-
ment into her manner. warmed to sud-
den life by the joy OF hope. The doc
tor waited. enchanted. b~ewildered, to
near MS c~leverness explained. but Hor-
tense did always the unexpected thing.
She shook her finger at him.
I'm not going to tell YOU" she said.
AT least not till ] have to-not till to-
morrow at ali events. But all today,
as you visit your patients you may
think that you are saving the prince
from his enemies-and tomorrow YOU
ms know how. Goodbye. DOCTOR" and,
puzzled n pleased. the physician was
gone.
Send Fritz to me-" the queen or
derNd. and O moment later the young
man who was for e the confiden-
ttal servant OF H%ortense, who knew
more OF the history Of her middle years.
perhaps. than any other. stood before
ner Fritz. when does a packet sail
Tor Corfu" she demanded.
Fritz Rickenbach considered It his
business to know everything. Tonight,
your majesty" he answered unhesitat-
ingly.
you will see that the luggage OF
Prince Louis Is on board. and that O.
carriage rs ready to take him there"
she ordered.
But yes.s your majesty" Fritz still
stood regarding her seriously. ut is a
great happiness to me, your majesty,
n his highness is well enough to
travel"
Fritz knew perfectly that there was
e. complication somewhere, and he
wanted to know what it a His GU
F1osity was patent. but his deep inter-
est IN the affairs of his people could
not be an impertinence, and the queen
smiled at him.
you shall know about 1t. Fritz" she
SAID. The Austrians are coming. The
prince can not be moved. II they take
him 1t means death. They must be-
1l1oVn thai SIp fc rnrD a~l "a 4.sHA..
you and me to make them believe
1t. Fritz. You must get a pass
port signed by all Of the authorities
Lnat is easy today; you must engage
MS place IN h packet for tonight; you
must tell the servants-tell every one
must see that the proper luggage is on
oar IL Will be known that I stay.
but they will not modest an i'll woman.
70 you understand the plan, Fritz p"
But YES. your majesty" Fritz an
sWered with his q alight.
ana SO the packet sailed for Corfu,
Inc all day before sailing the servants
OF Eortense moved busily between the
palace and the boat, carrying luggage
and making arrangements. And oniv
one or two knew the secret that Prince
Louis Bonaparte had not sailed In the
packet. but lay tossing with fever in
q little: room beyond his mothers. car
ried there for greater privacy by Fritz
and h doctor.
Two days later, as the queen sat
quietly by her boys bedside. she heard
that the vanguard Of the Austrians had
entered the city, and almost at once
rTitz came 70 tell her that the palace
IN when She was staying had been
chosen for the residence OF the general
commanding. The probability OF this
Inads not entered her mind: Ii seemed
tfe last straw. The Austrian officer
demanded the queens W chamber
Lor MS chief, but when the stewards
Vile told him the name OF the lady who
was N the o which had not been
gwen Y he bowed deeply and said
g word. It was another of that
Inrotherhood scattered over Eurone-
1.-THE friends Of Hortense; it was an or
Ilcer q had protected her years be-
60 for q week they lived side hv
! with their enemies and only a few
lIeet lay the prince and can
Iure. TOT his room was next that az
the Austrian general. with but q doubla
door II was a life of moman-
Icy anxiety Tor the queen feared each
q the invalid spoke thatgthey miahf
irecogntxe man voice: when -
she turned white. But al ths
lend of the week. Louis Wass a. laaf well
enough to gO He was tosleaye Ancona
EdtsEuiaed AZ n Of his mother,n lackavs
the yoanEs Aaarauis Zsappi waste put1on
hey wers 6oth to- Is ch Sxsr t aed ff g sss
a01s az Hortense travelling on the Esnr-
lsiiaari's paSsp0rt.
CHAPTER XVII
THU UsE
me day before the escape. q IN,
J4UrfnCA ~ anNsN III avnNs iaw q A-n