Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-09-23

10 every man, woman anu Cullu
in Spain, with the exception Of the
queen regent and the prime minister
"The steward was a sensible man.
He asked no further questions, but de.
parted to carry out his instructions
During the next hour l sat in the
tutors room, receiving continual mes
sages with respect to the various per.
sons who sought to come in or out. In
each case l gave my consent. Finally
the steward returned, bringing his re-
port, most admirable paper, which
would have done credit to any chancel
lery In Europe. The name and, In
most cases, the business of every Wis.
itor had been noted down with scrupu'
lous care. | read the report through.
and mist came over my eyes.
"'You have done your work magnifi'
Gently, senor,' l said to the steward
I am now going to show this document
to the queen. Should anyone want to
enter the palace while l am with heI
majesty, be sure to let me know
Il dismissed him, and made my way
with ill-suppressed agitation to the
royal apartments, where was instant
iy admitted l handed the report to
her majesty, and desired her to look
through it, and see if 1t contained any.
thing worthy of remark She compiled
with my request, but observed moth
ing. l then ventured to put Ques'
tion:
81 should be grateful II your males
ty could recollect any incident, how.
ever trivial, during the last few days
before the kings disappearance. which
might throw light on the means OF
persuasion employed by his abduc
tors
Queen Christina appeared slightly
puzzled.
"In other WORDS?
"In other words, wherever the king
has gone to, he must, in the first in
stance, have gone willingly
"The queen looked dismayed. and
shook her head doubtfully.
""Think again, madame. Did any
thing occur to excite the king during
the last few days? Children sometimes
have strange ideas; they desire to
leave their homes, to initiate Robinson
Crusoe to become bandits
"The queen suddenly looked up.
""There is one thing which perhaps
I ought to mention to you, though the
recollection is painful at this time. My
son was very much put out with me
shortly before this terrible event. II
was on account of the dismissal of the
chief cook, whom the steward had de
tected in gross dishonesty. This man,
it appears, had a nephew, a child Of
about the kings own age, who had
contrived to ingratiate himself with
Alfonso, and through this nephew Go
mez had got petition into the kings
hands, praying that his fault might be
overlooked. OF course | had to refuse
the petition. and Alfonso was bitterly
aggrieved.'
Enough, madame!' l had begun,
when we we're interrupted by the ar
rival Of the steward. ! begged the
queen to admit him.
"'You asked me to let you know.
senior, if anyone desired to enter the
palace, and I therefore thought 1t my
duty to come to you, though 1t Is only
the case Of child
What child? asked as calmly as
l could.
Pedrillo Gomez. the cooks
nephew, who has come to visit his
uncle
He cannot be admitted for the
present. / said sternly. 'Detain him
in your room till you hear from me-
"The steward was plainly confound'
ed. But he discreetly refrained from
any reply, and withdrew to fulfill my
directions.
"Surely that Is rather harsh step,
demonstrated Queen Christina.
Madame replied, with the Ut
most good humor, the child who has
just come to the palace Is some impos
tor. He is not Pedrillo Gomez at all
"The queen looked at me as If l had
just claimed omniscience.
"'How can you say that, M. lie
Baron?'
"'Simply by referring to the report
in your majesty's hand. You will see
from it that the cooks nephew entered
the palace last Monday morning at
eight o'clock and that he has never
left 1t since. Consequently, the child
at the door must be some one else
Il could see her begin to tremble.
"'Speak! What do you mean?
"T mean this, madame, that where
as / formerly asked for five days In
which to bring your son to you, now
ask for five minutes. l am going to
interview the true Pedrillo, the Pedril.
10 who has been concealed in the
cooks apartment for the last four
days
81 darted from her presence, and
made my way straight through the
building to the door from which had
seen Doctor Henarez emerge. raped.
and mans voice inquired:
"'Is that you, Pedrillo?
eat the same time a bolt was with
drawn from inside, and the door partly
opened. slipped through, and walked
into the middle of the chamber. The
cook, huge man, with as villainous
face as l have ever seen, eyed me
like tiger as l coolly took possession
of his sitting room. No Pedrillo was
anywhere to be seen.
"'Who are you, senor? the man
stammered out.
az am DOCTOR I responded, with
the most friendly air in the world,
feeling at the same time in the hip
pocket, where doctors usually carry