Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-06-01

"And they apply equally to the
servants Of the palace, I suppose,
| senor?'
| "'To every man, woman and child
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 I 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 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,' said to the steward.
I am now going to show this document
to the queen. Should anyone want to
enter the palace while I am with her
majesty, be sure to let me know
II dismissed him, and made my way
with Unsurpassed agitation to the
royal apartments, where was instant
ly admitted. I handed the report to
her majesty, and desired her to look
through it, and see il it contained any
thing worthy of remark. She complied
with my request, but observed moth
| ing. I then ventured to put Ques-
ton:
ct should be grateful If your najes-
1 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.
"Tn other Words
elm 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
i Tho c,,Hdon14y 1NNlyoH ~
"There is one thing which perhaps
| 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. It
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. 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 king s
hands, praying that his fault might be
overlooked. OF course had to refuse
the petition, and Alfonso was bitterly
aggrieved.
Enough, madame!' I had begun,
when we were interrupted by the ar
rival of the steward. I begged the
queen to admit him.
"'You asked me to let you know,
senior, If anyone desired to enter the
palace. and therefore thought it my
duty to come to you, though it is only
the case Of child
"'What chiid?' asked as calmly as
| I could.
| "'Pedrillo Gomez. the cooks
nephew, who has come to visit his
uncle
1 "'He cannot be admitted for the
present. I 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 I 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 II l had
just claimed omniscience.
Glow 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 it 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. I am going to
interview the true Pedrillo, the Pedril-
10 who has been concealed in the
cooks apartment for the last four
days
II darted from her presence, and
made my way straight through the
building to the door from which had
| seen Doctor Henarez emerge rapped