The Washington times., 1915-11-07
CHAPTER LXXI.
TIE broken Treaty.


~ the p.,ac" of Grctzhoffcn. King
M.cnacls friends and courties, King
MIchmci's officials. ut last began
slow.v to recover from the period
oi dissipation into whiSa they had
plunged as AN expression of their re-
lief from the armed menace so recently
at their walls. There Ia a limit TO
human possibilities in Joy. In gfief. In
exa,tation OF any kind, even alcoholic.
king Michael and his court ceased to
drink because they could drink no
morc--the wine cup had cea sed to fur
n!sh any t.liD 10 their besotted brains.
Alone among all these others the
pIIme minister of Gretzhoffen retained
somewhat OF his wits. Perhaps a stout
heredity made him more impervious to
the inroads OF excess, or perhaps he had
certain ambitions of his own which
canniy suggested to him that II were
better TO remain In possession OF all his
faculties. Al least. he was the nrst to
call malt In the carousc and to take
| some account OF events past and future.
He looked about him at the wreck
which had been wrought In the palace
by It's inmates--wellnigh as complete
AZ that lately done By Its enemies ---
looked at the stained rugs-the broken
gaze passed bv all this 10 rest upon the
tstupetied guests. OF whom he now pro-
cteded to make quick clearance.
Michael himself made no protest at
his. for he knew little OF what went on
| about him. On his mind still rested the
obsession that was celebrating a
! great victc OF the Gretzhoffen arms
and the CT -.Ehofren diplomacy. To him,
therefore. the prime minister now ad-
! dressed himself In the hope OF some
IafIs q Taa afAT la
! b$nce OF government. Always he
! missed the strong mind and the strong
arms OF count Frederick. now ne nys-
tcliously disappeared.
! Across the narrow neutral lands which
divided these two Kingdoms. yonder In
, the capital OF Grahoffen. a quite differ
cnt state OF affairs held place. No dis
I sipation for old Cortislaw. and no ceie-
| bration for any victory not actually in
hand. Cortislaw planned war. As for
his pledged word An the armistice and
the later treaty. he had long since cast
! to the winds all this as a scrap OF paper
carrying no value whatever. Cortisiaw
! signed treaties only to get something
: merely as temporary eKpedient to eN-
! tricate himself from n dangerous situa-
/ ton. That being done. the world began
, all over again for CortisIaw.
! In due time SaChio returned from his
hootioss search In the vaults below the
| Gretzhorren palace. He WAS full OF ap-
Drehension. but none tho less must face
! his sovereign.
| length that dreaded interview WAS no
/ longer to be evaded. He hesitated. and
! as he did so his monarch guessed his
! news WAS none too good.
! Well. well. Sachio: what is It that my
ma Iesty is to hear demanded Cortis-
law. More bad news You have not
won the secret-you have lost our last
! opportunity
sire. il is true: Thus far have fail
You ask more time! Do you think
time is as inc xhaustible as q river? Let
me tell you. It passes. with our homes.
| with wings. Time-more ttme?-that is
what you cannot hare"'
| But your matesty--
! Away with you. Sachio. have par
| leyed with you for the last time. III
did not need YOU as an officer your
head indeed should hang on our gates
! az n warning to other failures
| How can | serve your majesty? ask :
ed Sschio humbly. glad enough to feel
his head safe on his shoulders for yet
another hour.
Call out our army! Mobilize at once
| to the last man. See that the guns are
ready with full ammunition trains. Call
! in the officers at once. See to II also
that the ships are ready We will at
| tack at once by land and sea. Get you
! at once to the department OF our navy
/ when YOU have finished your orders for
the land forces. We must move at
once" .,.
! Where else II not against Grethof-
/ fen" II you could not tnd their secret
/ at your leisure. | will blow down their
| towers and look among the ruins my
| self for whatever secrets they may
| hold. The gods OF my ancestors would
not let them rest in their graves II
accepted this situation as 1t rests for
\ us today"
| A certain relief came TO the soul Of
| Sachio as he heard these words. He
was a soldier. and he reasoned that
| now in the opportunity for arms he
might win back something Of his lost
1T is well. your majesty" said he:
II shall carry your word at once to all
the different departments. Your men
are but waiting to follow YOU. Success
| all their defenses now as well as our
Yes" said Cortislaw. we shall win.
II IT costs the life of every, man. woman
and child OF this kingdom take
charge now myself and trust no more
boosters like certain advisers could
name. grant you your place In your
can fail in that. n your men give
| back. I'll have my own guns Of the
suard behind them to blow them on the
"Be not too hard upon me. your ma
| Jesty. I admit my error in allowing
| that young girl to leave our shores-she
could have told US the secret had she
liked-all the secret OF the Gretzhoffen
coin. But we shall win yet. though at
| greater cost"
You had your chance, Sachio, You
did not handle the woman well
| thought YOU knew more.
ITO handle a woman. your ma jesty,"
| said Sachfo, whoever knew enough for
/ that? | confess my fault and stand
| ready to pay my share of the added
cost True. we should have kept her
until We had all she knew. 'Ts doubt
| ful IL she ever sees our shores again.
We may see the face OF some American
admiral--see their battleships before
| our poN-but as for her-never!
ut is enough" said Cortislaw. I'VE
| march. We advance no more clinEinE
, to womans skirts. II Is our guidons
now shall lead ns 10 their citr,s aa