The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-12-10
TWENTIETH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Broken Treaty.

INC DFoNCH treaty.
In the palace of Gretzhoffen, Kint
Michael's friends and courtiers, Kint
Michael's officials, at last began slowly
to recover from the period of dissipa
ton into which they had plunged as
an expression of their relief from the
armed menace so recently at theil
walls. There is limit to human pos
sibilities in joy, in grief, in exaltatior
of any kind, even alcoholic King Mi
chael and his court ceased to drink be
cause they could drink no more-the
wine cup had ceased to furnish any
flip to their besotted brains.
Alone among all these others the
somewhat of his wits. Perhaps a
stout heredity made him more imper-
vious to the inroads of excess, or per-
haps he had certain ambitions of his
own which cannily suggested to him
that it were better to remain in pos
session of all his faculties. At least
he was the first to call halt in the
carouse 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 nmates-wellnigh as complete
as that lately done by its enemies
looked at the stained rugs-the broken
furniture, the disordered tables. His
gaze passed by all this to rest upon
the stupefed guests, of whom he now
proceeded to make quick clearance.
Michael himself made no protest at
this, for he knew little of what went
on about him. On his mind still rested
the obsession that he was celebrating
a great victory of the Gretzhoffen
arms and the Gretzhoffen diplomacy.
To him, therefore, the prime minister
now addressed himself in the hope of
some partial restoration Of order,
some semblance of government. AL
ways he missed the strong mind and
the strong arms of Count Frederick,
now so mysteriously disappeared.
Across the narrow neutral lands
which divided these two kingdoms.
yonder in the capital of Grahoffen, a
quite different state of affairs held
place. No dissipation for old Corti
slaw, and no celebration for any vic
tory not actually in hand. CortislaW
planned war AS for his pledged word
in the armistice and the later treaty,
he had long since cast to the winds all |
this as scrap of paper carrying no
value whatever. Cortislaw signed trea- |
ties only to get something afterward. |
He had signed this one merely as a |
temporary expedient to extricate him
self from dangerous situation. That
being done, the world began all over
again for Cortislaw.
In due time Sachio returned from
his bootless search in the vaults be-
low the Gretzhoffen palace. He was
full of apprehension, but none the less
must face his sovereign.
"Your majesty" he began, when at
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, we'll, Sachio, what is 1t that
ny majesty is to hear?" demanded
Jortislaw. More bad news? You
rave not won the secret-you have
ost our last opportunity"
"Sire, it is truei Thus far ! have
allied. But still"
you ask more time! Do you think
ime is as inexhaustible as river? {
let me tell you, it passes, with our |
opes, with wings. Time-more time?
that is what you cannot have!" II
"But, your majesty" 6
Away with you, Sachio! I have 1
arleyed with you for the last time. t
{ / did not need you as an officer,
our head indeed should hang on our
ates as warning to other failures" !.
"How can / serve your majesty" ),
sked Sachio humbly, glad enough to =
eel his head safe on his shoulders
" yet another hour. .
Call out our army! Mobilize at q
nee to the last man! See that the !,
uns are ready with full ammunition RI
aims Call in the officers at once n
ee to it also that the ships are ready. h
re will attack at once by land and :,
"a. Get you at once to the depart !,
ent Of our navy, when you have fin y
he'd your orders for the land forces. +,
e must move at once" !,
whittier, your majesty" .,
where else, if not against Gretz- =
,ffen? If you could not find their
cret at your leisure, will blow down a.
cir towers and look among the ruins y
yself for whatever secrets they may VI
Id. The gods of my ancestors would OF
n LOT them rest in their graves IL | Tn
cepted this situation as it rests for u
today" -
A certain relief came to the soul "