The Washington times., 1915-07-18

what was his own attitude toward this
weak king.
Count Frederick started toward the
fGsr s mnS SsGre f sfsGed ee hoSa hoSEhs af
there should be need for yet greater
delay before his final overt act was
committed.then he ought to have a
kings good graces. Because. revo-
luton or no revolution. the throne
of Gretzhoffen was not worth hav-
Ing unless its owner had both
halves Of the missing coins. Frederick
cared not to be pennless king. and
only the united coin could give any
king of Gretzhoffen actual wealth and
actual power.
indefinite, had from time to time been
audible at the open door Of the grand
entrance. They had gathered here
about the palace in the expectation of
arch-of seeing his disgrace. Many
emissaries among them had primed
them for that very advent-had sug-
gested to them their own proper resent
tacle had failed-Michael was sober: He
was as much king IS could be made Of
him. The Wis inertiae of the people.
ready to endure the same evils rather
than fight unknown one-. thus helped
keep matters still in balance.
But as the strains of the great orches-
ira. the wailings Of violin and flute,
the throbblngs Of viol and saxaphone
rose and reached the ears of those
waiting; in the streets; as the sight OF
the richly clad dancers now and then
became visible as they passed the wide
windows. the envy and discomfort OF
the people arose.
why do We starve while they
dance?"
The old, old cry of the unfortunate
and oppressed arose. whether dumbly
or in open voice, from the hearts of
those who waited white the king and
his favorites danced in the great black
and white ball
They began to edge towards the pal
ace steps. a dark. dense mass. The, sol
n,, aieIy staa were not eager e,, to oppose them
selves of the, people. Moreover. thev
had had small cause for loyalty to the
king and court of Gretzhoffen. They
were Ill paid and i'll governed.
Frederick had hinged his own plans of
action upon one event-the public dis
grace of the kins-and that event had
not occurred. The hand that Kitty had
plan to make the king a laughing stock
Moreover, there remained among the
malcontents In this throng many who
still; retained some loyalty to their king
vet break the old forms of rule to which
they had been accustomed.
The people" muttered Count Fred
erick to himself. After all. one is
obliged to count them in In matters OF
this kind"
He frowned as he stood looking out
over the dense mass which filed the
streets. Even he began to feel, almost
in spite of himself. some sort Of a vague
pity for these less fortunate ones He
began to think. His strong face grew
serious. How. after all, could he help
these people If he were their king? He
sighed to himself. Not at all, unless
he have treasury. unless he had the
other half OF this missing coin.
Still over the voice of the strings and
reeds rose the low mutterngs of the
mob. strange to hear. impossible to de-
scribe. No one man raised his voice
pered as yet; but in the total. the vol
ume became a thing definite. omnous
terrible. 1t was as the voice of some
great creature, dreadful If aroused. 1t
seemed to convey the thought Of a great
dragon. still slumbering, yet stirring N
the folds OF his massive body.
King Michael heard this sound. All
heard it. this voice Of the people, a vet
undecided The kings face paled-
terror smote home upon his soul. The
courage of his usual alcoholic stimu-
liant being tonight denied him. his weak
nerves gave way. His attitude now
was not that Of the commander, OF the
king, but Of man open for any sug :,
gcstion, any advice. He looked this
some one who could offe ran arm to a
king who was afraid.
He saw Count Frederick. now return
ing to the salon, from the great en-
trance door. The latter saw the terror
Of his monarch's face. and recognized