Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-09-23
NO. g..

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her majesty's commands must be
obeyed. Let me feel your pulse
Il took it in my hand before he could
object. 1t was beating at q tremen.
dous rate.
Il see clearly what is the matter
with you.' said. You are suffering
from want OF fresh air. Instead of be-
ing shut up in these two rooms-I sup
pose that Is the door Of your bedroom?
you ought to be out in the grounds.
Let me advise you to put on your hat
at once, and come out. will give you
my arm
"The wretch sank into q chair.
Indeed, senor, I am too Ill to be
moved. Tomorrow, perhaps
You make q mistake retorted,
interrupting him. I assure you these
rooms are unhealthy. Let me see your
bedroom
While l spoke went up and turned
the handle Of the door. As l had an.
ticipated. 1t was locked. Gomez sprang
towards me with flashing eyes. I did
not hesitate q moment.
Sit down, Senior Gomez, II you
please, or will shoot you like dog
And l snatched out my revolver and
leveled 1t at his breast.
HE sank back, shuddering. I turned
the key. and opened the bedroom
door"
The ambassador stopped deliberate
ly. struck match and carefully relit
his cigar, which had gone out. l did
not dare to speak.
There" he said, sending out great
puff of smoke-"there. seated on the
floor. amid disorganized army Of
leaden troops, his hands black with
dirt. his hair rough like q dogs, and
his charming lips all smeared with
jam, | beheld his majesty the king Of
Spain. calmly devouring one of his IA.
vorite tarts."
And after?" said, as the ambasss.
dor again came to full stop.
"And after? Why, Is there anything
more? caught up the young rascal
in my arms, king or no king. and made
two steps Of it to where his mother
was waiting. Do not ask me to de-
scribe that scene. Such emotions are
sacred"
Il am not quite sure that have fol-
lowed all the steps by which you ar
rived at your discovery" l said pres.
emily.
My friend, you cannot have been
listening. Did not tell you at the out
set that the boy left his tutors room
with only a hat on? The moment
heard of the wraps perceived that
something must have taken place dur.
ing the passage through those desert
ed corridors. When found that no
one had seen the face Of the boy who
entered the carriage, and that his
walk and bearing were different from
the kings the whole plot was clear.
The conspirators, afraid to risk carry.
ing the young monarch through the
streets of his own capital, had disposed
OF him in the palace on the way out.
and carried away another boy to Gre
ate false scent.
THE scheme was clever enough.
The moment had realized the charao-
ter of the plot, it only remained to dis
cover whether the king had been taken
out of the building since. and, II not,
with whom he was likely to be con-
cealed At the same time took pre-.
cautions against his slipping through
my fingers while was engaged in the
search"
The cook. l suppose. made . full
confession?"
Il had left him very little to con.
fess. 1t appeared that he had been the
chief contriver OF the plot. in revenge
for his own dismissal. He had got two
accomplices from outside. one Of them
that DOCTOR who was as great an i'm.
postor as l was myself.
"They elaborated their plans with .
good deal Of ingenuity. Gomez began
feigning illness several days before the
review. and made his nephew come to
and fro continually. so that his appear
ance ceased to excite remark. Then
they dispatched the warning through
Pamplona, ana lay IN walt.
THE king was, Of course. Drought
straight from the tutors presence into
the cooks apartment. and exchanged
for Pedrillo, and all that remained
was for Gomez to keep the child pris,
oner. by force or persuasion. till they
could contrive to smuggle him out OF
the way unobserved. The idea of OBJ
tanning the ransom while the captive
was still in his own palace was .
brilliant afterthought."
"They were not punished?"
mo; 1t would have been unwisa
They were informed that II they ever
referred to their exploit they would
be put on trial for high treason, and
they seem to have held their tongues.
OF course the fiction of the illness was
kept up to the end. and the kings con.
valescence duly announced.
The ambassador paused, and aD
peared to be hesitating whether to SAP
anything more. At last he added:
when finally took my leave the
queen drew q magnificent ring from
her own finger and presented It to
me.
For the service you have rendered
to the queen regent Of Spain my prime
minister will thank you, she said.
For that which you have rendered to
the mother of Alfonso, she begs you to
accept this souvenir" .fs
He glanced at q very fine diamond
on his hand and, thought, sighed.
Have you the ring there?" I asked.
His excellency shook his head.
THAT ring is no longer in my posses