Bogalusa enterprise. [volume] (Bogalusa, La.) 1914-1918, 1915-12-30
TWENTIETH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Broken Treaty.

0lCudel . llieLuS anu COul Llel ., Ming
Michaels officials, at last began slowly
10 recover from the period Of dissipa.
ton into which they had plunged as
|, m expression of their relief from the
/ armed menace so recently at their
walls. There is a limit to human pos,
abilities in joy, in grief, in exaltation
Of any kind, even alcoholic. King Mi
chael and his court ceased to drink be.
cause they could drink no more-the
vine cup had ceased to furnish any
Allip to their besotted brains.
Alone among all these others the
prime minister of Gretzhoffen retained
somewhat Of his wits. Perhaps a
stout heredity made him more imper-
Nous 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 a halt in the
arouse 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 its inmates-wellnigh as complete
- 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 obsesson that he was celebrating
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 a 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.
lyonder 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. Cortslaw
+ 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
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
bis bootless search In the vaults be-
low the Gretzhoffen palace. He was
mll 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
MS news was none too good.
We'll, we'll, Sachio, what is 1t that
my majesty Is to hear?" demanded
Cortislaw. More bad news? You
nave not won the secret-you have
lost our last opportunity"
Sire, it is true! Thus far / have
JAILED. But still"
You ask more time! Do you think
tlme Is as inexhaustible as river?
Let me tell YOU it passes, with our
hopes, with wings. Time-more time?
that is what you cannot have!'
But your majesty
s Away with you, Sachio! I have
Mrleyed with you for the last time.
/ II did not need you as an officer,
your head indeed should hang on our
Gates as a warning to other failures"
n How can l serve your majesty"
asked Sachio humbly, glad enough to
ieel his head safe on his shoulders
of yet another hour.
81 Call out our army! Mobilize at
once to the last man! See that the
guns are ready with full ammunition
vans Call in the officers at once.
gee to it also that the ships are ready.
we will attack at once by land and
Get you at once to the depart
Snent of our navy, when you have fin
saed your orders for the land forces.
eve must move at once"
+ Whittier, your majesty"
Where else. if not against Gretz-
soaen? If you could not find their
scret at your leisure, l will blow down
weir towers and look among the ruins
@yself for whatever secrets they may
Oid. The gods of my ancestors would
lot let them rest in their graves if |
sccepted this situation as it rests for
~ today"
a certain relief came to the soul