The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-02-25

been mistake-you say Michael here
is not our king-who then is our
king"
Your excellency," said Count Fred
erick slowly, as he turned toward him,
yourself, these noblemen of Gretz-
hoffen, the council of ministers, the
parliament Of the realm-all these
shall at length perhaps bear out my
statement which | make now. 1, my
self-Frederick-am the king!"
At these words they made no an
swer
Listen. gentlemen" said he, gently,
at last. Cereal. things have happened
to us in our realm. We shall this day
save our kingdom. AS believe, am
your king | accept that station sol
EMMY, and here | have the profit
may not be doubted that ultimately its
substantiation will be completely
the parliament, by the people them
selves-by all our courts-by your
voice unanimous, as | doubt not, you
noblemen Of this kingdom.
Shall | then read?"
He turned from one to another and
the lips of none spoke audibly the con-
sent which their eyes gave him. He
read:
"In the name of God, Amen! l, Mi
chael of Gretzhoffen, by the grace of
God, king, leave this script with the
treasures of the kingdom which have
concealed herewith beneath the floor
of the torture chamber. With them
place the secret governing the own
| ership of the treasures Of this king
dom. That secret is known only to
myself and my bodyguard, who has
been faithful man-Boris Roleau.
For now these many months have
been cognizant of dangers at the hands
of my own foster brother Stanislaw.
Should he be successful in what con-
ceive to be his plans. my life may for
felt, but not the treasures themselves.
1T was my pleasure to have made
medal or a coin which should be the
token of this secret. When my body
guard, Boris Roleau, faithful man,
treasures, l gave him the indenture,
! the half of a certain coin or medal
which | caused to be made and in
scribed, as record of the hiding place
Of that which we were about to con-
ceal. Upon the face of that medal or
coin this inscription was written
Sub pavimenti-angule vergentis-
cruciati camerae-reperietur
us-Regis Graetisjovensis.
80 shall be preserved the secret of
the hiding place of that which is the
peoples. Somewhere there shall exist,
even though l shall die, this record.
Half Of it have given into the charge
of the man whom have known to be
faithful. At my death he is to take
both halves and guard them well.
Should l be slain, as we'll may be
in these troublous and treacherous
times in which l live, my wish and
command is that my son be known as
Michael the Second, and that he shall
take from me the rule of this kingdom
in his day, and the administration of
these properties of the kingdom.
1T is my wish and command, my
hope and my prayer, that he shall gov
ern wisely with justice to all, firmly
and with wisdom.
There may be long regency be-
fore my son shall reach the age of ma
turity. There is another, older than
himself, the son of my foster brother
not Of royal blood, but the bastard
Of serving woman-Frederick he is
called. 1t may be within the purpose
of my foster brother that that boy
shall be brought up as the king, in
case l, myself, should fall. Let that
never happen! He is of no royal
blood. He is not fit to rule. He is not
your king. But signed hereunto is the
name and the seal unmistakable, done
in my blood and his, Of your king,
Michael the First, and Of your future
king, Michael the Second, my son. He
is as yet too young fully to know the
gravity Of these presents. But by this
S.gn you shall know your ruler. shall
these presents come to you, we'll be-
loved.
IN the name of God, amen! Mi
chael, Rex"
Below this signature of Michael
the Good" said the measured voice of
Count Frederick, there is another
signature-'Michael the Second, Rex.
Gentlemen, there are two signatures
to these scrips, and there are two
SEALS"
A sigh Of wonder, almost OF conster-
nation, came from those assembled.
Il recall now, as | see this page"
said he, this writing of the king, my
father-you hear me, gentlemen-my
father!
81 recall that saw him place be-
meath the great seal, that other seal
done in his own blood. saw him
draw the blood from his own arm and
put his thumb in it, and place 1t here,
thus sealing this document with the
unmistakable seattle one alone
which cannot show mistaken iden-
tity.
And here, gentlemen, beneath that
other line of signature, which you