The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1916-04-07
TWENTIETH I~NSTALLMENT
CHAPTER Xxx.

In the palace OF retLhouen King
Mlchael's friends and co%urtiers, King
Michael's officials, at last began slowly
TO recover from the period OF dissipa
tion into which they had plunged as
an expression OF their relief from the
armed menace so recently at their
walls. There is a limit to human pos
sibilities 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 10 more-tho
wine cup mad ceased to furnish any
FLIP 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
yious to the inroads OF excess, or per
haps he had certain ambitions Of his
which cannily suggested to him
that It we're better to remain in pos
session Of all his faculties. At least
he was the first to call a 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 its inmates-wellnigh as complete
as that lately done by its enemies
looked at the stained ruEs-the broken
furniture. the ]disordered tables. His
gaze passed by all this to rest upon
the ]stupeied 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
tho ohsession that he was celcbratinR
a great victory OF the Gretzhoficn
arms and the Grctzhoffen diplomacy
To him. therefore, the prime minister
now addressed himself in the hope "
some martial restoration OF order
some somhlance Of a government. Al
ways he missed the strong mind and
the strong arms OF Count Frederick
% 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 a scrap OF paper carrying no
value whatever. Cortislaw signed trea.
ties only to get something afterward
He had signed this n merely as a
temporary expedient to extricate him.
self from a dangerous situation. That
being done. the world began all Owe
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 h~esitated.
and as he did so his monarch guessed
his news was none too good.
We'll, well, Sachio. what is It that
my majesty is TO hear?" demanded
Cortislaw. More bad news7 You
have not won the secret-you have
lost our last opportunity"
sire It Is true' Thus far I have
failed, But still"
You ask more time! Do you think
time is as lneXhaustible as a river?
Let me toll you, Il passes, with our
hopes, with wings. Time-more time?
that Is what you cannot havel"
But. your majesty"
Away with you, Sachio! I have
parleyed with you for the last time.
II | did not need you as an officer,
your heed indeed should hang on our
gates as a warning to other failures d"
How can ! serve your majesty"
asked Sachio humbly, glad enough to
feel his head safe on his shoulders
for yet another hour.
Call out our army! Mobilize at
once to the last mani See that the
guns are ready with full ammunition
trains. Can In the officers at once
See to II also that the ships are ready
We will attack at once by land and
ment Of our navy, when you have fin
ished your orders for the land forces.
We must % at once"
WHITTIER, your majesty"
Where else, II not against Gretz.
honen? II you could not find their
secret at your leisure, I will blow down
their towers and look among the ruins
myself for whatever secrets th,y nav
hold, The gods of my ancestors would
not let them rest In their graves II
accepted this situation as Il rests TO-
ne today"
A certain relief came 10 the sou