New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-10-25
CHAPTER u.
O%isqraced.

Disgraeed.
At eight o'clock that evening the
Crown Prince Ferdinand William Otto
approached the palace through the
public square. He approached II
slowly, for two reasons. First, he die
not want to go back. Second, he was
rather frightened. He had an idea
that they would he disagreeable.
There seemed to be a great deal go
ing on at the palace. Carriages were
rolling in under the stone archway
and, having discharged their contents,
mostly gentlemen in uniform, were
moving Off with a laundering of hO0fs
that reached from the vaulted roof OF
the entrance. All the lights were on
in the wing where his grandfather.
the king, lived alone. AS his grand
father hated lights, and went to bed
early, Prince Ferdinand william otto
was slightly puzzled.
lie was very dirty. His august face
was streaked with SCOT, and his au-
gust hands likewise. His small derby
hat vas carefully placed on the very
back Of his head at the angle of the
American boys cap. AS his collar had
scratched his neck, he had, at Bob
by's suggestion, taken 1t off and
rolled it up. He decided, as he waited
in the square, to put 1t on AGAIN.
Miss B~raithwaite was very peculiar
about collars.
anne Il lull in the line of carriages.
Prince Ferdinand william Otto took
a long breath and started forward.
AS he advanced he stuck his hands
in his pockets and staggered Il tritlc.
1t vas, as nearly MS possible. an eX-
act imitation of Bobby Thorpe'S walk.
And to keep up his courage, he quoted
that young gentleman's farewell
care? They won't eat you, will theyT
Prince Ferdinand William Otto stood
in the shadows and glanced across.
The sentries stood like wooden men.
yard inside. The guards were all
standing, and there seemed to be a
great many Of them. And just as he
had made up his mind to take the
plunge, so to speak. a part Of his own
regiment Of cavalry came out from the
court yard with a laundering of hoofs,
wheeled at the street, and clattered
Off.
Very unusual, all of it.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Otto
felt In his pocket for his handkerchief,
and, moistening n corner with his
wiped his face. Then he wiped
his shoes. Then. with his hands in
his trousers pockets, he sauntered in
TO the light.
The two sentries made no sign
when they saw Ferdinand William
Otto approaching. But one Of them
to bring his musket to salute.
lie crossed himself instead. And
something strained around the other
sentry's lower jaw suddenly relaxed
INTO a smile as his royal highness
drew a hand from it's refuge and sa-
Iuted. He glanced at one. then at the
other. rather sheepishly, hesitated be-
tween them, clapped his hat on more
securely. and marched in.
"The young rascal" said the Sec
md sentry to himself. And by turn.
.ng his head slight'v-for a sentry
earns to see all around like a horse,
without twisting his neck-he watched
he runaway into the palace.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto went
Up the stone staircase. Here and
here he passed guards who stared and
Had he not been obsessed
with the vision Of Miss Braithwaite.
lie would have known that relief fol-
owed in his wake. Messengers ciat-
cred down the staircase to the court
Yard. Other messengers, breathless
md eager. flew to that lighted wing
where the council sat, and where the
I'D king, propped up in bed, waited
md fought terror.
His eyes. weary with many years of
Of disappointments and bitter
less, roved the room. They came to
est at last on the photograph of a
;Oung man, which stood on his bed
tide table.
He was a very young man. In a uni
'orm. He was boyish, and smiling.
There vas a dog beside him, and its
read was on his knee. Wherever one
stood in the room, the eyes Of the
photograph gazed at one. The king
this, and because he was quite
I'D, and because there were few peo-
lie to whom a king dares to speak his
nmost thoughts, he frequently spoke
o the photograph. The older he
the more he felt. sometimes, as
hOugh 1t knew what he said.
"If they've got him." he said now
o the picture, 1T is out Of my hands,
md into yours, my boy"
Much of his life had been spent in
Waiting. In waiting for a son. in walt
ng for that son to grow to be a man,
n waiting while that son in his turn
owed and married and begot a man.
hid. In waiting. when that son had
lied a violent death, for the time when
lis tired hands could %relinquish the
to his grandchild.
Quite suddenly the door opened.
rhe old man turned his head. Just
inside stood a very dirty small boy.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Will
lam Otto was most terribly fright.
ned. Everything vas at skies and
evens. Miss Braithwaite had been
rying her head OF, and on seeing him
lad fallen In q faint. Not that he
1t was Q real faint. He had
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