Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-04
CHAPTER xNIN tContinueO


4 table Doctor Weiderman, the
Kings physician. is one of us he
whispered. The King lives now only
because uf stimulants to the heart His
body is already dead When the ,stimu-
lants cease he will die
old Adclbcrt covered his eyes. lie
had gone too far to retreat now Driven
by hrcpding aud trouble. he had allied
himself With the powers Of darkness.
The strain. he felt, was already on
his forehead But before him. like
picture on a screen, came the scene
by which he had lived for so many years,
the war hospital tn. King by his bed,
young then and a very king in looks,
riunug on the breast of his muslin shirt
the decoration for bravery.
lie sat silent while tho concierge
cleared the table and put the dishes In
q pan FOR his niece to wash. And
throughout the evening he said little,
At something before midnight he and
his host werc to set out on grave
matter. nothing less than to visit the
Committee Of Ten and impart the old
soldiers discovery. In the interval he
sat waiting and nursing his grievances
tO keep them warm.
Men came and went. From beneath
! the floor came. ut intervals, n regular
before and which hc now learned was
a press
There arc days Of publicity cX-
planned the concierge. Men are innu-
/ cuccd much by the printed word. AL
ready our bulletins flood the country.
ON tho day of the carnival ths city viii
flame with them. printed In red they
will appear. as IL by magic power, every
where"
"A call 20 arrns?"
a call to liberty" evadcd the con-
Clcrgc.
Not in months had ho taken such
pleasure In recruit. lie swaggercd
about the room. reCouuting in boastful
tones his influence with the Committee
( Of Ten.
And with reason" he boosted. paus-
ing before the old soldier, II have
served them we'll; here in this house
Is Sufficient ammunition TO fight great
d battle. You. now, you know something
Of ammunition. You have lived here
for "A lorg time. Yet no portion of this
house has been closed to you. Where,
at Il guess. is il concealed?'
"lt H. in this house?'
so tell you. Now, where
"In the cellar. perhaps"
Come. I will show you" He led old
Adelbert by the elbow to window
overlooking the yard. Just such an
inclOsurc as each Of the nciehboring
houses possessed, and surrounding by Il
high fence. Here was u rabbit hutch.
built of old boards, and familiar enough
70 the veterans eyes; and dovecote,
which loomcS now but deeper shadow
among shadows.
Carrier pigeons" explained the con-
ricrge. You have seen them often. but
yAshtpp oh fThn,. m
my telegraph Now. look again, COM
rad". What else
Barrels" said old Adelbert. squint-
ing. "The winters refuse from the
, building. "A most untdy spot
His soldierly soul had revolted for
months at the litter under his window.
And somewhere in the disorder lay his
broken sword. His sword broken, and
, he
Truly untidy." observed the con-
Cierge camplaCently. "A studied untdi-
, ness, and even then better than a room
, shall show YOU in the cellar, filled &c
Overlooking with boxes containing the
winters ashes. Know you" he went on
dropping his voice, that these barrel.
, and boxes are but third full of rub
!, bish. Below that in cases is--what We
, speak Of" h..'.
But / thousht---a peaceful revolution
Il -"
, I'VE prepare for contingencies, Peac,
if possible. If not, war. | am telling
you much because, by your oath. yot
are now one of ue, ana bound to secrecy
But, beside that, I trust you. You are
man of your word
Yes" said old Adelbert, drawint
himself up. Il am II man of my word
But you cannot fight with cartridges
alone"
we have rifles also, in other places
, Even / do not know where all of then
are concealed" The concierge chuclllcC
= in his beard. The committee know
men well. it trusts none too much
There are other depotS throughout tn
, city, each containing supplies of on
sort and another, ON the day Of th'
uprising each patriot will be told where
to go for equipment. Not before
old Adelbcrt was undoubtedly i'm
. pressed, He regarded the concierge will
, furtive eyes. He, Adclbert, had lived il
the house with this man OF parts fol
years, and had regarded him as hut on'
, of many.
Black IIumbert, waiting for the hou
, to start and filling his tankard re
/, peatcdy. grew loquacious. lie limited o
. past matters in which he had prove'
his value 10 the cause. Old Adelber
: gathered that, if he had not actual!
murdered the late Crown Prince and hi
WIG, I've udu bttll tlDStlN u
it, His thin, old flesh crept with anxiety
T, 1t was "A bad business and he could no
! withdraw.
I'VE should have had the child, too,
boasted the concierge, "and saved mucl
bother. But he had been, unknown I,
: us, sent to the country, y matter %
D milk, | believe"
But you say you do not war oil
Q children, -
. Bah, \ babe Of a few months
4 Furthermore" said the concierge, g
= have a nose for the police. I scent
@ .,py as a dog scents a bone. Who, thinl
o you. discovered llaeckcl?'
e "iacckcl," old Adebert sat uprigh
h in his chair.
Z AYE, Hacckcl IIaeckel the jovial, tn
archconspirator, who himself assisted L
h. erect the press you hear beneath you
r feet Who but /? ] suspected him, II
T. was too fierce. He had no caution. II
/; was what Il peaceful citizen may fame
n u reNolutionist to be. | watched him
&. lie was not brave. lie was reckless he
cause he had nothing to fear, And q
l.. last | caught him"
9 lEIttt4ff" j. H. kRS y