Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-18
LONG LIVE THE KING"
human story OF Chd-Dere
By MARY ROBERTS RINEHART
cOpyrEh Ledger compapy

and arms, great hairy arms. And feet
that for all their size, must step lightly !
Restlessness followed her. She was
virtual prisoner, free only in name. And
the vigilance OF the Terrorists obsessed
her. She found a day gone and no plan
made She had come here to think, and
consecutive thought was impossible. She
went to vespers at the church and sat
huddled In corner. She suspected
every eye that turned on her in frank
curiosity. When, during the "Salvc
Regina" the fathers, followed by their
pupils, went slowly down the aisle in
reverent procession between rows of pill
grims, she saw in their habits only a
grim reminder Of the black dlsguises
of the Terrorlsts
on the second day she made a des-
perate resolve. and characteristically put
II into execution at once. She sent for
the caretaker. When he came. uneasy,
for the Loscheks were justly feared in
the countryside, and even the thing OF
which he knew gave him small courage,
she lost no time in evasion.
GO she said, "and bring here your
accomplice."
MY accomplice, madame! I do
not -"
You heard me-" she said.
He turned. half sullen, half terrified,
and paused (which do you refer to,
madame?"
She had seen only the one. Then
there were others, Who could tell how
many others?
THE one who drove here"
SO he went leaving her TO desperate,
reflection. When he returned IL was to
usher in the heavy figure Of the spy.
Which of you is in authority" she
demanded.
Il, madame" 1t was the spy who
spoke
She dismissed the caretaker with a
gesture.
"Have you any discretion over me?
or must you refer matters to those who
sent your"
II must refer to them"
How long will IT take to send mes
sage and receive reply?"
He considered Until tomorrow
night, madame"
Another day gone, then, and nothing
determined!
Now, listen" she said. "and listen
carefully. have come here to decide a
certain question. Whether you know
what the question is or not does not
matter. But before I decide It I must
take a certain journey. / wish to make
that journey 1t is into Karnia."
She watched him ut is impossible
My instructions -"
Il am not asking your permission
wish to send n letter to the committee
! Ihey, and they alone. Will determine
| IN s thing. VIII you send the letter."
When he hesitated, perplexed. she got
/ up and moved to her writing table.
shah write the letter." she said
| haughtily. "See that Il is sent. wber
| | report at the end of the time tha.
have sent such a letter. you can Judge
peter than I the result IL il has not
been received"
He was still duhi5us, but She wrot,
the letter and gave 1t to him, her face
proud and scornful. But she was moi
easy, Tor all that, and she watched from
her balcony to see II any messenger left
the castle and descended the mountain
| road. She was rewarded an hour later
by seeing figure leave the old gate.
| way and start afoot toward the village
a pale-faced man with colorless hair
a part of the hidden guard that sur.
rounded her, she knew. and somewha,
iamlliar. But, although she racked hel
brains she could not remember where
she had seen him.
! For the next twenty-four hours sh,
waited. Life became one long endur
ance She hated the forest. since sht
might not visit it alone. She hated tn,
castle, because 1t was her prison. She
stood for hours that first day on her
| balcony, surveying with scornful eve,
| the procession of the devout weary
women, perspring men. lines of children
going to something they did not com.
prehend. and carrying clenched in small
warm hands dropping punches of early
mountain flowers.
And always. calling her to somethinr
| she scorned, rang the bells fer mass OF
for vespers. The very tower below beck,
oned her to peace-her for whom ther,
would never again be peace. She cursed
the bell savagely, put her fingers II
/ her ears, to be walSened at dawn the
next morning to It's insistent call.
CONTINUED Tomorrow