The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-07-18

I put up flag nt the bottom and took
possession. They're mine."
"Reallyw said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, quite delighted. He
would never have thought Of such q
thing.
A door Of iron bars at the foot Of
the long flight Of steps-there were
four of them-stood open. Here day
light. which had been growing fainter.
entirely ceased. And here Bobby, hav-
ing replaced his mask, placed an air
rife over his shoulder. and lighted a
candle and held It out to the crown
prince.
"You can carry IT," he said. "On,y
don't lie. It drip on you. You'll spoil
your clothes" There was a family
scornful note in his voice, and Ferdi-
nand william Otto was quick to hear
II.
II don't care at all about my
clothes" he protested. And to prove
II he deliberately tilted the candle and
let thin stream Of parafiin run down
his short jacket.
"You're pretty good SPORT" Bobby
observed. And from that time on he
addressed his royal hlghness rs "old
sport"
When they reached the old dungeon
the candle was about done. There was
only time to fashion another black
mask out Of a piece Of cloth that bore
strange resemblance to a black
waistcoat. The crown prince donned
this with wildly beating heart. Never
In all his life had he been SO excited.
1--WE can get another candle. and
come back and cook something" said
the senior pirate. tying the mask on
with pieces Of brown string. ut gets
pretty smoky, but I can cook, you'd
better believe"
So this wonderful boy could cook.
also! The crown prince had never
met any one with SO many varied at
tainments. He gazed through the eye
holes. which were rather too far apart,
In rapt admiration.
"As you haven't got a belt" Bobby
said generously, "Ill give you the rifle.
Ever hold gunf"
"Oh. yes" said the crown prince.
He did not explain that he had been
taught to shoot on the rife range of
his own regiment, and had won quite
number Of medals. He possessed,
indeed. quite q number Of small but
very perfect guns.
With the last gasp Of the candle
the children prepared to depart. The
senior pirate had already forgotten the
two men he had trailed through the
passage and was eager to get out
doors.
"Readyw he said. "Now. remember
old sport, we are pirates. No quarter
except to women and children. Shoot
every man."
"Even II he is unarmedf" inquired
the Szown prince. who had also studied
strategy and tactics. and felt that ar
unarmed man should be taken pris
oner.
."Sure. We don't really shoot them
silly. Now. Get In step"
Then began, for the crown prince
such day Of Joy as he had never
known before. Even the Land Of De
light faded before this new bliss oi
stalking from tree to tree, Of killing
unsuspecting citizens who sat on rugl
on the ground and ate sausages ant
little cakes. Here and there, where
q party had moved on, they salvaget
q bit Of food-the heel Of loaf. one
Of the small country apples. Shades
Of the court physicians, under whose
direction the crown prince was daily
fed a carefully balanced rationi
When they were weary. they
stretched out on the ground, and thu
crown prince, whose bed was night,
dried with warming pan FOR fear Of
dampness. wallowed blissfully OF
earth still soft with the melting frosti
of the winter. He grew muddy ant
dirty. He had had no hat of course
and his bright hair hung over his fore
head In moist strands. Now and ther
he drew long breath of sheer happi
ness.
As dusk descended, the crowd grad
ually dispersed, some to supper, bu
some to gather In the place and In thu
streets around the palace. For thu
rumor that the king was dying woult
not down.
At last the senior pirate consulted
. large nickel watch.
"Geei It's almost supper tine." b
said.
Prince Ferdinand william Otto con
suited his own watch, the one with
the inscription: "TO Ferdinand VIII
liam Otto, from his grandfather. OF
the occasion Of his taking his firs
communion"
"Why can't you come home to sup
per with mel" asked the senior pirate
"would your folks kick up rowf"
II beg your pardon7"
"Would your family objectT
"There is only one person who woult
mind" reflected the crown prince
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