The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-06-28

William Otto, quite delighted. III
' would never have thought of such
thing.
A door of IRON bars at the foot o
/, the long flight of steps-there wer,
four of them-stood open. Here day
light, which had been growing fainter
/ entirely ceased. And here Bobby, hay
| ing replaced his mask, placed an ali
, rifle over his shoulder, and lighted 6
candle and held 1t out to the crown
lprince.
"You can carry it." he said. "Only
don't let 1t 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
/ 1t.
81 don't care at all about my
Clothes" he protested. And to prove
1t he deliberately tilted the candle and
let thin stream of paraffin run down
his short jacket.
you're pretty good sport" Bobby
observed. And from that time on he
addressed his royal highness as "old
sport"
When they reached the old dungeon
only time to fashion another black
mask out Of 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. st 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 belt" Bobby
said generously, "I'll give you the rifle.
Ever hold gun?'
"Oh, yes" said the crown prince.
He did not explain that he had been
taught to shoot on the rifle range Of
his own regiment, and had won quite
a number of medals. He possessed,
indeed, quite a 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.
Ready" he said. "Now, remember,
old sport, we are pirates. No quarter, |
except to women and children. Shoot |
every man."
even If he is unarmed" inquired |
the crown prince, who had also studied
and tactics, and felt that an
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 a day Of Joy as he had never
known before. Even the Land Of De-
light faded before this new bliss Of
from tree to tree, Of killing
citizens who sat on rugs
On the ground and ate sausages and
little cakes. Here and there, where
1 party had moved on, they salvaged
/ bit of food-the heel of loaf, one
# the small country apples. Shades
If the court physicians, under whose
direction the crown prince was daily
ed a carefully balanced ration!
When they were weary, they
stretched out on the ground, and the
rown prince, whose bed was nightly
Tried with warming pan for fear of
Iampness, wallowed blissfully on
arth still soft with the melting frosts
# the winter. He grew muddy and
irty. He had had no hat, of course,
nd his bright hair hung over his fore
cad In moist strands. Now and then |
e drew a long breath of sheer happi- ,
ess. {
AS dusk descended, the crowd grad |
tally dispersed, some to supper, but ]
ONE to gather in the place and in the
treets around the palace. For the |
umor that the king was dying would c
lot down.
At last the senior pirate consulted 7
large nickel watch.
"GeeI it's almost supper time," he
aid.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto con- q
ulted his own watch, the one with a
ne inscription: ITO Ferdinand Will c
am Otto, from his grandfather, on 1
ne occasion of his taking his first Il
d
'Why can't you come home to sup g
sr with meT asked the senior pirate. n
Would your folks kick up row." a
II beg your pardon?" A
"Would your family object?"
"There is only one person who would G
ind" reflected the crown prince,
oud, "and she will be angry, anyhow. al
do you think your mother will be q
Illing?"
"Willing? Sure she will! My COVER II
,ss-but I'll flx her. She's a German, 81
ID they're always cranky. Anyhow, Re
s my birthday. I'm always allowed m
guest on birthdays" at
So home together. gayly chatting, 81
mt the two children, along the cob
e-paved streets Of the ancient town, III
1t old churches that had been sacked In