Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-04-19

1.-THE matter lies thus, madame. The
chancellor is now in Karnia. Doubt
less he will return with the agreement
signed. We shall learn that in a day
or SO. We do not approve of this
alliance for various reasons, and we
intend TO take steps TO prevent it.
The paper itself is nothing. But
plainly, countess, we need a friend in
the palace, one who is In the con-
fidence of the royal family"
"And for such friendship, I am to
secure safety?"
Eyes, madame. But that is not all.
Let me tell you briefly how things
stand with US. We have, supporting
us, certain bodies, workingmen's
guilds, a part of the student body, not
SO much of the army as we would
wish. DISSATISFIED folk, madame. who
would exchange the emblem of
tyranny for freedom. On the an
nouncement of the kings death, in
every part of the kingdom will go up
the cry of liberty. But the movement
must start here. The city must rise
against the throne. And against that
there are two Obstacles He paused.
The clock licked, and water dripped
into the tin pail with metallic splashes.
''The first is this marriage. The Sec
ond-is the Crown Prince Ferdinand
William Otto"
The countess recoiled. "Noi"
"a moment, madame. You think
badly of u.s." Under his mask the
countess OWNED a cold smile. ut is
not necessary to contemplate violence.
There are other methods. The boy
could be taken over the border, and
hidden until the republic is firmly es-
tablished. After that, he is unim-
portant."
The countess, still pale, looked at
him scornfully. you do my intelli-
gence small honor"
"Where peaceful methods will avail,
our methods are peaceful, madame"
at was, then, in peace that you muir
dered Prince Hubert?"
1.-THE errors of the past are past"
Then, with a new sternness: make
no mistake. Whether through your
agency or another, countess, when the
cathedral bell rouses the city to the
kings death, and the people wait in
the place for their new king to come
out on the balcony, he will not come
The countess was not entirely bad.
Standing swaying and white-faced be-
fore the tribunal, she saw suddenly
the golden head of the little crown
prince, saw him smiling as he had
smiled that day in the sunlight, saw
Ehim troubled and forlorn as he had
been when, that very evening, he had
left them to go to his lonely rooms.
Perhaps she reached the biggest mo-
ment of her life then, when she folded
her arms and stared proudly at the
shrouded figures before her.
81 will not do it," she said.
But Number Seven remained impas-
sive. "a new idea, countess p he said
suavely. "I can understand that your
heart recoils. But this thing Is in
evitable, as I have said. Whether you
or another-but perhaps with time to
think you may come to another con-
clusion. We make 10 threats. Our
position Is, however, n of response
bility. We are compelled to place n
future of the republic before every
other consideration"
THAT is a threat"
N-''We remember both our friends and
our enemies, madame. And we have
only friends and enemies. There is no
middle course. If you would like time
to think it over"
GLOW much timer" She clutched at
the words.
"Women vary" said Number Seven
mockingly. "Some determine quickly.
| Others"
MAY I have a month";"
During which the king may die !
Alas, madame, 1t is now you who do
US too little honorl"
"a week?" begged the countess
desperately.
The leader glanced along the line.
One head after another nodded SLOW
ly.
"A week it is, madame. Comrade
Five !"
The one who had brought her came
forward with the bandage.
"At the end of one week, madame
a fiacre will, as tonight, be waiting
in the Street of the Wise Virgins"
"And these papersf"
ION the day the republic of Ii
vonia is established, madame, they VIII
be returned to you."
He bowed, and returned to his chair.
Save for the movements of the man
who placed the bandage over her eyes,
there was absolute silence in the
room.
. . =
Prince Ferdinand William Otto was
supremely happy. Three quite delight
full things had happened. First, Nix
ky had returned. He said he felt per-
fectly well, but the crown prince