Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-06
Continued from yesterday


Adelbert, leaped on pc'r ara lighted
n flaming torch. "Aye IL, yelled,
"call for the little king. Where is he?
! What have they done with him."
+ Old Adelbert pushed on. The voice
# the revolutionist died behind him.
in a chorus of fury. From nowhere,
apparently, came lighted box banners
proclaipiDg the chancellor's treason,
and demanding republic. Some of
them Instructed the people to gather
around the parliament where, it was
stated, leading citizens were already
forming republic. Some, more vio-
lent, suggested an advance on the pal
ace.
The crowd at first ignored them, but
as time went ON, 1t grew ugly. BY all
precedent, the new king should be now
before them. What then, If this rumor
was true? Where was the little king?
Revolution, now, in the making. A
fame ready to blaze. Hastily. on the
outskirts of the throng delegation
formed to visit the palace, and learn
the truth.
Drums were now beating steadily,
filing the air with their throbbing, al
most drowning out the solemn tolling
Of the bell. Around them were rally
ing angry groups. AS the groups grew
large, each drum led Its followers
toward the government house, where,
ON the steps, the revolutionary party
harangued the crowd. Bonf3res sprang
up, built of no one knew what, In the
public squares. Red fire burned. The
drums throbbed.
The city had not yet risen. 1t was
large and slow to move. Slow, too, to
believe in treason, or that 1t had no
king. But 1t was matter of mo-
ments now, not of hours.
The noise penetrated into the very
wards of the hospital Red fires bathed
pale faces on their pillows In fever
Ish glow. Nurses gathered ut the win
dows. their uniforms and faces alike
scarlet In the glare, and whispered to-
gether.
One such group gathered near the
IN his lethargy His body had gained
strength, so that he was clothed at
times, to wander aimlessly about the
ward But he had remained dazed.
Now and then the curtain of the past
Tilted, but for moment only. He had
forgotten his name. He spent long
hours struggling to pierce the mist.
But mostly he lay, or sat, as now,
/. cside his bed, bandage still on his
lead, clad In shirt and trousers, bare
feet thrust into worn hospital slippers.
The red glare had not reused him, nor
yet the beat OF the drums. But word
OF two that one of the nurses spoke
cvught his ear and held him. He
looked up, and slowly rose to his feet.
| Unsteadily he made his way to win
dow, holding to the sill to steady HIM
self.
Old Adelbert had been working his
way impatiently. The temper of the
mob was growing ugly. 1t was
suspicious, frightened, potentially dan
gerous. The cry Of ITO the palace !"
greeted his ears as he finally emerged
breathless from the throng.
He stepped boldly to the old stone
archway, and faced line Of soldiers
there. II would see the chancellor !"
he gasped. and saluted.
| The captain of the guard stepped
out. "What is it you want7" he de-
manded.
1.-THE chancellor he lowered his
voice. 81 have news Of the crown
Iprince." s
| Magic words, indeed. Doors opened
swiftly before them. But time Yves
aying, too. In his confusion the old
man had only one thought. to reach
the. chancellor. 1t would have been
better to have told his news at once.
The climbing Of stairs takes time when
one is old and fatigusd, and has but
one leg. m M
! However, at last 1t was done, and
old Adelbert stumped to the door OF
the room where the council sat de-
batting and the chancellor paced the
loor.
Small ceremony now. Led by SOL
diers, who retired and left him to enter
alone, old Adelbert stumbled into the
room. He was out of breath and
dizzy; his heart beat to suffocation.
There was not air enough In all the
world to breathe. He clutched at the
velvet hangings of the door, and
swayed, but he saw the chancellor.
1.-The crown prince" he said thick
", sis at the home of the Americans"
He. stared about him. Strange that
the room should suddenly be filed with
q mist. sBut there be those-who wait
t--there--to capture him."
He caught desperately at the eur
Itaips, with their royal arms embroid.
cred In blue and gold. Shameful. in
such company, to stagger sol
! "Make--haste." he said, and slid
( stIfrly to the ground. He lay without
moving.
The council reused then. Mettlich
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