The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-10-17
CHAPTER !.
The Crown pSlnce Rune Away.

not qaite reach the floor from the high
crimson-velvet seat of his chair.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto was
bored. His royal robes, consisting Of
a pair Of blue serge trousers, n short
Elton Jacket. and o stlff. rolling collar
Of white linen, irked him.
He had been brought TO the opera
house under q misrepresentation. His
aunt the Archduchess Annunciata. had
strongly advocated THE Flying Dutch
rsan.r and hh English governess, Miss
Braithwaite, had read him some In
spring literature about IL. So here he
was, and the Flying Dutchman was not
ehostly ut all, nor did II fly. And In
stead Of flying. after dreary eons Of
singing, II was moved of on creaky
rollers by men whose shadows were
thrown grotesQuely on the sea back
ing.
The orchestra. assisted by a bass
solo and intermittent thunder In the
wings, was making a deafening din.
One Of the shadows on the sea back
ing took out its handkerchief and
wiped It's hose.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto look
ell across at the other royal box, and
caught his Cousin Hedwg's eye. She
also had seen the handkerchief: she
took out her WI scrap Of linen, and
nimicked the shadow. Then, Her
Royal Highress the Archduchess An
nuncinta being occupied with the
storm, she winked across at Prince
Ferdinand William Otto.
In me opposite boz were his two
cousins, the Processes Hedwig and
Hllda, attended by Hedwig's lady in
waiting. Hedwig WINS eighteen. The
crown prince liked Hedwlg better than
Hilda. Although she had been intro
duced formally to the court at the
Christmas-eve ball. and had been duly
presented by her grandfather, the
king, with the usual string Of pearls
and her own carriage, she still ran of
10Y and then to have tea with the
crown prince and Miss Braithwaite in
the school oom at the palace; and she
could eat q great deal Of bread and but
ter.
y The crown prince yawned. although
II was but the middle Of the after
noon. Catching Hedwig's eye, he ran
his fingers up through his thick yell
low hair and grinned. Hedwig blushed.
She had confided to him. once, while
they were walking in the garden At
the summer palace, that she was
thinking OF being In love with n young
lieutenant who was attached to the
called Otto, for short, by the family.
because he actually had eleven names
the prince had been much interested.
For some time afterward ne had both
cred Miss Braithwnite 10 define being
In love, but he had had NO really salts
factory answer.
In pursuance Of his quest for In
formation, he had row quite friendly
with the young officer, whose name
was Larisch, and had finally asked to
have him ride with him at the royal
riding school. The grim old king had
granted the request, but II had been
quite fruitless so far after all. Lieu
tenant Larisch only grew quite red as
TO the ears when love was mentioned.
although he appeared not unwilling TO
hear Hedwig's name.
So now Ferdinand William Otto ran
his fingers through his fair hair, which
was a favorite gesture OF the lieuten-
ants, and Hedw!g blushed. The arch
duchess. sitting well back, was nod
ding. Just outside the royal box, on
the red velvet sofa, Genera! Mettllch,
who was the chancellor, ana had come
because he had been invited and stayed
outside because he said he liked to
asleep. His martial bosom, with i;s
gold braid, was rising and falling
peacefully. Beside him Jay the princes
crown, u small black derby hat.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto con-
sIdered II all very wearisome. II one
could only wander around the corridor
or buy n sandwich from the stand at
the foot Of the great staircase-or, bet
ter still, II one could only get to the
street, alone, and purchase one Of the
fg women that Miss BraIthwaite so
despisedt The crown prince felt In
his pocket, where his weeks allow.
ance OF pocket money lay comfortably
untouched.
He meditnted. He could 90 out
quickly, and be back before they knew
II. Even II he only wandered about
the corridor, II would stretch his short
legs. And outside II was n fine day.
II looked already like spring.
With the trepidation Of a canary
who finds his cage door open, and,
hopping 10 the threshold. surveys the
world before venturing to explore II,
Prince Ferdinand William Orto rose
TO his feet, uptoed past the Arch.
duchess Annunciata, who did not move,
and booked around him from the door.
way.
He picked up his hat and concealed
h by his side. Then nonchalantly. as
n TO stretch his legs by walking ten
feet up the corridor and back, he
passed the dressing room door. An
other moment. ana he was out Of sight
around n bend Of the passageway, and
before him lay liberty.