The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-03-14

had moved few feet from his post,
however. and was watching the stage |
through the half-open door Of private |
loge.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto |
passed behind him with outward calm |
ness. At the top of the public stair |
case, however. he hesitated. Here.
everywhere, were brass-buttoned Off |
cials of the opera house. A garderobe
woman stared at him curiously. The
little prince looked at the woman with
appeal in his eyes. Then. with his
heart humping, he ran past her, down
the white marble staircase, to where
the great doors promised liberty.
Olga. the wardrobe woman. came
out from behind her counter and stood
looking down the marble staircase
after the small flying figure.
| The old soldier who rented opera
glasses at the second landing, and who
had left n leg in Bosnia, leaned over
the railing. 'Lo"k at that" he ex-
claimed. "He will break leg. the
young rascall Once / could have
but there, he is safe The good God
watches over fools and children"
at looked like the little prince" said
the wardrobe woman. 81 have seen
him often-he has the same bright
hair"
But the opera-glass man was not
listening. He had drawn a long snus-
age from one pocket and roll from
the other, and now, retiring to far
window, he stood placidly eating-a
bite of sausage, bite of bread. His
mind was In Bosnia, with his leg. And
because old Adelbert's mind was in
Bosnia, and because one hears with
the mind, and not with the ear, he did
not hear the sharp question Of the
sentry who ran down the stairs and
paused for second at the cloak-room.
Well for Olga, too, that old Adelbert
did not hear her reply.
"He has not passed here" she said.
with wide and honest eyes, but with
an ear toward old Adelbert. "An old
gentleman came moment ago and
got a sandwich, which he had left in
his overcoat. Perhaps this is whom
you are seeking?"
The sentry cursed, and ran down the
staircase, the nails In his shoes strik.
ing sharply on the marble.
Olga of the cloak room leaned over
her checks, with her lips curved up
in a smile. "The little onel" sha
thought. "And such courage! He will
make great kingl Let him have his
prank like the other children. and
God bless him and keep him!"
The crown prince was just trifie
J dazzled by the brilliance Of his sue
cess. He paused for one breathless
, moment under the porte-cochere of the
opera house; then he took a long
: breath, turned to the left; and was at
, once swallowed up In the street crowd.
1t seemed very strange to him. Not
that he was unaccustomed to crowds.
Had he not, that very Christmas, gone
? shopping in the city, accompanied only
, by one of his tutors and Miss Braith-
, waite, and bought for his grandfather
the king, burnt wood box, which
might hold either neckties or gloves
, and for his cousins silver photograph
frames?
) But this was different, and for a
!, rather peculiar reason. Prince Ferdin.
D and William Otto had never seen thu
back Of a crowd! The public was al.
! ways lined up, facing him. smiling and
4 bowling and God-blessing him. Prince
: Ferdinand William Otto had never
: known the backs could be SO rigid. II
: was most interesting.
4 The next tour was full of remark
!, able things. For one, he lodged be
e hind a street car and was almost ruI
j over by taxicab. The policeman or
D the corner came out, and taking Fer
i dInand William Otto by the shoulder
8 gave him talking to and shaking
3 Ferdinand William Otto was furious
s but policy kept him silent; willcf
proves conclusively that the crown
: prince had not only initiative-witles,
e his flight-but self-control and di
r plomacy. Lucky country, to have IL
t prospect such a king!
: Prince Ferdinand William Otto hat
e the fulfillment Of great desire in hi.
e small, active mind. This was nothing
o less than ride on the American
n scenic railroad, which had secured q
: concession IN far corner of the park
Hedwig's lieutenant had described Il
to him-how one was taken liz q snail
I car to dizzy height. and then turned
v loose on track which dropped giddily
t and rose again, which hurled on,
t through sheet-iron tunnels OF incredIbl,
:. blackness, thrust one out over gorge
whirled one in mad curves around cor
y ners Of precipitous heights, and finall!
|, landed one, painting, breathless, shock
e ed, and reeling. but safe, at the yer.
t, platform where one had purchased
e ones ticket three eternities, whicl
l. were only minutes, before.
;, AS the early spring twilight fell, thu
: gas lamps along the alice, always burn
ing, made twin row of pale star