Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-03-29
commented the other. rather mock


Let them once alight, let him but start
his car down the road again, and all
the devils of the night might follow.
He feared nothing.
But here again Milky planned too
fast. The servant who came out to
open the doors OF the motor had
brought a message. "His majesty de-
sires that the messenger come in,"
was the bomb-shell which exploded in
Nikky's ears.
Milky hesitated. And then some imp
of recklessness in him prompted him
not to run away, but to see the thing
through. 1t was, after all, a chance
either way. These men beside the a
were doubtless armed-one at least,
nearest him, was certainly n OF
Karl's w secret agents. And, as
Milky paused, be was not certain, but
1t seemed to him that the man took a
step toward him.
every WE'LL" said Milky, grumbling.
"But I have had a long ride, and a cold
one. I need Sleep"
Even then he had a faint hope that
the others would precede him, and
that it would be possible to leap back
to the car, and escape. But, whether
by accident or design, the group closed
about him. Flight was out Of the ques-
ton.
A little high was Nikky's head as
he went in. He had done a stupid
thing now, and he knew it. He should
have taken his letter and gone back
with it. But, fool or not, he was a
soldier. Danger made him calm.
The lodge was noisy. Loud talking,
the coming and going Of servants with
trays, the crackle of wood fires in
which whole logs were burning, and,
as Milky and his escort entered, the
roaring chorus of a hunting song filled
the ears.
Two of the men flung off their heavy
coats, and proceeded without ceremony
into the room whence the sounds is
sued. The third, however, still holding
the letter, ushered Milky into a small
side room, a sort of study, since it
contained a desk. For kings must pur-
sue their clerical occupations even on
holidays.
Milky had reluctantly removed his
cap. His goggles, however, he ven
tured to retain. He was conscious
that his guide was studying him in
tently. But not with suspicion, he
thought. Rather as n who would
gauge the caliber of the man before
him. He seemed satisfied, too, for his
voice, which had been curt, grew more
friendly.
"You had no ~trouble?" he asked.
"None, SIR"
ibid Niburg say anythingT
Niburg, then, was the spy of the
cathedral. Milky reflected. Suddenly
he saw a way out. 1t was, he after
ward proclaimed, not his W thought.
1t came to him like a message. He
burned a candle to his patron saint,
some time later, for it.
''The man Niburg had had an unfor-
tunate experience, sir. He reported
that, during an evening stroll, before
he met me, he was attacked by three
men, with the evident intention of Sc
curing the letter. He was badly beaten
up"
His companion started. "Niburg,"
he said. "Then-' He glanced at the
letter he held. "We must find some
one else" he muttered. 81 never
trusted the fellow. A clerk, nothing
else. For this work it takes wit"
Milky, sweating with strain, felt
that it did, indeed. HE was badly
used up, sir" he offered. could hard
ly walk, and was still trembling with
excitement when 1 met him."
The man touched a bell. "Tell his
majesty" he said to the servant who
appeared, that his messengerf is here"
The servant bowed and withdrew.
Milky found the wait that followed
trying. He thought of Hedwig, and of
the little crown prince. Suddenly he
knew that he had no right to attempt
this thing. He had given his word,
almost his oath, to the king, to protect
and watch over the boy. And here he
was, knowing now that mischief was
afoot, and powerless. He cursed him
self for his FOLLY.
Then Karl came in. He came alone,
closing the door behind him. Milky
and his companion bowed, and Milky
surveyed him through his goggles. The
same hooking face he remembered,
from Karl's visit to the summer pal
ace, the same easy, graceful carriage,
the same small mustache. He was in
uniform and apparently in a compare
lively gracious mood. He had been
drinking, but he was not intoXi-
Gated. He was slightly flushed, his
eyes were abnormally bright. He
looked, for the moment, rather
amiable. Milky was to learn, later on,
how easily his smile hardened to a
terrifying grin.
He ignored Nikky's companion. "You
brought a letter."
Milky bowed, and the other man