Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-14
'IONG LIVE THE KING"
By MARY ROBERTS RINEHART


, save as II might develop. They were. In
q measure. putting their case.
She had followed the speaker closely.
when he paused, she was ready for him
But, even without marriage, at any
time now a treaty based on the I lar-
riage may be signed. A treaty for
mutually defensive alliance. Austria en-
croaches daily, and has Germany he
hind her. We are small fry, here and in
Karnia, and we stand in the way"
king Karl has broken faith before.
He will not support Livonia until he
has received his price. He is deter
mined on the marriage"
"a marriage of expediency," said the
Countess. impatiently.
The speaker for the committee shrug-
ged his shoulders. Perhaps" he re-
piled. Although there are those Of us
who think that in this matter Of ex-
pedency Karl gives more than he re-
ceives. He is today better prepared than
we are for war. He Is more prosperous
As to the treaty, It is probably already
signed. or about to be. And here
madame is the reason for our--invita-
ton to you to come here.
II have no access to state papers"
the Countess said impatiently
You are too modest" said Number
Seven suavely, and glanced at the letter
on the table.
The matter lies thus, madame. The
Chancellor Is now in Karnia Doubtless
he will return with the agreement signed
We shall learn that in n 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
fyin L., ha 1.,a Ia, to- I,a
confidence of the royal family"
And for such friendship, ! am TO
secure safety"
Yes, madame. But that Is not all.
Let me tell you briefly how things stand
with us. We have. supporting us. GER
tain 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 announcement of the Kings
death. in every part of the kingdom will
20 up the cry of liberty. But the move
ment must start here. The city must
rise against the throne. And against
that there are two obstacles" He
paused. The clock ticked and water
dripped into the tin pail with metallic
sp ashes THE first Is this marriage
The seconds the Crown Prince Ferdi-
nand w liam Otto"
The Countess recoiled. mo-"
"A moment madame. You think bad
ly of us" Under his mask the Countess
dvined a cold smile. at is not neces-
sary to contemplate violence. There
are other methods. The boy could be
taken over the border and hidden until
the Republic is firmly established. After
that he is uniNportant."
The Countless still nala 1Onlrnd NJ hirS,
scornfully. You do my intelligence
small honor"
Where peaceful methods will avail.
our methods are peaceful, madame"
1T was then in peace that you mur-
dered Prince Hubert?"
THE errors of the past are past"
Then with a new sternness: Make no
mistake. Whether through your agency
or another. Countess, when the cathe-
dral bell rouses the city to the Kings
death, and the people wait in the place
for their new King to come out Oh 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 him troubled
and forlorn as he had been when. that
very evening. he had left them to 20
to his lonely rooms. Perhaps she
reached the biggest moment 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
Then indeed the tribunal stirred and
sat forward. Perhaps never before had
IL been defied.
II will not" repeated the Countess.
But Number Seven remained impas-
sive. "A new idea, Countess - he said
.suavely. II can understand that your
heart recoils. But this thing Is in