The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-08-07

formed them. He was always on terms
Of great friendliness with the guard
and he knew these men by sight. "Are
you going to be stationed here nowT'
he inquired pleasantly.
The two guards were at loss. But
one of them, who had son Of his own,
and hated the whole business, saluted
and replied that he knew not.
81 hope you are" said Ferdinand
william Otto, and went on.
The sentries regarded one another.
"Let him gow said the one who was a
father.
The other one moved uneasily. sour
orders cover no such contingency" he
muttered. "And, besides, he will come
back. I hope to God he does not
come back" he added stonily.
Five minutes to four.
The crown prince hurried. The cor
ridors were almost empty. Here and
there he met servants, who stood stiff
against the wall until he had passed.
On the marble staircase, leading up,
he met no one, nor on the upper floor.
He was quite warm with running and
he paused in his fathers suite to mop
his face. Then he opened window
and went out on the roof. From the
balustrade. IL looked extremely far to
! the ground.
Nevertheless, although his heart beat
trne fast, he was still determined
| A climb which Milky with his long
legs had achieved in leap, took him
up to a chimney. Below-it seemed
n long way below-was the gutter
There was a very considerable slant
If one sat down, like Milky, and slid,
and did not slide over the edge, one
should fetch up in the gutter.
He felt a trifie dizzy. But Nikky's
theory was, that If one is afraid to
do a thing, better to do it and get over
being afraid.
So the crown prince sat down on the
sloping roof behind the chimney and
gathered his legs under him for
slide. Well for him that the ancient
builders of the palace had been reck.
less with lead, that the gutter was both
wide and deep. Well for Milky, too,
waiting in the boudOir below and hard
driven between love and anxiety.
The crown prince, unaccustOmed to
tiles, turned over halfway down, and
rolled. He brought up with jerk
in the gutter, quite safe, but extremely
frightened. He sat there for quite a
few minutes. There was no ball In
sight, and the roof looked even sleeper
from this point.
Being completely self-engrossed,
therefore, he did not see that the roof
had another visitor. Had two visitors,
as matter of fact. One of them wore
blanket with white 80" over a
white "X' on IL, and the other wore a
mask, and considerable kitchen cutlery
fastened to his belt. They had come
out of a small door in the turret and
were very much at ease. They leaned
over the parapet and admired the view.
They climbed on one of the garden
chairs and looked over the eXpanse of
the roof, which was when they saw
Prince Ferdinand William Otto, and
gazed at him.
Gee whizl" said the larger pirate,
through his mask. "What are you do
ing there"
The crown prince started, and
stared. 81 am sitting here" explained
the crown prince, trying to look as
though he usually sat in lead cutters.
Il am looking for ball"
you're looking for a fall, guess"
observed the pirate. "You don't re-
member me, kid, do you"
81 can't see your face, but l know
your voice." His voice trembled with
excitement.
"Lemme give you hand" said the
pirate, whipping off his mask. "You
make me nervous, sitting there. You've
got q nerve, you have"
The crown prince looked gratified.
II don't need any assistance, thank
you" he said. "Perhaps, now I'm
here, I'd better look for the ball"
81 wouldn't bother about the old
ball." said the pirate, rather nervous
ly for an old sea-dog. "YCu better
get back to safe place. Say, what |
made you pretend that our railway
made you nervOus?"
Prince Ferdinand William Otto |
climbed up the tiles, trying to look as |
though tiles were his native habitat. |
The pirates both regarded him with |
admiration, as he dropped beside |
them.
"How did you happen to come here?"
asked the crown prince. "Did you lose
your aeroplane up here?"
1--WE came on business" said the
pirate Importantly. 1.-TWO of the
enemy entered our cave. We were
guarding it from the underbrush, and
saw them go in. We trailed them.
They must die!"
"Really-dieT
"Of course. Death to those who de-
fly u.s."
"Death to those who defy usw re-
peated the crown prince, enjoying
himself hugely. and quite ready for