River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-04-25

the letter, ushered Milky into small
| side room, a sort of study, since it
contained 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 one 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 troubleT' he asked.
None, sir"
| Did Niburg say anything?"
| Niburg, then, was the spy of the
cathedral. Milky reflected. Suddenly
he saw way out. 1t was, he after
ward proclaimed, not his own thought.
| It came to him like a message. He
burned a candle to his patron saint,
some time later, for it.
1.-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. Il never
| trusted the fellow. A clerk, nothing
else For this work it takes witt
Milky, sweating with strain, felt
| that it did, indeed. HE was badly
used up, SIR he offered Gould hard
| ly walk, and was still trembling with
excitement when / met him."
The man touched bell. 'Tell his
majesty" he. said to the servant who
appeared that his messenger 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 oyer 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 mocking 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 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
terrifying grin.
He ignored Nikky's companion. "YOu
brought letter."
Milky bowed, and the other man
held it out. Karl took 1t.
1.-The trip was uneventful?"
eyes, sire"
"a bad night for it, Karl observed,
and glanced at the letter in his hand.
"Was there any difficulty at the
| frontier?"
"None, sire"
Karl tore the end off the envelope.
"You will remain here tonight" he
said. Tomorrow morning shall send
dispatches to the city. hope you have
YNt. QoII 4 To n
| not complete the sentence. He in
serted two royal fingers into the en-
velope and drew out-Nikky's cigar
| cite papers
For a moment there was complete
| silence in the room. Karl turned the
papers over.
It was then that his face hardened
into horrible grin. He looked up,
raising his head slowly.
sWhat is this?" he demanded, very
quietly.
''The letter, SIRE" said Milky. "I--"
''The letter! Do you call these
| letter?"
!! Milky drew himself up. II have
] brought the envelope which was given
me-"
| Without word Karl held out papers
| and envelope to thu other man, who
| took them. Then he turned to Milky,
and now he raised lis voice. Where
did you get this-hoax?" he demanded.
"At the cathedral. from the man Nj
| burg
"You lie!" said Karl. Then, for
moment, he left Milky and turned on
his companion in a fury. He let his
royal rage beat on that 1nlucky in
dividual while the agent stood, white
and still. Not until it was over, and
Karl, spent with passion, was pacing
| the floor, did Milky venture word.
IF this is not what your majesty
expected, he said, there is perhaps
an explanation"
Karl wheeled on him. ''Explana-
ton ~