Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-05-30

Of his hand at oss blow from The GAIL
like arms Of the concierge. Bshint
him somewhere was coming. Mix!
knew. Q detachment Of cavalry. Blu
he had outdlstanced them. riding fren
siedly. had leaped hedges and ditches
across the park. He must hold thii
man until they came.
Struggling In the grasp Of the con
cierge. he yet listened for them. Frou
the first he knew 1t was q losing bat
tie. He had lost before. But ht
fought fercely. with the strength Of q
dozen. His frenzy was eQualed by thai
Of the other man, and his weight was
less by a half. He went down finally
and lay still, q battered, twisted fg-
ure.
But Black Humbert, breathing hard
had heard sounds in the street. and
put up the chain. He stood at bay, u
huge. shaken figure at the foot Of the
stone staircase. He was for figh,
now. But surely-outside at the door
some q gave the secret knock Of the
tribunal. and followed 1t by the pass.
word. He breathed again. Friends. Of
course, come for the ammunition. But,
to he certain, he went to the window
OF his bureau, and looked out through
the bars. Students!
Coming" he called. And kicked at
Nikky's quiet figure as he passed 1t.
Then he unboIted the door. dropped the
chain, and opened the door.
Standing before him, backed by a
great crowd Of fantastic figures. was
Haeckel.
They did not kill him at once. At
the points of a dozen bayonets, intend
ed for vastly different work. they
forced him up the staircase, flight after
flight. At first he cried pitifully that
he knew nothing Of the royal child,
then he tried to barter what he knew
for his life. They jeered at him,
prtcked him shamefully from behind
with daggers.
At the top of the last flight he turned
and faced them. Gentlemen. friends !"
he implored. II have done him no
harm. 1t was never In my mind to do
him an injury. +"
HE Is in the room where you kept
me-" asked Haeckel, In a low voice.
ale Is there. and safe"
Then Haeckel killed him. He struck
him with a dagger, and his great body
fell on the stairs. He was still NOV
ing and grooming, as they swarmed
over him.
Haeckel faced the crowd. "There
are Others" he said. II know them all,
When we have finished here. we will
go on"
They were fearful Of frightening the
little king and only tvs went back
with the key that Haeckel had taken
from the body Of Black Humbert. They
unlocked the door OF the back room,
to find his majesty sitting on a chair,
with a rather moist handkerchief In
his hand. He was not ut all fright.
ened. however, and vas weeping fol-
his grandfather.
HAS the carriage comet" he de-
manded. II am waiting for a car.
rlage."
They assured him that a carriage
was on the way, and were very much
ut a loss.
II would Ike to 90 quickly" he said
II am afraid-my grandfather-Nik,
ky"
For there stood Milky in the door
way, a staggering. white-lipped Milky
He was not too weak to pick the chic
up, however, and carry him to tn,
head Of the stairs. They had moved
the body Of the concierge, by his or
der. So he stood there, the boy In hi.
arms, and the students. only an houl
before In revolt against him, cheeret
nightly.
They met the detachment Of caval
ry at the door, and thus. in state, nd,
back to the palace where he was Il
rule. King Otto the Ninth. A very 10,
little king, for Milky had answered hi
question honestly. A king who moppe,
his eyes with a very dirty handker
chief. A weary little king, too, witt
already a touch Of i%ndigestionl
Behind them, In the house on tn
Road Of the Good Children, Haecke
In an access Of fury, ordered the bod
Of the concierge flung from Z window
1t lay below, q twisted and shapeles
thing, beside the pieces Of old AIDE
bert's broken sword.