The Dermott news., 1918-02-07
CHAPTER 1.
The Crown Prince Runs Away.

crimson-velvet seat of his chair.
 Prince Ferdinand William Otto was bored. His royal robes, consisting of pair of blue serge trousers, q short Eton jacket. and n stiff. rolling collar of white linen. irked him.
 He had been brought to the opera house under 9 misapprehension. His aunt, the Archduchess Annunciata. had strongly advocated "The Flying Dutch man." and his English governess Miss Braithwaite had read him some in- Spiring literature about 1t. So here he was. and the Flying Dutchman was not ghostly at all. nor did 1t fly. And in- stead of flying after dreary cons of singing, it was moved off on creaky rollers by men whose shadows were thrown grotesquely on the sea back ing.
 The orchestra, assisted by bass solo ane intermittent thunder in the wings. was making a deafening din. One of the shadows on the sea back ing took out its handkerchief and wiped Its nose.
 ITlUCt T FtTtllHuuu NliiiuIIi oiIo iooh- ed across at the other royal box, and caught his Cousin Hedwig's eye. She also had seen the handkerchief she took out her own scrap of linen. and mimickcd the shadow. Then. Her Royal Highness the Archduchess An nunciata being occupied with the storm. she winked across at Prince Ferdinand William Otto.
 In the opposite box were his two cousins. the Prineesses Hedwig and Hilda. attended by Hedwig's lady In waiting. Hedwig was eighteen. The crown prince liked Hedwig better than Iilda. Although she had been intro duced formally to the court at the Christrnas-eve ball. aVd had been duly presented hy her grandfather. the king with the usual string of pearls and her own carriage. she still ran off snow and then to have ten with the crown prince and Mss BraIthwaite In the school room at the palace: and she could eat q great deal of bread and but ter
 The crown prince vawncd. although II was but tho middle of the after noon. Catching llotlwls's eye, he ran his fingers m through his thick vel low hair and crlna,,l. Hedwtg hlushed. She had eoHf3ed ta him once. while they were walking in the garden at the summer palace, that she was thinking of being In love with a young lieutenant who was attached to the kings suite, The prince-who was called Otto, for short. hv the family, because he actually had eleven names the prince had been much interested, For some time nfterward he had both cred Miss BraithAite to define being fin love. but he had had no really satis- factory answer.
 In pursuance of his quest for in- formation. he had grown quite friendly with the young officer. whose name was Larisch, and had finally asked to have him ride with him at the royal riding school. The grim old king had granted the request, but 1t had been quite fruitless so far after all. Lieu tenant Larisch only grew quite red as to the ears when love was mentioned. although he appeared not unwilling to hear Hedwig's name.
 So now Ferdinand William Otto ran his fingers through his fair hair, which was a favorte gesture of the lieuten- ants. and Hedwig blushed. The arch duchess. sitting well back. was nod ding. Just outside the royal box, on
 
 who was the chancellor. and had come because he had been invited and stayed outside because he said he liked to hear music. not see it. was sound asleep. Ills martial bosom, with its gold braid. was rising anu falling Eeacefully. Beside him lay the princess crown, small black derby hat.
 Prince Ferdinand William Otto con sidered it all very wearisome. If one could only wander around the corridor or buy Il sandwich from the stand at the foot of the great staircase-or, bet ter still, If one could only get to the street, alone. and purchase one of the fig women that Miss Braithwaite so despised The crown prince felt in his pocket. where his weeks allow ance of pocket money lay comfortably untouched.
 He me>itated. He could 20 out quickly, and he back before they knew fl. Even If he only wandered about the corridor, it would stretch his short legs. And outside 1t was fine day. It looked already like spring.
 With the trepidation of canary who finds hts cage door open, and, hopping to the threshold, surveys the world before yenturng to explore 1t, Prince Ferdinand William Otto rose to his feet, tiptoed past the Arch duchess Annunciata, who did not move and looked around him from tho door way.
 He picked up his hat and concealed it by his side. Then nonchalantly. as if to stretch his legs by walking ten feet up the corridor and back. he passed the dressing room door. An.