Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-01
lie meditated. He could go o,

He meditated. He could 60 OUT
quickly, and be back before they knew
it. Even il he only wandered about
the corridor, 1t would stretch his short
legs. And outside it was fine day.
1t looked already like spring. !.
With the trepidation Of canary
VINO nnds his cage door open. and,
hopping to the threshold, surveys the
world before venturing to explore it,
Prince Ferdinand William Otto rose
to his feet. tiptoed past the Arch
duchess Annunciata, who did not move,
and looked around him from the 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. Ani
other moment, and he was out Of sight
around a bend Of the passageway. and
before him lay liberty.
Not quite! At the top Of the pri1
vate staircase reserved for the royal
family guard commonly stood. He
had moved a few feet from his post
however, and was. watching the stage
through the half-open door Of private,
loge.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
passed behind him with outward calm1i
ness. At the top Of the public stair
case, however. he hesitated. Herej
everywhere, were brass-buttoned off
Gals of the opera house. A garderobe
woman stared Mt him curiously. The
little prince looked at the woman with
appeal in his eyes. Then, with his
heart humping, he ran past her, down
the white marble staircase, to where
the great doors promised liberty.
Olga, the wardrobe woman, came
out from behind her counter and stood
looking down the marble staircase
after the small flying figure.
The old soldier who rented opera
glasses at the second landing, and who
had left leg in Bosnia, leaned over
the railing. Look at that!' he e11
claimed. HE will break a leg, the
young rascal! Once could have
but there, he Is safe! The good God
watches over fools and children"
1T looked like the little prince" said
the wardrobe woman. II have seen
him often-he has the same bright
hair"
But the opera.glass man was not
listening. He had drawn long saus-
age from one pocket and roll from
the other, and now, retiring to far
window, he stood placidly eating-a
bite of sausage, a bite of bread. His
mind was in Bosnia, with his leg. And
because old Adelbert's mind was In
Bosnia, and because one hears with
the mind, and not with the ear, he did
not hear the sharp question Of the
sentry who ran down the stairs and
paused fora second at the cloak-rOOm.
Well for Olga, too. that old Adelbert
did not hear her reply.
HE has not passed here" she said.
with wide and honest eyes, but with
an ear toward old Adelbert. "An old
gentleman came moment ago and
got sandwich, which he had left in
his overcoat. Perhaps this 10 whom
you are seeklngf'
The sentry cursed, and ran down the
staircase, the nails IN his shoes strik-
ing sharply on the marble.
Olga of the cloak room leaned over
her checks, with her lips curved up
in a smile. ''The little one!" she
thought. "And such courage! He will
make q great king! Let him have his
prank Ike the other children. and
God bless him and keep him!"
The crown prince was just q triae
dazzled by the brilliance Of his sue
cess. BE paused for one breathless
moment under the porte.cochere Of the
opera house; then he took long
breath, turned to the left; and was at
once swallowed up In the street crowd.
It seemed very strange to him. Not
that he was unaccustomed to crowds.
Had he not, that very Christmas. gone
shopping In the city, accompanied only
by one of his tutors and Miss iBraith-
waite, and bought for his grandfather,
the king, burnt wood box, which
might hold either neckties or gloves.
end for his cousins silver photograph
frames? 81
But this was different, and for q
rather peculiar reason. Prince Ferlin-
md william, OTTO had-neyer seen the
l,ack OF crowd The public was al
ways lined up. iTaSlae HIM smiling and
sowinS - - otnT him. Prince