New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-11-01
CHAPTER ~.
At the RidIno School.

Ferdinand William Otto was In dis
grace.
lie had risen Mt six, bathed. dressed,
and gone to mass, In disgrace. He
had breakfasted at seven-thirty on
fruit, cereal, and n egg, In disgrace.
He had gone to his study at eight
o'clock for lessons, in disgrace. A.
long line Of tutors came and went all
morning, and he worked diligently, but
he was still in disgrace. All morn
ing long and in the intervals between
tutors he had tried to catch Miss
Braithwaite's eye.
Except for the most ordinary civil
direction.
The French tutor was standing near
a photograph of Hedwig, and pretend
ing not to look at 1t. Prince Ferdinand
William Otto had a suspicion that the
tutor was in love with Hedwig.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto did
not like the French tutor.
He also found the sun unsettling.
Besides, he hated verbs. Nouns were
different. One could do something
with nouns. although ever they had
a way of having genders. Into his
head popped n recollection of a de-
lightful pastime Of the day before
nothing more nor less than Tipping
paper wads ut the guard on the scenic
railway as the car went past him.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto tore
off the corner Of a piece Of paper,
chewed it deliberately, rounded and
hardened 1t with his royal fingers, and
aimed 1t at NJ. Puaux. 1t struck him
In the eye.
Instantly things happened. NJ.
Puaux yelled, and clapped a hand to
his eye. Miss Braithwaite rose. His
royal highness wrote a rather shaky
French verb, with the wrong termina-
ton. And on to this scene came
Milky for the riding lesson.
Milky surveyed the seen He had,
of course, bowed inside the door, and
all that sort Of thing. But Milky was
an informal person, and was quite apt
to bow deeply before his future sover-
eign, and then poke him In the chest.
Well" said Milky.
Good morning." said Prince Ferdi-
nand William Otto, in a small and
nervous voice.
Nothing wrong, is therew de-
manded Milky.
NJ. Puaux got out his handkerchief
and said nothing violently.
"Otto!" said Miss Braithwalte.
what did you do"
Nothing" He looked about. he
was quite convinced that NJ. Puaux
was what Bobby would have termed
a poor sport, and had not played the
game fairly. The guard at the rail-
way. he felt, would not have yelled
and wept. "Oh, well, I threw a piece
of paper. That's all. I didn't think
II would hurt"
Miss Braithwaite rose and glanced
AT the carpet. But Milky was quick.
Quick and understanding. He put his
shiny foot over the paper wad.
Paper" said Miss Braithwaite.
"Why did you throw paper? And at
NJ. Puaux?"
"I-just felt like throwing some
explained his royal highness.
81 guess it's the sun, or something"
Milky dropped his glove, and mirac-
ulously, when he had picked it up the
little wad was gone.
"For throwing paper, five Marks"
said Miss Braithwaite, and put 1t
down in the book she carried in her
1t was rather an awful book.
On Saturdays the king looked 1t over,
and demanded explanations: ",'Or
nails. five marksl A gentle
man never has untldy nails, Otto. For
Directing to winter flannels, two
Humph! For ~pocketing sugar
from the tea tray, ten marks! Humph!
For lack of attention during religious
Instruction, five marks. Ten OF for
the sugar, and only FIVE for inattention
10 religious instruction.! What have
you to say. sirr
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
at Milky and Milky looked
back. Then Ferdinand William Otto's
left eyelld dropped. Milky was
How was he to know the
treasury Of strange things that the
,rown prince had tapped the previous
afternoon? But, after a glance around
he room, Nikky's eyelid dropped also.
BE slid the paper wad into his pocket.
II am afraid his royal highness has
hurt your eye, N. Puaux," said Miss
mot at ALL" said the unhappy young