Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-02-08

LII.
vonia, Ferdinand William Otto. ten years
old, taken by his aunt to the opera, tires
Of the singing and slips away TO the pari,
and there makes the acquaintance oi
Bobby Thorpe, q little American boy.
CHAPTER II--Returning to the palace
ct night the crown prince finds everything
In an uproar as q result Of the search for
him. The chancellor impresscs on the old
king, the boys grandfather, who is very
H. the need for better protection OF the
,Town prince and suggests that the friend
ship of the peighioring king OF Karnia
be ceineDted by giving the Princess He'd
dnnlly agrees.
/ Continued from yesterday
I'm NOT going TO raise the boy a
prisoner" insisted the king stubbornly
General Mettlich bent forward and
placed hand on the old mans knee
ave shall do well, sire,y he said
gravely, ITO raise the boy at ALL"
There was a short silence, which the
king broke. "What is new?"
1--WE have broken up the university
meetings, but ! fancy they go on, in
small groups. l was gratified, how
ever, to observe that a group Of stu.
dents cheered his royal highness yes
terday as he rode past the university
buildings. The outlying districts are
guiet. So, too, is the city. Too quiet,
SIRE
They are waiting, of course, for my
DEATH" said the king. quietly. IF
only you were twenty years younger
than am, it would be better" He
fixed the general with shrewd eyes.
what do those asses of doctors say
about me?n
Even at the best, sire" He
looked very ferocious, and cleared his
throat. He was terribly ashamed that
his voice was breaking. 4'Eyen af the
best, but of course they can only. give
an opinion"
"Six months?"
/ "a year, SIRE"
i "And at the worst!' said the king,
with grim smile. Then, following
his own line of thought: s.But the
people love the boy, / think"
| "They do. It is for that reason.
sire, that / advise particular caution.r
He hesitated. Then, "Sire" he said
earnestly. there is something Of
which / must speak. The Committee
| Of Ten has organized again.
| Involuntarily the king glanced as
the photograph on the table.
forgive me, sire, IL waken bitter
memories. But fear-'
you fear!' said the king. Since
when have you taken to fearingg
Nevertheless maintained General
Meftlieh doggedly. II fear. This quiet
of the last few months alarms me.
Dangerous dogs do not bark. / trust
no one, The very air is full Of Sc
ditio1.n
| The. king twisted his blue-yeined old
hands together, but his voice was
qniet. ''But why?'' he demanded, al
most fretfully. IF the people arr
fond of the boy, and think they are,
toto carry him off, or injure him,
would hurt the cause. Even the ter
rorists, In the name of a republic, can
do nothing without the people,"
''The mob is curious thing, Sire.
! You have ruled with a strong hand
Our people know nothing but to obey
| the dominant voice. The boy out OF
! the way. The prospect of the
| Princess Helwig on the throne, few
demagogues In the public squares--it
would be, the. end.'
| The king leaned back and closed his
| eyes. His thin, arched nose looked
Fpinched. His face was gray.
"AIl this" he said, means what?
To make the boy a prisoner, to cut
| off his few pleasures, and even then,
! at any time"
''Yes, SIRE" said Mettlich doggedly.
"At any time.''
| All through the palace people We're
sleeping. Prince Ferdinand William
Otto was asleep, and riding again the
| little car in the land Of delight. So
that, turning corner sharply, he al
most fell out of bed.
! On the other side of the city the
little American boy was asleep also.
At that exact time he was being
tucked up by an entirely efficient and
| placid-eyed American mother, who felt
under his head to see that his ear was
not turned forward. She liked close
| fitting ears.
Nobody, naturally, was tucking up
Prince Ferdinand William Otto. Or
attending to his ears. But, Of course,
there were sentries outside his door,
| and valet de chambre to be rung
| for, and number Of embroidered
eagles scattered about on the curtains
and things, and a country surrounding
him which would one day be his, I'M
less
"At any time" said General Nett
Itch, and was grimIy silent.
"Wellf" inquired the King. after a
time. HYou hare something to sug-
gest. I take it."
The old soldier cleared his throat.
"Sire," he began. lit is said that a
chancellor should have but one pas
sion, his king. ! have two, my king
and my country"
| The king nodded gravely. He knew
| both passions, relied on both. And