Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-18
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He got up and pushed his chair back.
Other bells had taken 1t up, and
now the whole city seemed alive with
bells-bells that swung sadly from side
ito side, as If they said over and over:
"Alas, alas!"
Something like panic seized Ferdi'
nand William Otto. Some calamity
had happened. Some one was-per-
haps his grandfather.
He turned an appealing face to Mrs.
Thorpe. II must CO." he said. II do
not wish to appear rude, but some
thing is wrong. The bells"
Pepy had been listening, too. Her
broad face worked. "They mean one
thing" she said slowly. II have heard
H. said many times. When st. Stefan's
tolls like that, the king is dead!"
"No! Mo-" cried Ferdinand Will
liam Otto and ran madly out Of the
door.
While the birthday supper vas at
its height, in the bureau Of the con-
cierge sat old Adelbert, heavy am
despairing. That very day had he
Learned to what use the committee
would put the information he had
given them, and his old heart was
dead within him. One may not be
loyal for seventy years, and then easily
become traitor.
Then. at seven o'clock, something
happened. 81
The concierge's niece had gone,
leaving the supper ready cooked on
the back of the stove. Old Adelbert
sat alone, and watched the red bars
,of the stove fade to black. BY that
time it was done, and he was Of the
damned. The crown prince, who was
of an age with the American lad up
|stairs, the crown prince was In the
hands Of his enemies. He, old Adel-
bert had done 1t.
And now it was forever too late.
Terrible thoughts filed his mind. he
could not live thus. yet he could not
die. The daughter must have the pen.
sion. He must live, traitor. he on
whose breast the king himself had
pinned q decoration.
He wore his new uniform, In honor
Of the day. Suddenly he felt that he
could not wear it any longer. he had
no right to any uniform. He who had
sold his country vas Of no country.
He went slowly out and up the stair
case, dragging his wooden leg pain
fully from step to step. He heard the
concierge come in below, his heavy
footsteps re-echoed through the build
ing Inside the door he called furi-
'ously to his niece. Old Adelbert heard
him strike match to light the gas.
In his room he sat down on q
straight chair inside the door, and
stared ahead. Then, slowly and me-
.chanically, he took off his new uni
form and donned the old one He
would have put on civilian clothes, had
he possessed any. For by the deeds
Of that day he had forfeited the right
to the kings garb.
It was there that Black Humbert,
hurrying up, found him. The con-
.ClSTKS WIS LSlu, LILO AAoSoANS AAuoAv
shook with excitement.
"Quick !" he said, and swore great
oath. ITO the shop Of the cobbler
Heinz, and tell him this word. Here
in the building Is the boy"
"What boy?"
The concierge closed a great hand
on the veterans shoulder. "Who but
the crown prince himself!" he said.
"But 1 thought-how can he be
here?'
Here is he, in our very hands. It
is no time to ask questions"
If he IS here"
"He is with the Americans" Missed
the concierge, the veins on his fore
head swollen with excitement. 'Now,
70, and quickly. shall watch. Say
that when I have secured the lad, I
shall take him there. Let all be ready.
An hour ago" he said, raising his
great fists on high, "and everything
lost. Now-hurry, old wooden leg. It
Is great night"
"But-I cannot. Already have
done too much. am damned. have
lost my soul. who am soon to die-s
"You will CO."
And, at last, he went, hobbling down
the staircase recklessly, because the
looming figure at the stairhead was
listening. He reached the street.
There, only block away, was the cob
bler's~shop, lighted, but with the dirty
curtains drawn across the window.
Old Adelbert gazed at it. Then he
commended his soul to God, and turned
toward the palace. Before It were
packed dense throngs of silent people.
Now and then man put down box.
and rising on 1t, addressed the crowd,
attempting to rouse them. Each time
langry hands pulled him down, and
misses greeted him as he skunk away.
(To he Continued.)