Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-03-08

UcdIlODS alODS the hurildu DOfueT. IL
Karnia were allied with them, there
would be no need of so great an army.
They had the mineral wealth, and
Karnia the seaports. The old dream
of the empire, of a railway to the sea,
would be realized.
He pleaded well. The idea was not
new. To place the little King Otto
TX on the throne and keep him there
in the face of opposition would re-
quire support from outside. Karnia
would furnish this support. For a
price.
The price was the Princess He'd
wig.
''That is my plea, SIRE" MettIich
finished. "Karl of Karnia is anxious
to marry, and looks this way. To al
lay discomfort and growing insurrec-
ton, to insure the boys safety and his
throne, to beat our swords into plough
shares"-here he caught the kings
scowl, and added-"to a certain ex-
tent, and to make us a commercial
as well as a military nation, surely,
sire, it gains much for us, and loses
us nothing"
but our independence" said the
king sourly.
However, he did not dismiss the
idea. The fright of the afternoon had
weakened him, and IL Mettlich were
right the royalist party would need
outside help to maintain the throne.
"Karnia |" he said. 1.-THE lion and
the lamb, with the lamb inside the
lioni And in the meantime the boy"
HE should be watched always"
HE has Lussin." Count Lussin was
the crown princes aide-de-camp.
"He needs a man, sire" observed
the chancellor rather tartly.
The king cleared his throat. 'This
youngster he is so fond of, young
Larisch, would he please you better?"
he asked, with ironic Difference.
"a good boy, sire. You may recall
that his mother" He stopped.
Perhaps the old kings memory was
good. Perhaps there was a change in
Mettlich's voice.
"a good boy?"
"None better, sire. He is devoted
to his royal highness. He is outside
now"
"Bring him in. I'll have a look at
him."
Milky, summoned by a chamberlain,
stopped inside the doorway and bowed
deeply.
"Come here" said the king.
He advanced.
"How old are your"
"Twenty-three, SIRE"
"In the grenadiers, I believe"
Milky bowed.
Like horses?" said the king sud-
denly.
Every much, SIRE"
"And boys"
"I-some boys, SIRE"
"Humphi Quite right, too Little
devils, most of them" He drew him.
self up in his chair. Lieutenant
Larisch," he said, "His royal highness
the crown prince has taken a liking
to you. l believe it is to you that our
fright today is DUE"
Nikky's heart thumped. He went
rather pale.
at is my intention, Lieutenant Lar
isch, to place the crown prince in your
personal charge. For reasons l need
not go into, it is imperative that he
take no more excursions alone. / want
a real friend for the little row
prince. One who is both brave and
loyal"
Afterward, in his small room, Milky
composed a neat, w~ell-rounded speech,
in which he expressed his loyalty,
gratitude, and undying devotion to the
crown prince. 1t was an elegant lit.
tie speech. U%nluckily, the occasion for
it had gone by two hours.
IL am grateful, SIRE" was what
he said. q" And there he stopped
and choked up. 1t was rather dread.
full.
81 depend on you, Captain Larisch,"
said the king gravely, and nodded his
head in a gesture of dismissal.
Milky backed toward the door, struck
a hassock, all but went down, bowed
again at the door, and fled.
"a fine lad" said General Mettlich,
"but no talker."
"A1l the better" replied his majes-
ty. 81 am tired of men who talk
well. And" he smiled family 81
am tired of you. You talk too well.
You make me think. I don't want to
think. I've been thinking all my life.
1t is time to rest, my friend"
NO ONE KNEW HER AGE