The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-10-17
CHAPTER u.
pisqraced.

At eight o'clock that evening the
Crown Prince Ferdinand William Otto
approached the palace through the
public square. He approached II
slowly, for two reasons First, he did
not want to go back. Second, he was
rather frightened. He had an idea
that they would be ~disagreeable.
There seemed to be a great deal 60
Ing on ut the palace. Carriages were
rolling In under the stone archway
md, having discharged their contents,
mostly gentlemen In uniform. were
moving of with a laundering of hoofs
that reached from the vaulted roof Of
the entrance. All the lights were on
In the wing where his grandfather,
the king, lived alone. AS his grand
father hated lights, and went TO bed
Sarly, Prince Ferdinand William Otto
was slightly puzzled.
He was very dirty. His august face
was streaked with SCOT, and his au-
gust hands likewise. His small derby
hat was carefully placed on the very
back of his head at the angle of the
American boys cap. As his collar had
scratched his neck, he had, at Bob
by's suggestion, taken II Off and
rolled It up. He decided, rs he waited
In the square, to put II on agaN.
Miss Braithwaite was very peculiar
about collars.
Came a lull In the line of carriages.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto took
n long breath and started forward.
As he advanced he stuck his hands
In his pockets and staggered q trifc.
II was, rs nearly as possible, an x
act Imitation Of Bobby Thorpe's walk.
And 10 keep up his courage, he quoted
that young gentleman's farewell
speech 10 himself: "What d yrl
care? They won't eat you, will theyf"
Prince Ferdinand William Otto stood
In the shadows and glanced across.
The sentries stood like wooden men,
but something was wrong In the court
yard inside. The guards were all
standing, and there seemed TO be Il
great many Of them. And just as he
had made up his mind 10 take the
plunge, SO to speak, n part of his own
Fglmcnt Of cavalry came out from the
court yard with a -%sNlndering of hoofs,
wheeled ut the street. and clattercd
OF.
Very unusual, all Of It..
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Otto
felt In his pocket for his handkerchief.
and, mOistening n corner with his
tongue, wiped his face. Then he wiped
his shoes. Then, with his hands In
his trousers pockets, he sauntered In.
TO the light.
The two sentries made no sign
when they saw Ferdinand william
otto approaching. But one of them
forgot 10 bring his musket to salute.
He crossed himself instead. And
something strained around the other
sentry's lower jaw suddenly relaxed
into a smile as his royal hlghness
drew a hand from It's refuge and sa-
luted. He glanced AT one then at the
other, rather sheeplshly, hesitated be-
tween them, clapped his hat on more
securely, and marched In.
"The young rascal" said the sec
ond sentry TO himself. And by turn
Ing his head sllghtly-for a sentry
learns TO see all around like a horse.
without twisting his neck-he watched
the runaway into the palace.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto went
up the stone staircase. Here and
there he passed guards who stared and
saluted. Had he not been obsessed
with the vision OF Miss Braithwaite,
he would have known that relief fol.