The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-08-07

al Have a Message for YOU" She Said.
ace, of binding ones hands and leav-
ing one helpless. He could not even
go TO her.
81 cannot go, countess" he said.
"She must understand. Today, of all
days"
"You mean that you cannot leave the
crown prince?" She shrugged her
shoulders. "You, too! Never have I
seen so many faint hearts, such roll
ing eyes, such shaking knees! And
| for what? Because a few timid souls
see danger that does not exist"
81 think it does exist" said Milky
obstinately.
81 am to take the word to her, then,
that you will not conner"
"That cannot"
"You are very foolish boy" said
the countess, watching him. "And
since you are so fearful, myself will
remain here. There are sentries at the
doors, and double guard everywhere.
What, in the name of all that is alb
surd, can possibly happen?"
That was when she won. For Milky
who has never been, In all his history,
anything of hero, and all Of the ro-
mantle and loving boy-Nikky wav-
cred and fell.
When Prince Ferdinand William
Otto returned, 1t was with the word
that Miss Braithwaite still slept, and
that she looked very comfortable,
Milky was gone, and the countess
to support her shaking body.
1t was done. The boy was in her
hands. There was left only to deliver
him to those who, even now, were on
the way. Milky was safe. He would
wait in her boudoir, and Hedwig
would not come. She had sent no
message. She was, indeed, at that mo-
ment q part of one of those melan-
choly family groups which, the world
over, in palace or peasants hut, await
the coming of death.
Prince Ferdinand william Otto
chatted. He got out the picture frame
for Hedwig, which was finished now,
with the exception of burning his
initials in the lower left hand corner.
After inquiring politely If the smell of
burning would annoy her, the crown
prince drew a rather broken backed
"F," weakened "W," and an irreg-
ular 80" in the corner and proceeded
to burn them in. He sat bent over the
desk, the very tip of his tongue pro-
truding, and worked conscientiously
he burned a dot.
Suddenly, Olga Loschek became
panic-stricken. She could not stay,
and see this thing out. Let them fol-
low her and punish her. She could
not! She had done her part. The
governess lay in drugged sleep. A
turn of the key, and the door to the
passage beyond which Oskar waited
would be closed off. Let follow what
must, she would not see it.
"IIighness," she said, Lieutenant
Larisch will be here in moment. WEI
you permit me to gow
Otto was off his chair in an instant.
Certainly" he said, his mind still on
the 80" which he was shading.
Old habit was strong in the countess.
Although the boys rank was numbered
by moments, although his life was pos
sibly to be counted by hours, she
turned at the doorway and swept him
a curtsy. Then she went out, and
closed the door behind her.
The two sentries stood outside.
They were of the terrorists. She
knew, and they knew she knew. But
neither one made a sign. They stared
ahead, and Olga Loschek went out be-
tween them.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Will
liam Otto was only small boy. for all
his title and dignity. And suddenly
he felt lonely. Left alone, he returned
to his expectations for the day, and
compared them with the facts. He
remembered other carnivals, with his
carriage moving through the streets,
and people showering him with fresh
flowers. He rather glowed at the
memory. Then he recalled that the
chancellor had said he needed fresh
air.
Something occurred to him, some
thing which combined fresh air with
action, yet kept to the letter Of his
promise-or was there a promisef-
not to leave the palace.
The idea pleased him. II set him
to smiling, and his bright hair to
quivering with excitement. 1t was
less than to 20 on the roof and
find the ball. And he would have to
hurry. Milky would be sure to return |