Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-02
CHAPTER II.
DIsaraced.


Grown Prince Ferdinand William Otto
approached the palace through the
public square. He approached it
slowly, for two reasons. First, he did
not want to go back. Second, he was
rather frightened. BE had an idea
that they would be disagreeable.
There seemed to be great deal go
ing on at the palace. Carriages were
rolling in under the stone archway
end, hs--::::ss discharged tthhe::-- contents,
mostly gentlemen in uniform, were
moving of with 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
early, Prince Ferdinand William Otto
was slightly puzzled.
He wa. 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 It of and
rolled II up. He decided. as he waited
In the square, to put It on agalh.,
Miss Braithwaite was very peculiar
about collars.
Came lull in the line Of carriages.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto took
long breath and started forward,
AS he advanced he stuck his hands
In his pockets and staggered a trifie.
It was. as nearly as possible, an e1-
act imitation Of Bobby Thorpe's walk.
And to keep up his courage, he quoted
that young gentleman's farewell
speech to himself: "What d. you
carer They won't eat you, will they"
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 a,
great many Of them. And Just as he
had made up his mind to take the
plunge, 20 to speak, part Of his own,
regiment Of cavalry came out from the
court yard with a laundering Of hoofs,
wheeled ct tho street. and clattered'
Of. s.,,y
Very unusual. all Of It
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Otto
felt in his pocket for his handkerchief.
and, moistening . corner with his
tongue, wiped his face. Then he wiped
his shoes. Then, with his hands I'M
his trousers pockets, he sauntered I'M
to the light.
The two sentries made no sign
vher they saw Ferdinand William,
Otto approaching. But one Of them
forgot to 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 highness,
drew hand from its refuge and sa-:
luted. He glanced at one, then at the;
otheA rather sheepishly. hesitated be-
tween them, clapped his hat on more
securely, and marched in. i
s.sThe young rascal r. said the sec;
ond sentry to himself. And by turn
ing his head slightiy-for sentry.
learns to see all around like horse,
without twisting his neck-he watched
the runaway into the pslace.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto went
mn 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-.
lowed in his wake. Messengers clat-'
tered down the staircase to the court
yard. Other messengers. breathless
and eager, few to that lighted wing
where the council sat, and where the
z old king, propped up in bed, waited
ana fought terror.
Els eyes, weary with many years q
ruling, of disappointments and bitter
ness, roved the room. They came to
rest at last on the photograph Of a
young man. which stood on his bed
side table.
He was a very young man. in uni
form. He was boyish, and smiling.
There was dog beside him, and its
head was on his knee. Wherever one
stood il the room, the eyes OF the
photograph gazed at one. The king
kneW this, and because he was quite
old, and because there were few PEG.
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