River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-07-04

| Really" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, quite delighted. He
would never have thought of such a
thing.
A door of iron bars at the foot Of
the long flight Of steps-there were
four of them-stood open. Here day
light, which had been growing fainter,
entirely ceased. And here Bobby, hav-
ing replaced his mask, placed an air
rifle over his shoulder, and lighted a
candle and held it out to the crown
prince.
! "You can carry it," he said. "Only
don't LEI it drip on you. You'll spoil
your clothes" There was a family
scornfu1 note in his voice, and Ferdi-
nand William Otto was quick to hear
1t.
81 don't care at all about my
Clothes" he protested. And to prove
it he deliberately tilted the candle and
let thin stream of parafin run down
his short Jacket.
you're a pretty good sport" Bobby
observed. And from that time on he
addressed his royal highness as "old
sport"
When they reached the old dungeon
| the candle was about done. There was
only time to fashion another black
mask out of piece of cloth that bore
strange resemblance to a black
waistcoat. The crown prince donned
this with a wildly beating heart. Never
| in all his life had he been so excited.
"We can get another candle, and
come back and cook something" said
the senior pirate, tying the mask on
with pieces of brown string. cit gets
pretty smoky, but can cook, you'd
better believe"
So this wonderful boy could cook,
also! The crown prince had never
| tainments. He gazed through the eye
holes, which were rather too far apart,
in rapt admiration.
"As you haven't got belt" Bobby
said generously, 'Tll give you the rifle.
Ever hold gun?"
"Oh, yes" said the crown prince.
He did not explain that he had been
| taught to shoot on the rifle range of
his own regiment, and had won quite
a number Of medals. He possessed,
indeed, quite number OF small but
very perfect guns.
With the last gasp of the candle,
the children prepared to depart. The
senior pirate had already forgotten the
| two men he had trailed through the
passage, and was eager to get out
| doors.
Ready" he said. "Now, remember,
old sport, we are pirates. No quarter,
except to women and children. Shoot
every man."
"Even If he is unarmed?" inquired
the crown prince, who had also studied
strategy and tactics, and felt that an
unarmed man should be taken pris-
oner.
"Sure. We don't really shoot them,
silly. Now. Get-fn STEP"
Then began, for the crown prince,
such day Of joy as he had never
known before. Even the Land Of De-
| light faded before this new bliss Of
stalking from tree to tree, Of killing
unsuspecting citizens who sat on rugs
on the ground and ate sausages and
little cakes. Here and there, where
a party had moved on, they salvaged
O bit Of food-the heel Of loaf, one
of the small country apples. Shades
| Of the court physicians, under whose
direction the crown prince was daily
fed a carefully balanced ration!
When they were weary, they
stretched out on the ground, and the
crown prince, whose bed was nightly
dried with a warming pan for fear Of
dampness, wallowed blissfully on
earth still soft with the melting frosts
Of the winter. He grew muddy and
dirty. He had had no hat, of course,
and his bright hair hung over his fore
head in moist strands. Now and then
he drew long breath of sheer happi-
ness.
AS dusk descended, the crowd grad
ually dispersed, some to supper, but
some to gather In the place and in the
streets around the palace. For the
rumor that the king was dying would
not down.
At last the senior pirate consulted
a large nickel watch.
See! it's almost supper time," he
said.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto con-
suited his own watch, the one with
the inscription: ''To Ferdinand Will
liam Otto, from his grandfather, ON
| the occasion of his taking his first
| communion"
'Why can't you come home to sup
per with met" asked the senior pirate.
'Would your folks kick up a row?"
81 beg your pardon"
"Would your family object"
ssThere is only one person who would
| mind" reflected the crown prince,
aloud, sand she will be angry, anyhow.
lido you think your mother will be
willing"
"Willing? Sure she will! My COVER
4 I'M e D.. No.