The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-08

fully. Evidently, as with the agent
tho story started a new train OF
thought. Milky drew a long breath.
After all, there was still hope that the
early morning shooting would have an
other target than himself.
Karl sat down. and his face relaxed.
| 1t was stern, but no longer horrible.
Tell me this NIburg's story he com
manded.
He was walking through the old
city" Milky commenced, when three
men fell on him. One, a large one,
knocked him lnsenSible and then went
through his pockets. The others"
Strange" said Karl III he was
insenSible, how does he know all this?"
1T was his story, sire" Milky ex-
plalned. But he colored. "A com
panion, who was with him, ran away"
This companion" Karl queried.
"A dark, heavy fellow, was it,"
mo. Rather pale man, blond.
A" Milky checked himself.
But Karl was all suavity $50" he
said, while NiburG was unconscious
the large man took the letter, which
was sealed, magicuIly opened it, eX-
tracted its contents, replaced them
with-thls, and then sealed it again ~
The king turned without haste to a
drawer In his desk, and opened 1t. He
vas smiling When he faced about
again. Milky saw that he held q re-
volver in his hand. Save that the
agent had taken a step forward, moth
ing in the room had changed. And
yet, for Milky everything had changed.
Milky had been n reckless fool, but
he was brave enough. He smiled, a
better smile than kArlS twisted one.
Il have a fancy" said King Karl,
ito manage this matter for myself.
Keep back. Kaiser. Now, my friend,
you will give me the packet of cigar
cite papers you carry"
Resistance would do no good. Milky
brought them out. and karl'S twisted
smile grew broader as he compared
them with the ones the envelope had
contained
You see" he said, you show the
hand of the novice. You should have
thrown these away. But, of course.
all your methods are wrong. Why, for
instance. have you come here at all?
You have my man-hut that I shall
take up later. We will first have the
letter"
But here Milky stood firm. Let them
find the letter. He would not help
them. But again he cursed himself.
There had been thousand hiding
places along the road-but he must
bring the discriminating thing with him,
and thus condemn himself.
Now commenced curious scene,
curious because one of the actors was
Karl Of Karnia himself. He seemed
curiouSly loath to bring in assistance
did Karl. Or perhaps the novelty of
the affair appealed 10 him. And Mix
kyS resistance to search, with That
revolver so close, was short lived.
Even while he was struggling. Milky
was thinking. Let them get the letter,
if they must. Things would at least
be no worse than before. But he re
solved that no violence would tear |
from him the place where the meSsen- |
ger was hidden. Until they had got |
that, he had chance for life.
They searched his cap last. Milky,
after that strange struggle,
saw Kaiser take it from the lining or
his cap. and pass it to the King.
Karl took it. The smile was gone
low, aud something ugly and terrible
lad taken It's place. But that, too,
AIDED as he looked at the letter.
1t was blank piece Of note paper.
With the approach of the annirer-
AIRY OF his sons death, the king grew
restless. Each year he de-
ermined to put away this old grief,
nd each year as his bodily weakness
increased, he found It harder to do SO.
On other years he had had the crown
rince with him as much as possible
n this dreary day of days. But the
rOwn prince was exiled, in disgrace.
,ot even for the comfort OF his small
resence could stern discipline be re-
iIed
AnnunCiata was not much comfort TO
i'm. They Ind always differed, more
r less, the truth being, perhaps, that
he was too much Ike the king ever
, sympathize fully with him. Both
ere arrogant determined, obstinate.
nd those qualities, which age was be-
inning 10 soften in the king. were
ow, in Annunciata, in full strength
nd blooming.
But there was more than fundamen
II similarity at fault. Against her
tther the archduchesS held her IN
Apply marriage.
And now. secretly willing THAI He'd
ig should marry Karl, she was ready
, annoy him by Directing to it.
On the day after her conversation
it'll General Mettlich, she visited the
ng. 1t was afternoon. The king had
1ent the morning In his study, prop ,
I'd with pillows as was always the |
use now, working with a secrt tary. |
be secretary was gone when she en- |
red. and he sat alone.
He had passed trying day. once |