Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-04-05
match and lighted a pipe.

prisoner, still stiff and weak, was max
ing his way toward the hunting lodge.
Kaiser saw him first, and found the
story notwithstanding. Nor could Karl,
reused by a terrified valet, make much
more Of it. When the man had gone,
Karl lay back among his pillows and
eyed his agent. .
$50 Mettlich Is here u he said. "a
hasty journey. They must be eager"
"They must be In trouble" Kaiser
observed dryly. And on that uncom-
plimentary comment King Karl slept,
hrs face drawn into a weary smile.
But he received the chancellor of
Livonia cordially the next morning, go
ing himself to the lodge doorstep to
meet his visitor, and there shaking
hands with him.
81 am greatly honored, e~xcellency,"
he said, with his twisted smile.
"And /, SIRE"
But the chancellor watched him
from under his shaggy brows. The
messenger had escaped. By O Karl
knew the story, knew Of his midnight
ride over the mountains, and the haste
1t indicated.
Karl himself led the way to his
study, ignoring the chamberlain, and
stood aside to let Mettlich enter.
Then he followed and closed the door.
sit is a long time since you have
honored Karnia with a VISIT" Karl OBJ
served. "Wnl you sit DOWN."
Karl himself did not sit. He stood
negligently beside the mantel, an arm
stretched along It.
."Not since the battle Of the Ar,
SIRE" replied the chancellor dryly. He
had headed IN army of invasion then.
Karl smiled. 81 hope that now your
errand is more peaceful"
For answer the chancellor opened a
portfolio he carried, and fumbled
among its papers. But, having found
the right one, he held it without OPEN
ing 1t. Before we come to that, sire,
you have here, I believe, detained for
some strange reason, a Captain Lar
isch, aide-de-camp"-he paused for eff
fect-"to his royal highness, the crown
prince of Livonia."
Karl glanced up quickly. perhaps,
If you will describe this-gentle-
man"
Nonsense" said the chancellor test
lily. "You have him. We have traced
him here. Although by what authority
you hold him l fail to understand. I
am here to find out what you have
done with him"
"Done with himT" echoed Karl. eff
man who the night before last"
ST do, sire. Mailman is the word"
"He Is a prisoner" Karl said, in a
new tone, stern enough now. HE as
saulted and robbed n of my men.
He stole certain documents. That he
has not suffered for 1t already was be-
cause-well, because l believed that
the unfortunate distrust between your
country and mine, excellency, was
about to end"
A threat that, undoubtedly. Let the
arrangement between Karnia and LII
vonia be made, with Hedwig to seal
the bargain, and Milky was safe
enough. But let Livonia demand too
much, Or not agree at all, and Milky
was lost. Thus did Milky Larisch play
his small part in the game of nations.
Suppose" said Karl unctuously,
"that we discuss first another more i'm
portant matter. I confess to a certain
impatience." He bowed slightly.
The chancellor hesitated. Then he
r1onao6 h~nrnhff,11Iu of tho nanoVs in
his hand.
Through a long luncheon, the two
alone and even the servants dis
missed, through a longer afternoon.
negotiations went on. Mettlich fought
hard on some points, only to meet de-
feat. Karl stood firm. The great fort
resses on the border must hereafter
contain only nominal %garrisons. For
the seaport strip he had almost dou-
bled his price. The railroad must be
completed within two years.
'The Princess Hedwig," Karl said
suddenly. "She has been told, of
course?"
mot officially. She knows, how
ever"
How does she regard 1tF
The chancellor hesitated. Like
most young women, she would prefer
making her own choice. But that"
he added hastily, 'is but a whim. She
is a lovable and amiable girl. When
the time comes, she will be willing
enough"
Karl stared out through one of the
heavily ~curtained windows. He was
not SO sure. And the time had gone
by when he would have enjoyed the
tanning of a girl. Now he wanted
peace-was he not paying a price for
it?-and children to inherit his we'll
managed kingdom. And perhaps-who
knows?-a little love. Before him rose
a vision of Hedwig, her frank eyes, her
color that rose and fell, her soft, round
body.
"You have no reason to believe that