The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-31

Hlu. vi I'LL Tue women nc uGu hltOWA
she had most truly and unselfishly
g loved him.
/ Very nearly did he swing the scale
I In which Olga Loschek had hung her
Q bargain with God-so nearly that in
t the intervals of afiixing his sprawling
s signature to various documents, he
8 drew sheet Of note paper toward him.
3 Then, with shrug, he pushed 1t away.
r So Olga Loschek lost her bargain.
At dawn the next morning the
3 countess, still pale with Illness and
burning with fever, went back to the
/. city.
j 'Thus," said the concierge. frying
! onions over his stove-"thus have
they always done. But you have been
, blind. Rather you would not see."
: Old Adelbert stirred uneasily. $50
, long as / accept my pension"
"Why should you not accept your
pension? A trifie in exchange for what
you gave. For them, who now Ill use
you, you have gone through life but
half a man. But one use they have
for us, you and me, my friend-to tax
u.s.
"The taxes are not heavy" quoth
old Adelbert.
There are some who find them So"
The concierge heaped his guests plate
with onions.
Old Adelbert played with his steel
fork Il was good patriot" he OBJ
served nervously, until they made me
otherwise"
Il will make you better. A patriot
is one who is Jealous for his country
and its welfare. That means much.
1t means that when the established
order is bad for a country, 1t must
be changed. Not that you and I may
benefit. God knows, we may not live
| to benefit. But that LivOnia may free
her neck from the foot of the oppres-
sion and raise her head among ma
tions."
From which it may be seen that old
Adelbert had at last Joined the revo-
| lutionary party, an uneasy and I'M
happy recruit, 1t is true, but-a recruit.
IF only some half measure would suf-
| fee" he said, giving up all pretense
of eating. 'This talk of rousing the
mob, of rioting and violence, do not
like them"
"Then has age turned the blood in
your veins to water" said the con-
cierge contemptuously. 'Balf meas
ures! Since when has half measure
been useful? Did half measures win
in your boosted battles? And what
half measures would you propose?"
Old Adelbert sat silent. Now and
then, because his mouth was dry, he
took a sip of beer from his tankard.
The concierge ate, taking huge mouth
fuls of onions and bread, and survey
ing his feeble-hearted recruit with ap-
praising eyes. To win him would
mean honor, for old Adelbert, decorated
for many braveries, was power
among the veterans. Where he led,
others would follow.
make no mistake" said Black
Humbert cunningly. 1--WE aim at no
bloodshed. A peaceful revolution, If
possible. The king, being dead, will
suffer not even humiliation. Let the
royal family scatter where 1t will. We
have no designs on women. The
II make no plea for him." said old
Adelbert bitterly. 81 wrote to him also.
when L lost my position, and received
no reply. We passed through the same
as / reminded him, but he
did nothing"
"As for the crown prince" observed
the concierge, cycling the old man over
the edge of his tankard, "you know
our plan for him.. He will be cared
for as my own child, until we get him
beyond the boundaries. Then he will
be safely delivered to those who know
nothing of his birth. A private fund
Of the republic will support and edu-
cate him."
Old Adelbert's hands twitched. "He
s but child" he said, "but already
he knows his rank"
ut will be wise for him to forget
t." His tone was ominous. Adelbert
glanced up quickly, but the terrorist
mad seen his error, and masked it with
/ grin. children forget easily" he
said, "and by this secret knowledge OF
7oHrs, old comrade, all can be peace
'ully done. Until you brought it to
me- we were, 4 coHlesS, Iedilui tuit
orce would be necessary. To admit
he rabble TO the palace would be
dangerous. Mobs go mad at such mo-
nents. But now it may be effected
With all decency and orderw
"And the plan?"
II may tell you this" The con-
ierge showed his plate away and bent
yer the table. 1--WE have set the day
s that Of the carnival. On that day
II the people are on the streets. Pro
essions are forbidden, but the usual
ostuming with their corps colors as
ompons Is allowed. Here and there
I'LL be one Of us clad In red, devil,
rearing the colors Of his satanic ma.
esty. Those will be of our forces,
saders and speech makers. When we
ecure the crown prince, he will be
ut into costume until he can be con-
called. They will seek, II there be
me, the Prince Ferdinand William
ito. Who will suspect child. wear
lg some fantastic Sarb Of the car
lval?"
"But the king7" inquired old Adel-