The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-02-20

ss"y = Nte htIu nS EFhtus
didn't see him before"
Your people are waiting, SIRE" the
chancellor said gravely. ITO a ruler.
his people must come FIRST"
And so, In the clear light from the
ROOF behind him, Otto the Ninth first
stood before his people. They looked
up, and hard eyes grew soft, tense
muscles relaxed. They saw the erect
ness Of the small figure. the steadl-
ness Of the blue eyes that had fought
back their tears, the honesty and fire
and courage OF this small boy who
was the king.
Let such Of the revolutionlsts rs re-
manned scream before the parliament
house. Let the flames burn and the
drums beat. The solid citizens, the
grent mss Of the people, looked up
at the Mig and cheered nightly. Rev
olution had that night received Its
death blow at the hands OF n child.
The mob prepared to go home to bed.
While King. Otto stood on the bal
cony, down below In the crowd an
American woman looked up, and sud.
denly caught her husband by the arm.
Robert" she said, Robert, 1t Is
Bobby's little friend"
Nonsense! he retorted. "It's
rather dramatic. isn't III Nothing
like this ut homei See, they've
crowned him already"
But Bobby's mother looked with the
clear eyes Of most women, and all
mothers.
"They have not crowned him." she
said. smiling, with tears In her eyes.
1.-THE absurd little kingl They have
forgotten to take off his paper crown !"
The dead king lay In state In the
royal chapel. Tall candles burned at
his head and feet. set In long black
standards. His uniform lay ut his
feet, his cap. his sword. The flag OF
his country was draped across him. He
looked very rested.
In a small private chapel nearby
lny old Adelbert. They could not dc
him too much honor. He, too, looked
rested. and he. too, was covered BY
the flag, and no one would have
guessed that a part Of him had diet
long before, and lay buried on a bat
tlefeld. 1t was, unfortunately. his ole
uniform that he wore. They had add
ed his regimentnl flag to the natiOna
one. and On II they had set his shnbb!
cap. He, too. might have been a king
There were candles at his head ant
feet. also; but alas. he had now nc
sword.
Thus It happened that old Adelber
the traitor lay In state In the palace
and that monks, In long brown robes
knelt and prayed by him. Perhaps HI
needed their prayers. But perhaps, II
the great accounting, things nre bal
anced up. the good against the bad. Ii
that case. who knowsf
The palace mourned and the palace
rejolced. Haeckel had told what h,
knew and the leaders Of the terrorist
were in prison. Some. in high places
would be hanged with q silken cord
rs was their due. And others woul'
be esthetically disposed Of. The wa.
was not yet clear ahead. but the crisi
was passed and safely.
Early In the evening, soon after h
had appeared on the balcony. the cour
had rworn fealty to Otto the Ninth
Ho had stood on the dals In the thron
room, very much washed and brushe'
bv that time, and the ceremony ha,
taken place. Such q shout from re
lieved throats as went up, such a cla'
ter as swords were drawn from scat
bards and held upright In the air.
"Otto!" they cried. And agair
"Otto."
The little king had turned quite pal
with excitement.
Late In the evening Milky Larisc
went to the council room. The cour
ell had dispersed. and Mettlich 50
alone. When Milky was announced h
frowned. Then. very family, h
, smiled. But he was stern enough whe
the young soldier entered. Mix
4. came to the point at once.
~ have come" he said. ITO kno'
: what I am to do, sir"
'T)of" asked the chancellor, coldl.
"whether the cr~own-whether tn
KIM Is safe or n0t,' said Nlkky lOof
ing logged and not at NIL now like tn
picture Of his mother. ~ am guilty O
, of all that happened"
The chancellor had meant to he yer
D hard. But he had come through
great deal. and besides, he saw som
thing Milky did not mean him TO sc,
4 He was used to reading men. He say
4 that the boy had come to the brenkin
point.
"Sit down." he said, "and tell m
I about H."
: But Milky would not sit. He stood
looking straight ahead, and told IN
: story. He left nothing out. the seen
E on the roof. his broken promise.
although" he added, his only wor
OF e%xtenuation. God knows I tried (
keep It."
!, Then the message from Counties
Loschek. and his long wait In her bot
doir. to return TO the thing he ha
4 found. As he went on. the chancellor
hand touched 4 button.
. Bring here at once Countess 10,
chek," he said. to the servant VII