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

Vi MS manu- NJ one DiOw from the nall
like arms Of the concierge. Behind
him somewhere was coming, Milky
knew, a detachment OF cavalry. But
he had o~utdistanced them, riding fren.
ziedly, had leaped hedges and bitches
across the park. lie must hold this
man until they came.
Struggling In the grasp Of the con-
clerge, he yet listened for them. From
the first he knew It was a losing bat.
tie. lie had lost before. But he
fought fercely, with the strength Of a
dozen. His frenzy was equaled by that
Of the other man, and his weight wal
less by n hnlf He went down finally
md lny still, a battered, twisted fig
ure.
But Black Humbert, breathing hard,
had heard sounds In the street, and
put up the chain. lie stood at bay, a
huge, shaken figure at the foot Of the
tone staircase. He was for flight
now. But surely-outside Mt the door
some n gave the secret knock OF the
tribunal, and followed It by the pass
word. He breathed again. Friends, Of
~~'aNs N'iiV t't az Afett
to be certain. he went to the window
OF his bureau, and looked out through
the bars. Students!
Coming |" he called. And kicked Mt
Nikky's quiet figure as he passed It.
Then he unbolted the door, dropped the
chain, and opened the door.
Standing before him. backed by .
great crowd Of fantastic figures. was
Haeckel.
They did not kill him at once. At
the points Of n dozen b~ayonets, intend
ed for vastly different work, they
forced him up the staircase, flight after
flight. At FIRST he cried pitifully that
he knew nothing Of the royal child,
then he tried to barter what he knew
for his life. They jeered at him,
pricked him shamefully from behind
with daggers.
At the top Of the last flight he turned
and faced them. Gentlemen. friends 7"
he implored. ~ have done him nc
harm. It was never In my mind to do
him an injury. L"
HE Is In the room where you kept
NV "ShNb US - ~" ~
HE Is there, and safe."
Then Haeckel killed him. He struck
him with n dagger, and his great body
fell on the stairs. He was still NOV
Ing and grooming. rs they swarmed
over him.
Haeckel faced the crowd. "There
nre Others" he said. II know them all,
When We have finished here, we will
60 on"
They were fearful Of frightening the
little king and only two went back,
with the key that Haeckel had taken
from the body OF Black Humbert. They
unlocked the door OF the back room,
to find his majesty sitting on a chair,
wrtm q rather moist handkerchief! In
his hand. He was not at all fright.
ened, however. and al weeping for
his grandfather.
HAS the carriage conner" he de.
manded. II am waiting for q car
rlage."
They assured him that a carriage
was on the way. and were very much
at a loss.
II would like to 90 quickly" he said
II am sfraid-my grandfather-Nik'
kyv"
For there stood Milky in the door
way, a staggering. white-lipped Milky
He was not 90 weak to pick the chile
up, however. and carry him to the
head Of the stairs. They had moved
the body Of the concierge, by his or
der. SO he stood there, the boy In hi.
arms, and the students, only an houl
before In revolt against him, cheeret
nightly.
They met the detachment Of caval
ry at the door, and thus, In state. rod'
back to the palace where he war 4
rule. King Otto the Ninth. A very sat
little king, for Milky had answered hi
question honestly. A king who moppet
his eyes with a very dirty handker
chief. A weary little king, too, will
already a touch OF indigestioni
Behind them. In the house on tn
Road OF the Good Children, Haeckel
In an access Of fury, ordered the bod.
Of the concierge flung from a window
II lay below. a twisted and shapeles
thing, beside the pieces Of old Adel
bert's broken sword.