The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1919-01-23


{ was still claspcd In his old hand. and
there was look of grim tenderness
= on the face on the pillow, turned
toward his dead sons picture.
Troubled times now, with the Carnl-
val only Il day or two or. and the shup
windows gay with banners; with the
committee Of ten In almost constant
session, and Olga Loschpk summoned
before II, 90 be told Of the passage, and
the thing She was 90 do with the oll
King very close to the open dopr, and
liod"ig being fitted FOR her bridal robe
and for sombcr buck at one fitting.
Troubled times, indeed. The city
was Smulloring, ana from some
strange source had come Il new rumur.
Nothing less than that The royallsts,
headed by the chancellor dyspalrlug oc
crowulug the boy prince, would. on the
kings death make away with him.
mus putting IIcdwlg on the throne
Ii'd"ig, queen of karnla perhaps al
ready hy secret marriage.
The city, which adorcd the boy, was
/ Sccthing. The rumor had orlglnaicd
with Olga LoSchck, who had given IT
| TO the committee as II useful weapon.
l Thus would she have her revenge ON
those of the palace, and Mt the same
| time secure her own safety. Revenge,
indeed. for she knew the way of such
rulnors, how they fly from house to
house, street to street. How the in
nocent, proclaiming their innocence.
look even the more guilty.
When she had placed the scheme be-
iore the committee of ten, had seen
the cascrness with which they graspcd
it-"in this way" she had said, In her
scornful, incisive tones, "the onus of
the boy Is not on you, but on them.
Even those who have no sympathy
with your movement will burn ut such
Il rumor. The better the citizen. the
more a lover OF home and order, the
more outraged he will be. Every man
In The city with n child of his own will
rise against the palace"
"Madame," the leader had said, |
you should be of the committee"
But she had ignored the speech con.
temptuously. and gone on to Other
things.
Now everything was arranged.
Black Humbert had put his niece to
work on a carnival dress for small
boy. and had stayed her curiosity by
hint that II was for the American
lad.
"They are comfortable tenants" he
had said. "Not lavish, perhaps, as
rich Americans should be, but orderly,
and pleasant. The boy has good man.
ners. IL would be well to please him."
so the ME Q, sewing in the back
room, watched Bobby In and out, with
Pheasant mysteries in her eyes.
NOW and then, In the evenings.
when the Americans were away, nnd
Bobby was snug In bed, with Tucker
on the tiny feather comfort at his
Feet, the Fraulein would come down.
stars ana sit In Black Humbert's
room. At such times the niece would
De sent on an errand, and the two ,
would talk. The niece. who, although
She had no lover, was on the lookout
Tor love, suspected romance of the .
and smiled In the half
OF the street: smiled with n :
'ouch OF malice, as one who has :
pierced the armor Of the fortress, md !,
Knows its weakness.
But II was not love that Humbert
md the Fraulein talked.
Herman Spier was busy In those '
lays and making plans. Thus, day by
lay, he dined In the restaurant where
he little Marie, now weary OF her :,
husband, sat In Idle intervals behind
he cashiers desk. and watched the
,rass In the place emerge from its !,
winter hiding place. When she turned !.
Ter eyes to the room, frequently she q
encountered those Of Herman Spier,
'ale yet burning. fixed on her. And at y,
asst, one day when her husband lay :
nIne with scinticn. she left the desk =,
'nd paused by Herman's table.
You come frequently now." she OBJ.
erved. 1T is that you like us here, g,
r that you have risen In the shop" q q
II have left the shop" said Herman, :, .
taring at her. Flesh, in a moderate !,
mount, suited her well. He liked :,
lump women. They were, IL you n n
'iease. an armful. "And come to see .,
ou." -
Left the shopl" Marie exclaimed. ~
And Peter Niburc-he has left alsof "
never see him." >,
no." said Herman noncommittally. a
He Is Ill, perhapsT
He Is dead" said Herman, devour. m
ng her with his eyes. q,
"Dead!" She put a hand to her
lump side. a,
AYE. Shot as spy" He took an. n
ther piece Of the excellent pigeon pie.
iarie. meantime. lost all her looks, n
rev pasty white. q,
"of the-the terroristsY' she de-
handed, In Q whisper. h,
"Terroristsl No. OF Karnis. He 3,
'as no patriot" ~
SO the little Marie went back to her e,
esk. and to her staring out over the b,
lace In intervals ef business. And te
that she thought Of no one can know. a,
'ut that night. and thereafter, she was IN
cry tender to her spouse, and put
loths soaked 10 hot turpentine water
n hia aah0nz skl-k |