The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-01-16

voiver always ready and in touch. his
eyes keen, his body. even when 1t
seemed most relaxed, always tense to
spring. For Milky knew the temper
Of the people. knew It ~ did Aathilde
gossiping in the market, and even bet
ter: knew that crisis was approach
ing, and that on this small. boy In hts
charge hung that crisis.
30 Milky trusted In his own dght
arm and In nothing else. The very
size Of the palace. its unused rooms.
rambling wings and ancient turrets,
was against its safety.
Since the demonstration against
Karl. the riding school hour had been
given up. There were no drives in the
park. The illness Of the king furnished
sunicient excuse, but the truth was
that the royal family was practically
besieged, BY It knew not what.
Milky, summoned to the chapcellor's
house that morning. had been told the
facts, and had stood, rather still and
tense, while Aettlich recounted them.
'-Our very precautions are our dan
ger" said the chancellor. "And the
king" He stopped and sat, tapping
his fingers ON the arm Of his chair.
"And the king. sirr'
almost at the end. A day or two"
Karl, with Hedwig in his thoughts,
had returned to mobilize his army not
| far from the border for the spring
maneuvers, and at q meeting Of the
kings council the matter Of mobilixa-
ton In Ilvouia wsb seriously consid-
cred.
Fat Trless favored 1t. and made an
impassioned speech, with sweat thick
on his heavy face.
81 am not cowardly." he finished.
II fear nothing for myself or for
those belonging to me. But the duty
Of this council II to preserve the throne
for the crown prince. at any cost. And.
II We cannot trust the army. In what
can we txustr
I'm God" said the chancellor grim
~.
In the end nothing was done. Aobil-
ixation might precipitats the crisis and
there was always the fear that the
army, In parts. was itself disloyal.
The king, meanwhile. lay dying. Doc
tor Weidsrnan In constant attendance,
other physicians coming and going.
His apartments were silent. Rugs
covered the corridors, that NO football
disturb his Quiet hours. Tho nursing
sisters attended him, one BY his bed
side. one always on her knees at the
psiedieu In the small room beyond. He
wanted littlernow and then q sip<of
water. the cooled Juice Of fruit. In
jectons Of stimulants, given BY Doctor
Weiderman himself, had Scared his
old arms with purplish. marks, and
were absorbed more and more slowly
A. the hours went on.
He rarely slept, but lay inert and not
unhappy. Annunciata came. and was
at last stricken BY conscience to q
prayer at his bedside. On one Of her
last visits that was. She got up to
nnd his eyes fixed on her.
Father. can you hear mef'
yea"
I'll have been q bad daughter to
you. I am sorry. It IL late now to
tell You, but I am sorry. CaA I do
anythingr'
'Otto." he said, with linculty.
You want to see himr
mo-"
She knew what he meant BY that.
He would have the boy rensmber him
a. he had seen him last.
"You are anxiouc about himT'
"very-anxious."
listen, father" she said. STOPPING
over him. II have been hard and cold.
Perhaps you win grant that have
had two reasons for IL. But am 60
ing to do better. will take care Of
him and will do all can to make
him happy. promise"
Perhaps It was relief. Perhaps even
then the thought Of Annunciata's tar
dy and certain-to-be bungiing efforts
to make Ferdinand William Otto happy
amused him. He smiled family.
Milky received q note from Hedwig
late that afternoon. It was very
brief:
roof Beyond Hubsrt's Old Fooms. for air.
HEDWI0.
Milky, who In an his incurious young
life had never thought Of the roof of
the palace, save a. . necessary shelter
from the weather. 4 thing Of tiles and
cutters. vastly large, looked rather
astounded.
'-The roofi" he said. surveying the
note. And fell to thinking. such mix
ture Of rapture and despair a. -only
twenty-three. and hopeless, can know.
Somehow or other he got through
the intervening hours. and before nine
he was on his way. He had the run
Of the palace, Of course. No one mo-
tieed him a. he made his way toward
the empty suite which - recently had
housed itD royal y1qltor.