New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-02-28
CHAPTER xix-ContInued.

bad work I" said the other n
"Aye!" said Haeckel. Then, speak
ing very slowly, and with difficulty. ="
do not understand"
"The king Is dead"
AYE" observed Haeckel, still I'm
comprehending. And then, Dead
the king?"
"Dead. Hear the bell"
"Then-" But he could not ut onc'
formulate the thought in his mind
Speech came hard. He was still In {
cloud.
"They say" said the other man
"that the crown prince Is missing, thai
he has been stolen. The people are
frenzied."
He went on, dIlating on the rumors
Still Haeckel labored. The king! The
crown prince! There was something
that he was to do. 1t was just be
yond him, but he could not remember
Then. by accident, the other man
touched the hidden spring of his mem,
DRY.
There are some who think that
Mettlich-"
"Mettlich. I" That was the word.
With 1t the curtain split, as 1t were,
the cloud was gone. Haeckel put q
hand to his head.
A few minutes later, n strange figure
dashed out of the hospital. The night
Waterman had joined the mob, and
was at that moment selecting d rifle
from a cart. Around the cart were
students. still In their carnival flnery,
wearing the colors of his W corps.
Haeckel, desperate of eye, pallid and
gaunt, clad still in his hospital shirt
and trousers, Haeckel climbed on to
the wagon, and mounted to the seat,
a strange swaying figure. with a band
age on his head. In spite Of that,
there were some who knew him.
"Haeckel!" they cried. The word
spread. The crowd Of students pressed
close.
What would you do?" he cried to
them. you know me. You see me
now. l have been done almost to
death by those you would aid. Aye,
arm yourselves, but not against your
king. We have sworn to stand to-
gether. l call on you, men Of my
corps, to follow me-. There are those
who tonight will murder the little king
and put King Mob on the throne. And
they be those who have tortured me-.
Look at me-! This they have done to
me-" He tore the bandage Off. and
showed his SCARED head. "Quick !" he
cried. II know where they hide, these
spawn of hell. Who will follow me2
To the king"
"To the king"
They took up the cry, a few at first,
then all Of them. More than his words.
the gaunt and wounded figure of
Haeckel In the cart fought for him.
He reeled before them. Two leaped
up and steadied him, finally, indeed,
took him on their shoulders. and led
the way. They made a wedge of men,
and pushed through the mob.
"TO the little king!" was the cry
they raised, and ran, a flying wedge Of
white, fantastic figures. Those who
were unarmed seized weapons from the
crowd as they passed. Urged by
Haeckel, they ran through the streets.
Haeckel knew. 1t was because he
had known that they had done away
with him. His mind, working now with
unnatural activity, flew ahead
the house in the Road Of the Good
Children. and to what might be enact
ing there. His eyes burned. Now at
last he would thwart them, unless
Just before they turned into the
street, a horseman had dashed out
of 1t and flung himself out of the sad
die. The door was bolted. but 1t
opened to his ring, and Milky faced
the concierge, Milky. with a drawn re-
volver In his hand, and a face deathly
He had had no time to fire, no time
even to speak. The revolver flew Out
Of his hand at one blow from the fail
like arms of the concierge. Behind