New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-02-14


must, she would not see II.
"Highness," she said. "Lieutenan
Larisch will be here in a moment. WE
: you permit me to goT
Otto was Off his chair In an instant
~"Certainly," he said, his mind still OF
the 20" which he was shading.
Old habit was strong In the countess
Although the boys rank was numbered
by moments. although his life was pos
sibly to be counted by hours, sh'
turned at the doorway and swept hin
a curtsy. Then she went out, ant
closed the door behind her.
The two sentries stood outside
They were Of the terrorists. Sh'
knew, and they knew she knew. Blu
neither n made Il sign. They stared
ahead, and Olga Loschek went out be
tween them.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand VIII
liam Otto was only a small boy, for al
his title and dignity. And suddenly
he felt lonely. Left alone, he returned
to his expectations for the day, and
compared them with the facts. lie
remembered other carnivals, with his
carriage moving through the streets,
and people showering him with fresh
flowers. He rather glowed at the
memory. Then he recalled that the
chancellor had said he needed fresh
air.
Something occurred to him, some
thing which combined fresh air with
action, yet kept to the letter Of his
prOmlse-Or was there a promise ?
not to leave the palace.
The idea pleased him. 1t set him
to smiling, and his bright hair to
qulverlng with excitement. 1t was
nothing less than to go on the roof and
find the ball. And he would have to
hurry. Milky would be sure to return
soon.
He opened the door on to the great
corridor, and stepped out, saluting the
sentries, as he always did.
"Ill be back In u moment" he In.
formed them. He was always on terms
Of great friendliness with the guard.
and he knew these men by sight. Are
you going to be stationed here now?'
he inquired pleasantly.
The two guards were ut a loss. But
one of them, who had a son Of his own,
and hated the whole business, saluted
and replied that he knew not.
II hope you are" said Ferdinand
William Otto, and went on.
The sentries regarded one another.
"Let him go!" said the n who was a
father.
The other one moved u%neasily. "Our
orders w nc such contingency" he
muttered. "And, besides, he will come
back. l hope to God he does not
come back" he added stonily.
Five minutes to four.
The crown prince hurried. The cor
ridors were almost empty. Here and
there he met servants, who stood stiff
against the wall until he had passed.
On the marble staircase, leading up,
he met no one, nor on the upper floor.
He was quite warm with running and
ie pduSeu III ulo luliti . SuitC I Ahop
his face. Then he opened a window
and went out on the roof. From the
balustrade, 1t looked extremely far to
the ground.
Nevertheless, although his heart beat
a trifle fast, he was still determined.
A climb which Milky with his long
legs had achieved In a leap, took him
up to a chimney. BelOw-it seemed
a long way below-was the gutter.
was a very considerable slant.
If one sat down. like Milky, and slid.
and did not slide over the edge, n
should fetch up in the gutter.
He felt a trile dizzy. But Nikky's
theory was. that If n is afraid to
do a thing. better to do 1t and get over
being afraid.
So the crown prince sat down on the
roof behind the chimney and
gathered, his legs under him for a
slide. Well for him that the ancient
builders Of the palace had been reck-
ess with lead, that the gutter was both
vide and deep. Well for Milky, too,
waiting in the boudoir below and hard
lriven between love and anxiety.
The crown prince, unaccustomed to
lies, turned over halfway down, and
oiled. He brought up with a Jerk
n the gutter, quite safe, but extremely
frightened. He sat there for quite a
minutes. There was no ball In
light, and the roof looked even sleeper
rom this point.
Being completely self-engrOssed,
therefore,, he did not see that the roof
lad another visitor. Had two visitors,
IS a matter of fact. One Of them wore
blanket with u white 20" over a
White "X' on 1t, and the other wore a
mask, and considerable kitchen cutlery
astened to his belt. They had come
ut of q small door in the turret and
pere very much at ease. They leaned
yer the parapet and admired the view.
hey climbed on one of the garden
hairs and looked over the expanse Of
he roof. which was when they saw
'rince Ferdinand William Otto, and
AGED at him.
Gee whiz I" said the larger pirate,
his mask. what are you do
lg there?"
The crown prince started, and
Jared. II am sitting here" explained
he crown prince, trying to look as
lough he usually sat in lead CUTTERS
| am looking for q ball."
you're looking for a fall. I guess"
bserved the pirate. "You don't re-
lember me, kid, do your" q
II can't see your face, but I know q
our voice." His voice trembled with v
xcitement. t
"Lemme give you a hand" said the Il
rate, whipping of his mask. "You