The Washington herald., 1919-07-09


ft of irrepressibie laughter. which
rang through the woods and proclaim
ed him joviai soul.
-'well met, cousinv he cried. STEP
ping up to me. clapping me on the
back, and laughing still. You must
forgive me IL / was taken aback. A
man doesn't expect to see double at
this time of day. eh. Fritzr
I must pray pardon, sire. Tor my
presumption said I. I trust II will
not forfeit your Majesty's favor
by heaven! you'll always enjoy
the kings countenance.' he laughed,
whether I like II or not
All the good fellowship in the world.
however. could not permit royal scand-
ais of the past to be raked up at
coronation. Rudolf Rassendyll must
not show his face at this moment In
the capital of Rudolf Of Ruritania.
But by thunder" cried the king.
you shan't leave Ruritania today.
For you shall dine with me tonight.
happen what will afterward."
That was just the trouble. happen
what will afterward" One bottle leo
to another. until they were all as full
Of wine as they had any right to be.
~ hoSt thC Mis- set dO"h oheeS
and leaned back in his chair
"T have drunk enough said he.
Far be IT from me to contradict
the king said l. Indeed. his re-
mark was most absolutely true
so far as 1t went" But still han-
other bottle.-this from Black Mi
chael. praying that he drink for
the love that he bears his brother.
Could the king refuse? He could
not. Was the wine drugged? The
morning answered yes.
"1f he's not crowned today
cried Sapt. TIL lay a crown he's
never crowned
by heavens, why?'
Tho whole nations there to
meet him; half the army-aye.
and Black Michael at the head
shall we send word that the kings
drunkr
'' That he's ILL., said I. in correction.
III" echoed Sapt. with a scorn-
full laugh. They know his illness
too well. He's been i'll before!
AS a man grows old he believes in
Fate. Fate sent you here. Fate
sends you now to Strelsau. You'll
go?'
Yes. I'll CO. said I. and /
turned my eyes on the PROSTATE
figure of the king.
Tonight Sapt went on in a
hasty whisper. we are to lodge in
the palace. The moment they leave
us you and l will mount our horses
and ride here at a gallop. The
king will be ready, and he must
ride back with me to Strelsau. and
you ride as il the devil were be-
hind you to the frontier"
So began those wondrous days
of adventure which saw the throne
of Ruritania occupied by an Elph-
berg with all the traces of the
stock, though not "of the blood"
THE play actor" Rupert of Hent-
Eau called him. when he came to
know the secret. but ''as good an
Elphberg as ever sat upon 1t" de-
clared Sapt at the end.
The wild ride to Strelsau. with
Sapt instructing the English Ru-
dolf most minutely in his past
life, his family. his tastes, pursuits,
weaknesses, friends, companions,
and servants-as Ruritania knew
them-the etiquette of the court.
what would be expected at the
above all of the
Princess Flavia-
God save the king" cried the peo-
pie after the coronation had been safe
ly managed.
God save 'em bothw whispered
Sapt as his mouth wrinkled into
smile.
But IL things went we'll at Strelsau
with Rudolf Rassendyll. now crowned
as Rudolf the Fifth of Ruritania and
the accepted lover of the Princess
F1avia, Fortune did not smile on the
other Rudolf at Zenda. For Black
had had word from there that
cleared for him the mystery of the
Riding as fast as horses
could lay feet to the ground. he seized
poor Rudolf of Ruritania and held him
prisoner. But then ensued a pretty
pass.
AYE. but he can't speak," roared
Sapt in grim triumph. We've got
him. How can he denounce you with
out denouncing himself? This is not
the king. because we have kidnapped
the king and murdered his servant
Can he say that? Hang me II Michael
won't expose himself. If he tries to ex-
pose you"
Rut the most difficult situation for
loyal gentleman-and that was Rudolf
from the Princess
Flavia. 1T had to keep the princess
devoted to me-and yet Indifferent to |
me: 1 had to show affection for her
and not feel ii. 1 had to make love |
princess or no princess-was the most
beautiful I had ever seen. How I sue