New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-02-14
holes, which were rather too far apart

I hOleS, Wnlcn were ratner TOO Tar apart
in rapt admiration.
"As you haven't got a belt" Bobby
said generously, "Ill give you the rife
3 Ever hold a gunY
. "Oh, yes" said the crown prince
! He did not explain that he had been
taught to shoot on the rifle range OF
his W regiment, and had won quite
a number Of medals. He possessed
!, indeed, quite a number of small but
very perfect guns.
With the last gasp Of the candle,
the children prepared to depart. The
senior pirate had already forgotten the
two men he had trailed through the
passage, and was eager to get out
doors.
"Readyw he said. snow, remember,
old sport, We are pirates. No quarter,
except to women and children. Shoot
every man."
Even If he Is unarmed?" inquired
the crown prince, who had also studied
strategy and tactics, and felt that an
unarlned man should be taken pris-
oner.
"Sure. We don't really shoot them.
silly. Now. Get In STEP"
Then began, for the crow prince,
such a day Of Joy as he had never
known before. Even the Land OF De-
light faded before this new bliss of
stalking from tree to tree, Of killing
unsuspecting citizens who sat on rugs
on the ground and ate sausages and
little cakes. Here and there. where
q party had moved on. they salvaged
a bit Of food-the heel Of a loaf, n
of the small country apples. Shades
Of the court physicians, under whose
direction the crown prince was daily
fed a carefully balanced ration!
When they were weary. they
stretched out on the ground, and the
crown prince, whose bed vas nightly
dried with a warming pan for fear of
dampness, wallowed blissfully on
earth still soft with the melting frosts
of the winter. He grew muddy and
dirty. He had had no hat, Of course.
and his bright hair hung over his fore
head In moist strands. Now and then
he drew a long breath Of sheer happi.
ness.
As dusk descended. the crowd grad.
ually dispersed, some to supper. but
some to gather In the place and In the
streets around the palace. For the
rumor that the king was dying would
not down.
At last the senior pirate consulted
. large nickel watch.
Gee! It's almost supper time." he
said.
Prince Ferdinand william Otto con-
suited his own watch, the one with
the inscription: ITO Ferdinand Will |
liam Otto, from his grandfather. on
the occasion Of his taking his first
communion"
"Why can't you come home tv sup
per with met" asked the senior pirate.
"Would your folks kick up a row"
II beg your pardonT
"Would your family object?"
"There is only one person who would
mind" reflected the crown prince,
aloud. land she will be angry, anyhow.
do you think your mother will be
willing?"
"Willing? Sure she WILL My COVER
ness-but I'll fix her. She's a German.
and they're always cranky. Anyhow,
It's my birthday. I'm always allowed
a guest on birthdays"
So home together, gayly chatting,
went the two children. along the cob
ble-paved streets Of the ancient town,
past old churches that had been sacked
and pillaged by the very ancestors of
one Of them. taking short cuts through
narrow passages that twisted and
Normed their way between: and go.
finally. to the door Of a tall building
where, from the conclerge's room be-
side the entrance. came a reek of
garlic.
Neither Of the children had noticed
the unwonted silence Of the streets,
which had, almost suddenly, succeeded
the noise Of the carnival. What few
.passers-by they had seen had been
h%urrying in the direction Of the palace.
they had passed soldiers, with
lanterns, and once one had stopped
and flashed a light IN them.
"Well old SPORT" said Bobby In
English, anything you can do for
The soldier had passed on, mutter.
ing at the insolence of American chill
dren. The two youngsters laughed
consumedly at the witticism.
The concierge vas out. His niece
admitted them, and went back to her
Interrupted cooking. The children hur-
Red up the winding stone staircase,
its iron rail and its gas lantern,
the second floor. |.
In the sitting room, the sour-faced
governess was darning Q hole In q
small stocking. She looked at the ;
clock. :
"You are fifteen minutes late" she
snapped. and bit the darning thread
lot with rage, but because she had .
'orgotten her scissors. |,
I'm sorry, but you see" I.
"Whom have you there" d,
"A friend Of mine," said Bobby. not :
whit daunted. >
The governess put down the stock. ,
ng and rose. In so doing, she caught :
Ter first real glimpse Of Ferdinand .
Otto. and she staggered I
Jack. =
0uoIv Eointe y, che ootd and want E