The Penn's Grove record., 1920-12-03

"T have drunk enough said he.
"'Far be it from me to contradit
the king said l.. Indeed, his remark
was most absolutely true-so far as L
went. But still. another bottle-tht
from Black Michael, praying that h
drink for the love that he bears hi
brother. Could the king refusef He
could not. Was the wine drugged!
The morning answered yes.
"If he's not crowned today cried
Sapt. I'll lay a crown he's eve
crowned
"By heavens, whyr
"The whole nations there to meet
him; half the army-aye, and Blacf
Michael at the head-shall we sene
word that the kings drunk?
"That he's ILL., said /, In correction
CHR echoed Sapt, with a scornful
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 goT
"Yes, I'll CO. said 1, and I turned
my eyes on the PROSTATE figure OF the
king.
"Tonight,' Sapt went on in a hastA
whisper, we are to lodge in the PAL
ace. The moment they leave us YOU
and l will mount our horses and ride
here at a gollop. The king will be
ready, and he must ride back with me
to Strelsau, and you ride as If the
devil we're behind you to the from
tier"
So began those wondrous days OF
adventure which saw the throne OF
Ruritania occupied by an Elphberg
with all the traces of the stock, though
not "of the blood" 4'The play actor,
Rupert of Hentzau called him, when
he came to know the secret, but "as
good an Elphberg as ever sat upon II,
declared Sapt at the end.
The wild ride to Strelsau, with Sapt
instructing the English Rudolf most
infinitely 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 al
the coronation-and above all OF the
Princess Flayia.
"God save the king!" cried the PEG
ple after the coronation had been safe
ly managed.
GOD save 'em both! !" whispered
Sapt as his mouth wrinkled into a
smile.
But if things went well at Strelsau
with Rudolf Rassendyll, now crowned
as Rudolf the Fifth of Ruritania and
the accepted lover of the Princess
Flavia, fortune did not smile on the
other Rudolf at Zenda. For Black
Michael had had word from there that
cleared for him the mystery of the
coronation. Riding as fast as horses
could lay feet to the ground, he seized
Door Rudolf of R%uritania 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 without de-
nouncing himself? This is not the
King. because we have kidnapped the
king and murdered his servant Can
ne say that? Hang me If Michael
won't expose himself, if he tries to
expose you."
But the most difficult situation for a
.oyal gentleman-and that was Rudolf
Rassendyll-arose from the Princess
Flavia. 81 had to keep the princess
devoted to me-and vet Indifferent to
me; 1 had to show affection for her
and not feel it. 1 had to make love
for another; and that to a girl who
princess or no princeSs-was the most
beautiful / had yer seen. How | sue
ceeded in carrying out my program
will appear hereafter"
How they fell in love. he with her
and she with him, is part of the story
And how, forgetting self. he rescued
the king, and robbed himself OF o W
and throne and almost life. When he
had fallen sorely wounded:
Fritz" he called, sis the king still
alive?"
AYE, friend-dear frfend; sara ne
tender as a woman, thanks to the
most gallant gentleman that lives, the
King is alive!'
AIS well that ends we'll. But Of
..he Princess Flavia?
"If l can never hold sweet converse
again with her, or look upon her face.
or know from her her love, why, then,
this side the grave, l will live as he-
comes the nan she loves; and for the
other side l must pray a dreamless
Sleep"
Copyright, 1919, by the Post Publishing Co.
The Boston POST. Printed by permis-
sion of. and arrangement with, Henry
Holt & Co., authorized publishers.
Fine Sport.
aWhere did Won go this afternoon