Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-12-22


passed the dressing room door. An
other moment, and he was out Of sight
around bend of the passageway, and
before him lay liberty.
Not quite! At the top Of the pri-
vate staircase reserved for the royal
family a guard commonly stood. He
had moved a few feet from his post,
however, and was watching the stage
through the half-open door of private
lOge.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
= passed behind him with outward calm
ness. At the top Of the public stair
case, however, he hesitated. Here.
everywhere, were brass-buttoned OFF,
Gals Of the opera house. A garderobe
woman stared at him curiously. The
little prince looked at the woman with
appeal in his eyes, Then, with his
heart humping, he ran past her. down
the white marble staircase. to where
the great doors promised liberty.
Olga, the wardrobe woman, came
out from behind her counter and stood
looking down the marble staircase
after the small flying figure.
The old soldier who rented opera
glasses at the second landing, and who
had left leg in Bosnia, leaned over
the railing. look at that!" he ex-
claimed. HE will break leg, the
young rascal Once 1 could have
hrk fhora ha &c cafnt Tho <rood Ead
watches over fools and children"
ut looked like the little prince" said
the wardrobe woman. II have seen
him often-he has the same bright
hair"
But the opera-glass man was not
listening. He had drawn a long saus
age from one pocket and roll from
the other, and now, retiring to a far
window, he stood placidly eating-a
bite Of sausage, bite of bread, His
mind was in Bosnia, with his leg. And
because old Adelbert's mind was IL
Bosnia, and because one hears with
the mind, and not with the ear, he did
not hear the sharp question of the
sentry who ran down the stairs and
paused for second at the cloak-room
Well for Olga, too, that old Adelbert
did not hear her reply.
HE has not passed here" she said
with wide and honest eyes, but witt
an ear toward old Adelbert "An ole
gentleman came moment ago an6
got sandwich, which he had left IL
his overcoat. Perhaps this is whom
you are seeking?"
The sentry cursed and ran down the
staircase, the nails in his shoes strik
ing sharply on the marble.
Olga of the cloak room leaned over
her checks, with her lips curved uK
In a smile. "-rhe little one!" she
thought. And such courage! He will
make a great king Let him have his
prank like the other children, and
God bless him and keep him."
The crown prince was just a triflt
dazzled by the brilliance of his sue
cess. He paused for one breathless
moment under the porte-cochere of the
opera house; then he took lone
breath, turned to the left; and was al
once swallowed up in the street crowd
1t seemed very strange to him. Not
that he was unaccustomed to crowds
Had he not, that very Christmas, gone
shopping in the city, accompanied only
by one Of his tutors and Miss Braith'
waite, and bought for his grandfather
the king, a burnt wood box, which
might hold either neckties or gloves
and for his cousins silver photograph
frames?
But this was different, and for 4
rather peculiar reason. Prince Ferdln-
and William Otto had never seen the
back of crowd The public was al
ways lined up, facing him, smiling and
bowling and God blessing him. Prince
Ferdinand William Otto had never
known the backs could be SO rigid. 1t
was most interesting.
The next tour was full of remark.
able things. For one, he lodged be-
hind a street car and was almost run
over by a taxicab. The policeman on
the corner came out, and taking Fer.
dinand William Otto by the shoulder
gave him a talking to and shaking,
Ferdinand William Otto was furious
but policy kept him silent: which
proves conclusively that the crown
prince had not only initiative-witness
his fiight-but self-c0ntroi and di-
plomacy. Lucky country, to have In
prospect such kingl
Prince Ferdinand William Otto had
the fulfillment of a great desire in his
small, active mind. This was nothing
less than ride on the American
scenic railroad, which had secured
concession In far corner Of the park.
Hedwig's lieutenant had described ii
to him-how one was taken In a small
car to dizzy height, and then turned
loose on a track which dropped giddily
and rose again, which hurled one
through sheet-iron tunnels Of incredible
blackness, thrust one out over gorge,
whirled one in mad curves around cor
ners of precipitous heights, and finally
landed one, painting, GREATNESS, shock
ed, and Keeling, but safe, at the very
platform where one had purchased