Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-12-24
PAGE FIVE.


placed hand OH the old mans knee.
Eve shall do well. Sire" he said
gravely, ito raise the boy at ALL"
There was short silence, which the
king broke. "What is new?"
I'VE have broken up the university
meetings, but I fancy they go on, in
small groups. was gratified, how
ever, to observe that group of stu
dents cheered his royal highness yes
terday as he rode past the university
buildings. The outlying districts are
quiet. So, too. is the city. Too quiet,
SIRE
'"They are waiting, of course, for my
DEATH" said the king quietly. IF
only you were twenty years younger
than I am, 1t would be better" He
fixed the general with shrewd eyes.
''What do those asses Of doctors say
about mer'
'Even at the best, sire" He
looked very ferocious, and cleared his
throat. He was terribly ashamed that
his voice was breaking. "Even at the
best, but of course they can only give
an opinion"
"Six monthsr'
"A year, sire"
"And at the worst r. said the king
with grim smile. Then, following
his own line of thought: But thu;
people love the boy, think"
"They do. 1t is for that reasom.
sire, that advise particular cautions
He Aesitated. Then, "Sire,p he said
earnestly, there is something Of
which must speak. The COMMITTEES
Of Ten has organized again"
Inyoluntarily the king glanced al
the photograph on the table.
"Forgive me, sire, IL waken bitter
memories. But fear"
"You fearr said the king. "Since
when have you taken to fearing7''
Nevertheless" maintained General
Mettlich doggedly, II fear. This quiet
of the last few months alarms me.
Dangerous dogs do not bark. I trust
no one. The very air is full Of Sc
dltion."
The king twisted his blue-veined old
hands together, but his voice was
quiet. "But why2" he demanded, al.
most fretfully. "If the people ara
fond of the boy, and / think they are,
toto carry him off. or injure him.
would hurt the cause. Even the ter
rorists, in the name of republic, can
do nothing without the people,"
1.-THE mob Is a curious thing, sire.
You have ruled with strong hand.
Our people know nothing but to obey
the dominant voice. The boy out Of
the way, the prospect Of the
Princess Hedwig on the throne, few
demagogues in the public squares-it
would be the end"
The king leaned back and closed his
eyes. His thin, arched nose looked
pinched, His face was gray.
"All this" he said, means WHAT
TO make the boy a prisoner, to cut
off his few pleasures, and even then
at any time"
eyes, SIRE" said Mettlich doggediy
sat any time"
All through the palace people wert
sleeping. Prince Ferdinand William
Otto was asleep. and riding again the
little car In the land of delight. 50
that, turning corner sharply, he al.
most fell out of bed.
On the other side Of the city thu
little American boy was asleep also
At that exact time he was be.ns
tucked up by an entirely efficient and
placid-eyed American mother, who fels
under his head to see that his ear wae
not turned forward. She liked close
fitting ears.
Nobody, naturally, was tucking az
Prince Ferdinand william Otto. On
attending to his ears. But, Of course
there were sentries outside his door
and valet de chambre to be runa
for, and number of embroidered
eagles scattered about on the curtains
and things, and a country surrounding
him which would one day be his, I'M
less
"At any time" said General Meth
Itch, and was grimly silent.
"Well?" inquired the king, after Q
time. "You have something to sug
gest, take it."
The old soldier cleared his throat
>'Sire," he began, at is said that
chancellor should have but one pas
sion, his king. 1 have two, my kins
and any country"
The king nodded gravely. He knew
both passions. relied on both. AND
found them both bit troublesome al
timesi
"Once, some years ago, sire, came
to you with a plan. The Princess
Hedwig was a child then, and his lats
royal highness was-still with us
For that, and for other reasons, you
majesty refused to listen. But thingss
have changed. Between us and revo1
luton there stand only the frail life
Of boy and an army none too large
and already, perhaps, affected. There
is much discomfort, and the offspring
of discomfort is anarchy"
The king snarled. But Mettlich hae
taken his courage in his hands, and
went on. Their nctghbor and hered
itary foe was Karaia. Could thes