Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-07-10

leaned Duck III HIS CudlI.
az have drunk enough said he.
"'Far be it from me to contradict
the king said l. Indeed, his remark
was most absolutely true-so far as II
| went. But still another bottle-this
| from Black Michael praying that ne
drink for the love that he bears his
brother. Could the king refuse? He
could not. Was the wine drugged
| The morning answered yes.
"Tf he's not crowned today cried
Sapt. T'Il lay crown he's never
crowned
"'By heavens, whyT
"@The whole nations there to meet
| him; half the army-aye, and BLACK
Michael at the head-shall we send
word that the kings drunkT
"'That he's ILL.,, said 1, in correction
"Tnr echoed Sapt, with scornful
laugh. 'They know his illness too well.
He's been i'll before AS 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 I, and l turned
my eyes on the PROSTATE figure OF the
king.
"Tonight,' Sapt went on in hasty
whisper, we are to lodge in the pal.
ace. The moment they leave us yos
and l will mount our horses and ride
here at gollop. The king will be
ready, and he must ride back with me
to Strelsau, and you ride as If the
devil were 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" "The play actor"
| Rupert of Hentzau called him, when
he came to know the secret, but "as
good an Elphberg as ever sat upon 1T"
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
|
the court, what would be expected at
the coronation-and above all Of the
Princess Flavia.
"God save the kingl" cried thexpeo-
pie 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 Strelseu
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
poor Rudolf Of Ruritania and held
him prisoner. But then ensued 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
he say that? Hang me If Michael
won't expose himself, If he tries to
expose yOu."
But the most difficult situation for
loyal gentleman-and that was Rudolf
Observation-Disclosures from the Princess
Flavia. II had to keep the princess
devoted to me-and yet Indifferent to
me; had to show affection for her
and not feel it. I had to make love
for another; and that to girl who
princess or no princess-wns the most
beautiful had ever seen. How l 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 love
and throne and almost life. When he
had fallen sorely wounded:
"Fritz," he called, sis the king still
alive?"
"Aye, friend-dear friend;" said he
tender as a woman, thanks to the
most gallant gentleman that lives, the
king is alive!"
All's well that ends well. But Of
the Princess Flavia?
eff / 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, 1 will live as be
comes the man she loves; and for the
other side must pray dreamless
sleep"
Copyright 1919, by the Post Publishing Co.
(The Boston Post. Printed by permits
sion of, and arrangement with, Henry
Holt & Co., authorized publishers.
Fine Sport.