The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-07-09

All the good feiiowSnip IN the Worfd /
however. could not permit royal scan
dals of the past to be raked up at o
Rudolf Rassendyll must
not show his face at this mement In
the capital Of Rudolf Of Rsritania
But by thunder" cried the king. -you
shan't leave Ruritania today. For you
shall dine with me tonight. happier
what will afterward."
That was Just the trouble. happen
what will afterwsrd." One bottle lec
to another. until they were all a. full
Of wine a they had any right to Be
At last the king set down his glass ant |
leaned back In his chair.
~ have drunk enough said he.
"'Far be 1t from me to contradict
the king said ]. Indeed. his remaft
was most absolutely true-so far a. h
went. But still another bottie-thh
from Black Michael. praying that be
drink for the love that he bears his
brother. Could the king refusef he
could not. Was the wine druggedi
The morning answered yes.
eft he's not crowned today. cried
Sapt, I'll lay q crown he's never
crowned
"'By heavens. whyr
"sThe 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 I. in correction.
"mr echoed Sapt, with q scornful
laugh. They know his illness too well.
He's been III before! As man grows
old he believes in fate. Fate sent you
here. Fate sends you now to Strelsau.
You'll gor
"'Yes, I'll Co. said !, and I 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 you
and I 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 II the
devil were behind you to the from
tier"
So began those wondrous days 1T
adventure which saw the throne y,
; 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 It"
: declared Sapt at the end.
, The wild ride to Strelsau, with Sapt
: instructing the English Rudolf most
/ infinitely in his past life, his family,
7 his tastes, pursuits, weaknesses
r friends, companions and servants-as
Ruritania knew them-the etiquette OF
: the court, what would be expected al
g the cOronation-and above all Of the
r Princess Flavia.
God save the kingw cried the PEG
q pie after the coronation had been safe
!, ly managed.
;, "God save 'em both!" whispered
e Sapt as his mouth wrinkled into
! smile.
t But If things went well at Strelsa,
t. with Rudolf Rassendyll. now crowned
e as Rudolf the Fifth Of Ruritania ant
), the accepted lover Of the Princes
r Flavia, fortune did not smile on tn
# other Rudolf at Zenda. For Blacl
4. Michael had had word from there tina
d cleared for him the mystery of tn
e coronation. Riding as fast as horse
If could lay feet to the ground, he seize
n poor Rudolf Of Ruritania and he'll
n him prisoner. But then ensued prett
e pass.
y AYE, but he can't speak," roare
d. Sapt in grim triumph. "We've got hin
ID How can he denounce you without d.
s. nouncing himself2 This Is not tn
N king, because we have Kidnapped ~
ht king and murdered his servant Ca
al he say that7 Hang me II Micha'
won't expose himself, II he tries
I'd expose you."
ut But the most difficult situation for
he loyal gentleman-and that was Rudo
n. Observation-Disclosures from the Princes
u. Flavia. II had to keep the princes
Mt devoted to me-and yet Indifferent
ly me; l had to show affection for her
n and not feel it. had to make 10y
lie for another; and that to girl who.
OF princess or no princess-was the mo
Oh beautiful had ever seen. How su
he ceeded In carrying out my progra
rs will appear hereafter"
on How they fell in love. he with h
nd and she with him. is part Of the stor
as And now. forgetting self, he rescu'
Ter the king, and robbed himself Of 10
and throne and almost life. When
-, had fallen sorely wounded:
~. "Fritz," he called, "is the king st
,u alive"
~. AYE. friend-dear friend:" said
,.r tender as woman. "thanks to t
,ht most gallant gentleman that lives, {
"a king is alive!"
~ Airs well that ends we'll. But
~ the Princess Flavia?
-. IF I can never hold sweet CONVEX
~ again with her. or look upon her IA
or know from her her love. why, tn
~ this side the grave. will live as