The St. Mary banner., 1921-02-05

Inc klnS was dioI1t IOI tliC IL -
time, rs he remembered 1t, in over
two years. He felt a strange thrill.
Advancing a dozen steps into the
long corridor, he glanced about. 1t
was dangerous adventure for the
king to undertake, for the year had
been one Of unsurpassed republican ac-
tivity. Unrest and revolt hung heav-
lily in the air about the palace, and
even in it. Peril lurked everywhere.
To him it was, If anything. break
in the great monotony
Now he paused undecided just what
use to make of his short freedom.
Whether to go to the blue salon and
create CONSERVATION among the privy
councillors and mobiles waiting there
for the morning audience, or, to the
morning room at the other end and
surprise the queen and the three-year-
old Prince of Lagenda in their post
breakfast play.
Being always very much more In
love with the queen and the prince
turned toward the morning room.
Almost at the bedchamber corridor,
which joins the long corridor and leads
of from it to the queens own rooms,
the king in his progress became aware
of another figure slipping along as fur
lively as himself and following him.
"Well, what do you want?" the king
called quietly.
The figure paused in the shadows
moment, then advanced to where the
king stood
Tensely, trembling he raised his left
hand and held the four fingers straight
upright, to indicate the dominant peO-
pie, with the thumb crooked inward
and bent, to represent the fallen
king.
The king, still keeping gay and ad-
venturous, and not knowing just what
to do to keep up the pleasant game
with this earnest man who amused
him so much, held up his left hand,
too, and quite deftly initiated the
queer movements the man had made.
1t was a great success.
"Ah, comrade" he exclaimed In
low, ecstatic voice.
The broad man quickly, eagerly.
continued: "Ah, how the luck is with
u.s. Without you l would have been
lost. / am comrade Antonio. l am
the one who drew the black lot In the
great meeting at Navotas. Show me
the kings room!'
Then the king knew that an assas-
sin, revolutionist of the great secret
League of Liberty stood by his side.
The king thought quickly, with the
boyish smile still lingering on his face,
although his eyes were keen behind
1t. What methods of escape were
open to him?
It would be useless to hope to match
his slenderness against the broad peas
ant In graphing strength.
"Why do you hesitate, cOmrade"
the stranger was asking suspiciously.
"Our oath binds us to help one an
other whenever called upon. Lead me
to the ruler Of our land!"
So, still smiling, the king began to
draw back his slender right hand,
ready for the blow-to take the hun
dredth chance.
Slowly, cautiously, imperceptibly,
and easily his hand went back, poised
for the attack, and it was quite to his
hip when a pattering noise, sounding
at the end Of the long corridor from
the direction Of the morning-room,
caused both men TO look toward it.
One hundred feet ahead, a shaft Of
morning sunlight had fallen into the
gloom of the long corridor. The door
of the morning room was partly open,
and outlined against 1t was the small,
blond figure Of the three-year-
old Prince Of Lagenda.
The squarefaced man, staring In
at the advent of the child,
glanced from the father to the son
with recognition lowering in his slow
eyes.
"Eh, comrade, who is this?" he
asked wonderingly, in the patois of the
peasant.
The king had taken the Prince of La
genda by one chubby hand and smiled
his famous, bOyish, merry smile more
than ever. 1t was an in
slant for which regicides and revolu-
tionists might have prayed for centu-
ries. Not only the king, but the four
hunared-year-old Wepsburg dynasty
could be wiped out by one stroke.
Now it was the kings turn to choose
his only chance, as the peasant had
chosen q minute before.
Still smiling very quietly and ge-
nially, with his eyes looking full into
the other mans. his fingers grasping
the princes soft, moist ones just