The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-11-03
That Hundredth
Chance
By RALPH RoEDER
(Copyright)

given an opportunity 10 play truant'
and with exactly the same feeling Of
trepidation tiptoed from his study out
into the long corridor The long cor
rldor stretched, softly carpeted and
dim, GOO feet or more, connecting the
norning-room Of the private apart
ments at one end to the blue salon Of
the state apartments at the other,
The king was alone for the first
time, as he remembered it, in over
two years. He felt a strange thrill
Advancing a dozen steps into the
long corridor, he glanced about 1t
was a dangerous adventure for the
king to undertake, for the year had
been one Of unsurpassed republican ac-
tivity. Unrest and revolt hung heav-
lily I'm the air about the palace, and
even in It. Peril lurked everywhere.
To him 1t was # anything, a 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
than with the affairs Of state, the king
turned toward the morning room.
Almost at the bedchamber corridor,
which joins the long corridor and leads
off 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.
"Wen what do you want" the king
called quietly
The figure paused in the shadows a
moment, then advanced to where the
king stood
Il" he began But his peasant
tongue was too thick to furnish the
gllbly quick explanation needed for
the critical moment
Suddenly he realized that he had
penetrated into the private apartments
of the palace.
Tensely, trembling, he raised his left
hond 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. comradew he exclaimed in a
low, ecstatic voice.
Gently but persistently withdrawing
his hand from the Gargantuan grip the
king smiled bOyishly.
The broad man quickly, eagerly,
continued "Ah, how the luck is with
us. without you l would have been
lost. am cOmrade Antonio. ! am
the one who drew the black lot in the
great meeting at Navotas. Show me
the kings rooml"
Then the king knew that an assas-
sin. reyOutionist 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?
1t would be useless to hope to match
his slenderness against the broad peas
ant In graphing strength.
"Why do you hesitate, cOmr0de|
the stranger was asking suspiciously.
"Our oath binds us to help one an
other whenever called upon. Lead me
TO the ruler Of our landw
The chances were a hundred to one
that the PEASANTS great strength
would make the attempt only a means
of Fastening the assassination, but
what If It did come to the worst, 1t
would mean but little, for the king
had clearly in his mind at that mo-
ment the image Of the Prince Of La
genda, Just beyond in the morning
room, the brave little prince, TO whom
he had been so blithely Fastening
moment before.
So sull smiling, the king began to
draw back his slender right hand
rendy for the blow--to take the hun
dredth chance.
Slowly cautiously imperceptlbly,
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 morulugroom
causcd both men TO look toward H.
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 II was the small,
sturdy blond figure OF the three year
old Prince Of Lagenda
The squnrefaced man, staring IN
surprise at the advent Of the child,
glanced from the father 10 the son
with recognition lowering IN his slow
eyes.
"Eh, comrade, who is this2" he
asked wonderingly, in the patols Of the
peasant
The king had taken the Prince Of La.
gpnda by one chubby hand ana smiled