Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-20

on the steps, the revolutionary party
harangued the crowd. Bonfres sprang
up, built of no one knew what. in the
public squares. Red fire burned. The
drums throbbed.
The city had not yet risen. It was
large and slow to move. Slow, too, tc
believe in treason, or that if had nc
king. But it was a matter Of mo.
ments now, not Of hours.
The noise penetrated into the very
wards Of the hospital. Red fires bathed
pale faces on their pillows in fever.
ish glow. Nurses gathered ut the win.
doWs, their uniforms and faces alike
scarlet in the glare and whispered to,
gether.
One such group gathered near the
bedside Of the student Haeckel, still
in his lethargy. His body hal gained
strength, so that he was clothed nj
times, to wander aimlessly about The
ward. But he had remained dazcd.
Now and then the curtain of the past
lifted, but for a moment only. He had
forgotten his name. He spent lone
hours struggling TO pierce the mist.
But mostly he lay, or sat, as now.
beside his bed, a bandage still On his
head clad in shirt and trousers, bare
feet thrust into worn hospital slippers
The red glare had not reused him, ncl
yet the beat Of the drums. But a WORD
or two that one of the nurses SPOKE
caught his ear and held him. lie
looked up, and slowly rose to his feet
UnsteadiIy he made his way to win
dow, holding to the sill to steady him
self.
.
Ola Adelbert had been working his
way impatiently. The temper Of the
mob was growing ugly, Il was
suspicious, frightened, potentially dan
gerous. The cry of "?'o the PLACER
greeted his ears is he finally emerged.
brcathless from the thronE.
He stepped boldly to the old ston,
archway, and faced a lire Of soldiers
there. Il would see the chaECall0rr
he gasped, and salutcG
The captain Of the guard stepped.
out. "What is it yoa want?' he de
manded.
Tile chancellor" he lowered his
voice. Il have news Of The crown
prince"
Magic words, indeed. Doors opened
swiftly before them. I2u, time was
flying. too. In his confusion the OLE
man had only one thought. to reach
the chancellor. IT would have been
better 10 have told his nows at cnc2,
The climbing of stairs takes time when
one is Ole and fatigucd, and has but
one leg
However at last it was done, and
ola Adclbert stunpod TO the door of
the room where the council sat de-
batting and the chancellor paced the
door,
Small ceremony now. Led by sol
dicrs, Who retired and left him to enter
alone Old Ade,oert stumbled into the
room. He was out Of breath and
dizzy; his heart beat to sUffocaGon.
There was net air enough in all the
world to breathe. lie cIutchcd at the
gelvet bangings OF the door, and
swayoi, but he saw the chancellor.
"gha crown prince" he sad thick
Y, is at the home Of me Americans"
Ie stared about lin. Strange that
he room Should suddenly be filed with
mis-. But there be those-Who wait
Thereto capture him"
He caught desperately ct the cur
aims, with their royal arms embroid-
red in blue and gold, Shameful, in
och company, to stGggor so!
"3Iake-haste," ne said, and slid
tjGt'y to the ground. He lay without
moving.
The council reused then. Mettlich
vas the first to get to him. But it was
90 late.
Old AdeIbert had followed the mist
o the gates it concealed. More than
hat sham traitor that ne was, he had
9lio"cd his king.
ITO be continued.)