Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-16

the boy is not on you. but on them.
Even those who have no sympathy
with your movement viii burn at such
a rumor. The better the citizen, the
more a lover of home and order, the
more outraged he will be Every man
in the city with a child q his own will
rise against the palace
Madame" the leader had said,
"yOu should be of the committee"
But she had ignored the speech con-
temptuously, and gone on to other
things.
Now everything was arranged.
Black Humbert had put his niece to
work on q carnival dress for small
boy and had stayed her curiosity by
Il hint that it was for the American
lad.
"They are comfortable tenants he
had said. 'Not lavish, perhaps, as
rich Americans should be, but orderly,
and pleasant. The boy mas good man
ners. It would be well to please him"
So the niece. sewing in the back
room, watched Bobby in and out, with
pleasant mysteries in her eyes.
Now and then, in the evenings,
when the Americans were away, and
Bobby was snug in bed, with Tucker
on the tiny feather comfort at his
feet, the Fraulein would come down
stairs and sit in Black Humbert's
room. At such times the niece would
be sent on an Grand and the two
would talk. The niece, who, although
she had no lover, was on the lookout
for love. suspected a romance of the
middle-aged and smiled in the half
darkness Of The street: smiled with a
touch Of malice, rs enc who has
pierced the armor Of the fortress, and
knows it's weakness.
But it was not love that Humbert
and the Fraulein talked.
Herman Spier was busy in those
days and making plans. Thus, day by
day, he dined in the restaurant where
the little Marie, row weary of her
husband. sat in idle intervals behind
The cashiers desk, and watched the
grass III The place emerge from IT'S
winter hiding place. When she turned
her eyes to the room, frequently she
encountered those of Herman Spier,
pale yet burning. fXed on her. And at
last, one day when her husband lay
lame with sciatica, she left the desk
and paused by Hermans table.
Won opT,,o NOW chp oh,
served. at is that you like us here
or that you have risen in the shOp?"
81 have left the shop" said Herman
staring at her. Flesh, in a moderate
amount, suited her well. He liked
plump women. They were, if you
please, an armful. land I come to see
you"
Left the shopw Marie exclaimed
land Peter Niburg-he has left also?
l never see him."
"No," said Herman noncOmmittally
Gle is i'll, perhaps?"
''He is dead" said Herman, devour
ing her with his eyes.
Dead" She put a hand to her
plump side
AYE. Shot as a spy" He took an
other piece Of the excellent pigeon pie.
Marie, meantime, lost all her looks,
grew pasty white.
"Of the-the terrorists?" she de.
handed in a whisper.
"Terrorists. No. OF Karnia. He
was no patriot"
So the little Marie went back to her
desk, and to her staring out over the
place in intervals of business. And
what she thought of no one can know.
But that night, and thereafter, she was
very tender to her spouse, and put
cloths soaked in hot turpentine water
on his aching thigh.
On the surface things went on as
usual at the palace. Karls visit had
been but for day or two. He had
met the council in session, and had
had because of their growing alarm,
rather his own way with them.
But although he had pointed to the
kings condition and theirs-as an
argument for immediate marriage-he
failed. The thing would be done, but
properly and in good time. Karl left
them in a bad temper, well concealed
and had the pleasure of being Kissed
through the streets.
But he ComfOrted himself with the
thought Of Hedwig. He had taken her
in his arms before he left, and she had
made no resistance. She had even, in
view Of all that was at stake, made a
desperate effort to return his kiss, and
found herself trembling afterWard.
In two weeks he was to return to
her, and he whispered that to her.
On the day after the dinner party
Otto went TO n hospital with Miss
Braithwaite. 1t was the custom of the
palace to send the flowers from its
spectacular functions to the hospitals,
and the crown prince delighted in
these errands.
So they went, escorted by the func-
tionaries of the hospital, past the mill
tary wards, where soldiers in shabby
| uniforms sat on benches in the spring
sunshine, to the general wards beyond.
The crown prince was almost hidden
behind the armful he carried. Miss
Braithwaite had all she could hold
1..,F sA,,E clf AA1sS